Assembly District 27

California’s Assembly is not the place for on-the-job training. Because of the quick turnover of the chamber’s members (even the most successful legislators are termed out in six years) arriving in Sacramento already dialed in to the process and the people is essential for effective governance. Of the candidates for John Laird’s soon-to-be-vacant seat, Barbara Sprenger, Bill Monning and Emily Reilly all appear to be competent and thoughtful candidates dedicated to good causes. Of these three, the Weekly encourages a vote for Bill Monning because we believe his experience building coalitions to effect change, and his expertise in negotiation will best serve the Central Coast district.

Steven Barkalow is probably a very good chiropractor; he is not, however, a viable assemblyman at this time.

In interviews, Sprenger showcased impressive ideas for tackling the state’s budget woes, but she admitted she is not well known and she seemed a bit unfamiliar with the district’s lay of the land. Reilly told the oft-repeated story about how the humble origins of her bakery have prepared her to be responsive to her constituents, and she dropped her neighbor Laird’s name 10 times. Neither of those tactics impressed the editorial board. It is true that Reilly’s time on the Santa Cruz City Council does show her to be electable and knowledgeable of the political process. Yet her specifics for what she predicted she could accomplish right away in Sacramento seemed vague and unrealizable.

The Weekly believes Monning when he says he’ll come to the job with a mediator’s temperament, a visionary’s idealism and a practical list of tasks, committees and contacts to be engaged immediately in Sacramento. His plans for helping ag, transportation and trade were as detailed and thoughtful as his budget, health-care and environment ideas – and Monning outlined how he planned to achieve his goals.

His successful background organizing and his big-picture thinking coupled with his pragmatic approach to legislating make him the best choice for the 27th District. (And we think it’s about time someone from Monterey County had the seat.)

Sen. Jeff Denham Recall, Senate District 12

Yes, the Denham recall is dirty politics. Senate Pro Tem Don Perata (who once used The Sopranos logo on a fundraiser invite) was out for Republican blood. And he was mad at Denham for not voting to approve last year’s state budget. Plus, Denham’s an easy target. Despite The Don’s mea culpa, announcing Wednesday, May 7, that he was dumping the Denham recall in an effort to save the upcoming budget talks and avoid a repeat of last year’s stalemate, we say dump Denham.

Denham is a useless politician, and the recall is payback for Salinas Valley voters who got stuck with a screwed-up 12th District (it includes parts of Monterey, San Benito, Stanislaus, Merced and Madera counties) seven years ago and ended up with a senator who lives some 100 miles away in Modesto.

If Denham’s recalled, we’ll get our guy, County Supervisor-turned-Assemblyman-turned-County Supervisor Simón Salinas, back in Sacramento. When he was in the Assembly, Salinas, a Democrat, championed affordable housing, education and social services. Denham, on the other hand, has helped racetrack owners and casino owners. We’ll be sorry to see Salinas leave his local elected job early, but we believe he’ll better represent the interests of the Salinas Valley in Sacramento than Denham has, or ever will.

Superior Court Judge

With the “Voltron” option out of play – where part of each candidate is combined into the ultimate candidate – this becomes one of the tougher decisions for our editorial board to make. Luma Serrano Williams is precisely what an old boys’ court needs: a younger Latina who pulled herself up by her bootstraps. We get it. Unfortunately, her experience is limited – and we need a qualified candidate ready to take on a mammoth workload. Mark Hood is a tenacious prosecutor with years of criminal experience and an unmistakable passion for justice, but his experience is in Santa Clara County and his passion strays into righteousness. That leaves Todd Hornik and Tom Wills, who couldn’t be more different.

Like Hood, Hornik is a relentless criminal expert, and, having been a prosecutor in Monterey County Superior Court since 1994, he is well versed in the culture of criminal court – and hungry to make a greater impact. Trouble is, he can come across as a loose cannon whose ambition leads him to do anything to get ahead. He could do great things, but he’s a wild card.

Wills is a steady, bow-tie-wearing, 29-year veteran of local law who has worked in the area forever. While his dish represents much of the same represented by a buffet of 50-year-old white jurists, his overwhelmingly impressive list of endorsements speaks volumes. And he currently serves as a pro tem judge, so he’s aware of the workload, which begs the question: Knowing how much of a departure this position will be from his sweet private gig with private pay, will Wills’ wife vote for him?

Board of Supervisors

This election will mean a woman remains on the Board of Supervisors no matter who wins the race, and perhaps add some wisdom and balance to this important, but often divided, public body. With health care, public safety, land-use planning and the impacts of growth and sprawl at the top of the county agenda, all to be worked on in the face of a shrinking budget, Jane Parker and Ila Mettee-McCutchon offer two distinct choices.

To our surprise, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Mettee-McCutchon (both are Republicans) to the empty seat on the board only six weeks ago, a move many local Democrats felt was unfair because it gives her “incumbent” status so close to the election. Mettee-McCutchon is affable and smart, and thanks to her Southern roots, a tad sassy. We like that. And even though we appreciate her self-confident, quick-witted nature and her experience (including time as Marina mayor), we unanimously agree that Parker, a Democrat, represents a more enlightened vision for the county.

