LAW REVIEW
Published in the Sierra SunOctober 24, 2014 By: Jim Porter
PORTER’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NOVEMBER 4TH
Believe it or not I receive lots of e-mails and calls asking for my election recommendation column. So for better or worse, here goes. My opinion.
Statewide/Congress
Governor. Jerry Brown. I’m a Jerry Brown fan -- and in any event he will be reelected.
Lieutenant Governor. Gavin Newsom all the way. Secretary of State. Alex Padilla.
Controller and Treasurer. I think Yee over Swearengin, but you can decide.
Treasurer. John Chiang.
Attorney General. Kamala Harris. She’s really good.
Insurance Commissioner. Ted Gaines. Nothing wrong with Dave Jones, but Ted Gaines has done a lot for our area.
State Board of Equalization. George Runner.
U.S. House of Representatives – District 1. I’ll vote for Heidi Hall. If you want a conservative, vote for Doug LaMalfa.
U.S House of Representatives – District 4. Art Moore over Tom McClintock – definitely, no question.
California Assembly District 1. Brian Dahle. He’s a likeable “normal” guy and knows our area well.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction. I prefer Marshall Tuck over Torlakson. Pundits characterize this election as reformers (who support Tuck), v. teachers’ unions who support incumbent Torlakson.
Supreme Court and Associate Justices of the Court of Appeal. I’m going to vote YES on all of them. We have great judges in the Third District and on the California Supreme Court.
Nevada County
Nevada County Superior Court Judge. Robert Tice-Raskin is the clear choice, supported by all of the sitting and recently retired Nevada County judges and all of the sitting Placer County judges; also favored by the Tahoe Truckee and Nevada County Bar Associations, plus he’s a good guy.
Measure S – Liberalizes Marijuana Growing Laws. Yes or No depends on how you feel about marijuana. No doubt a hot issue in Western Nevada County.
Placer County
Measure B – Placer County Supervisors’ Pay. A YES vote, my vote, would limit the Placer County Board of Supervisors’ salary to no more than the average salary of County Supervisors in the neighboring counties of Eldorado, Nevada and Sacramento. This is a full-time job and deserves fair compensation, YES on Placer County B.
Local Elections
Truckee Town Council. Reelect Carolyn Dee and Patrick Flora. As to the third slot, do your homework and vote accordingly.
Truckee Fire Protection District. The three incumbents have done a stellar job turning the District around. Vote for Gerald Herrick, Victor Hernandez and Paul Wilford. Gary Botto, who’s loved by everyone, will get his chance in two years.
Tahoe Forest Hospital District. Porter Simon represents the District so I’ll pass thank you. This is an important election – learn the facts, meet the candidates.
Tahoe City Public Utility District. Again, we represent the District so I will defer.
North Tahoe Public Utility District. Sue Daniels is my friend, but I would vote for Sarah Coolidge because I will not support any NTPUD incumbents until they dismiss their attorney Neil Eskind, a manipulative “sixth board member.”
Measure U – Truckee Schools. Authorizes $114 million in bonds to make needed improvements of Truckee area school facilities with independent audits, citizen oversight and no funds for administrator’s salaries. Vote YES.
Measure E – Tahoe Area Schools. Authorizes $62 million in bonds to make needed improvements of North Tahoe area school facilities with independent audits, citizen oversight and no funds for administrator’s salaries. Vote YES.
State Measures
Prop. 1 -- Water Bond. Authorizes $7.545 billion (with a “b”) in bonds for state water supply infrastructure projects. California needs more bonds like it needs another drought, but I’ll vote YES because some of that money will find its way to Lake Tahoe, so YES on 1. Important for Tahoe.
Prop. 2 – State Budget Stabilization. Stabilizes the state’s budget by ensuring temporary revenues are set aside and not committed to ongoing spending we can’t afford, a common sense Proposition with almost no opposition. YES on 2.
Prop, 45 – Health Care Insurance. Gives the insurance commissioner broad power to approve or reject small group and individual health care policies which could negatively impact Covered California, California’s Affordable Care Act. I’m voting NO but it is tempting to vote Yes when you learn the big healthcare insurance companies will spend over $40 million to oppose Prop. 45.
Prop. 46 – Testing of Doctors/Medical Lawsuits/Cap on Pain and Suffering Awards. Part of the long-standing battle between doctors and healthcare providers vs plaintiff’s lawyers and consumer groups. The former is spending over $55 million to stop Prop. 46 and plaintiff’s lawyers for consumers and the injured will spend at least $5 million. Increases $250,000 cap on pain and suffering damages in medical malpractice cases set in 1975. If you are a victim of medical malpractice you will vote Yes.
especially druggies who commit crimes, doesn’t seem like the solution, I’m leaning NO.
Prop. 48 – Indian Gaming Compacts. Makes money for the state but sets a bad precedent validating off-reservation gambling casinos. I recommend NO. Jim Porter is an attorney with Porter Simon licensed in California and Nevada, with offices in Truckee and Tahoe City, California, and Reno, Nevada. Jim’s practice areas include: real estate, development, construction, business, HOA’s, contracts, personal injury, mediation and other transactional matters. He may be reached at porter@portersimon.com or www.portersimon.com. Like us on Facebook. ©2014