Parker’s background in community health care and her knowledge and connection to minority communities will serve the board well as it faces budget cuts and addresses its management of Natividad, the county hospital. We believe she would fight harder for the underserved, and be more forceful and transparent when facing off with developers.

In contrast, we are not impressed with the big-box development Mettee-McCutchon helped steer through in Marina. She seems used to doing business the old way. In 2004, she and her husband went on a cruise with the University Villages developer Bart Bruno, which seems unethical for any elected official. We also were angered that Mettee-McCutchon voted against the Monterey Music Summit featuring multiple-Grammy nominee Snoop Dogg; she was the sole voice against giving the festival permits on the county-owned Laguna Seca Raceway. Mettee-McCutchon said she disapproves of the popular rap artist’s lyrics that she believes glorify violence, adding she was concerned they could foster violence at the event. Her willingness to censor the arts is disturbing.

We also were surprised that Mettee-McCutchon recently sought a bonanza of a public money giveaway: $70 million in tax relief and incentives for the current Marina Dunes developer, which she believes is necessary in the face of the housing slowdown. She first went to the Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA) who turned her down. She then pushed for the money from the city of Marina. With Mettee-McCutchon, we worry she’ll continue doing business this way. This county can’t stomach another elected official who’s too close to developers.

We believe Parker has unflappable integrity, and would represent District 4 with intelligence and passion.

Incumbent Dave Potter offers experience, expertise and leadership on the Board of Supervisors and we think those are good reasons voters should re-elect him.

He serves on dozens of local and state boards and commissions, and is budget savvy. That will come in handy when funding cuts come down from Sacramento and the county has to figure out how to manage with less money, and he has worked through lean years before. He knows from experience what can and cannot be lost and still maintain public health and safety. He’s the strongest vote on the board for smart land-use policies and has the common sense to articulate his points.

State ballot measures

Prop. 98 seeks approval for a number of things, including barring state and local governments from taking or damaging private property for privates uses. Above all, though, if passed, this largely landlord-funded measure would ban rent control and eliminate deference to government in property-rights cases. Opponents have said a yes vote on the measure would make it more difficult for the government to condemn property for water projects, roads and other public projects. It has a solid base of bi-partisan opposition, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former governor Pete Wilson, both Republicans, and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and the League of California Cities.

Prop. 99 was devised in response to Prop. 98, as a more sane approach to dealing with eminent domain. If passed, it would prevent governments from taking residential property and giving it to private developers. Feinstein is among its supporters, and says the measure would protect private homes, “without making it more difficult for government to do its job to improve our infrastructure and protect public health and safety.’’ Other supporters include the California League of Conservation Voters and the California Police and Fire Chiefs Associations.

Tenants–rights activists in San Francisco offer a little rhyme to help you remember how to vote: “We hate 98, but 99 is fine.’’

Measure S

Spreckels Memorial Park and Park Annex is the lone patch of green in the little four-block-by-two-block digs that is the sweet little place called Spreckels. Letting it slip away would demoralize the population of a couple hundred people. The Fourth of July party held there would be reason enough by itself to support the $95-max parcel tax.

Measure T

This $80 million bond would pay for capital projects in the Salinas City Elementary School District, including new drop-off and pick-up locations at the schools, most of which are more than 50 years old, and dangerous – a car struck and killed a crossing guard at Mission Park Elementary School in 2006.

In addition to carving out more parents’ parking, Measure T also would fund “Columbine” locks that would allow teachers to lock their doors from the inside, and pay for new multipurpose facilities for school lunches and athletics. It has been more than 50 years since the district asked voters to pass a bond measure, and a citizens’ committee would oversee how the district spends the money. Money for school safety and better facilities is essential.

Measure U

The Weekly urges a yes vote on Measure U, the one-cent sales tax increase that will help fund city services.

For the past 10 years, some of P.G.’s most vocal critics have been clamoring for a reduction in city staff pay and benefits. Now that the city manager and council have radically re-organized and trimmed city departments, many of the same mouthpieces are decrying the loss of experience and the heartless nature of the changes. We feel it’s time to button up and pony up.

Pacific Grove needed to trim its workforce to be more efficient, and it still needs to increase its revenue if it wants to continue to provide a level of service that people expect in America’s Last Hometown. The increase will take the sales tax to the same level as the city of Seaside, and does not apply to food or rent. The net revenue is projected at $1.3 million per year to the city and will be spent on sewers, libraries and parks, as well as public safety.

Measure V

This measure seeks $18.8 million in bonds to improve Aromas and San Juan Bautista schools, including replacing portable classrooms; upgrading, building and equipping classrooms, restrooms and other facilities; and helping pay off an outstanding facilities loan. None of the money would be used for salaries or operating expenses, and the measure requires citizen oversight and independent public financial audits of how the bond money is spent.