I am pleased once again to share with you my recommendations on who and what to vote for in the upcoming Los Angeles County 2022 November General Election.
As a Democrat, a Black woman, and someone who is both politically and socially conscious, I don’t always agree with my political party’s recommendations. I look at what’s best for People of Color (all colors), poor people (of all colors), and what makes common sense.
I don’t accept any money for endorsements for my voter guide. I do this as a service to my community and because I respect the trust that my community has in my opinion. I do, however, let you know if I worked for a candidate or donated to their campaign out of transparency. Since I am giving you my recommendations, you should know what candidates actually hire Black women and what candidates I believed in enough to donate money to their campaign.
This election, Los Angeles County will mail all registered voters a Vote by Mail ballot to ensure voters have a safe and accessible voting option during COVID-19. In-person voting will also be available at Vote Centers. You can find answers to frequently asked questions and more information on how to vote here.
Remember that with the new Vote Centers, you can vote ANYWHERE in L.A. County–not just near your home.
Voting ends on Tuesday, November 8, so make a plan and get it done.
MY VOTER GUIDE
STATE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
STATE GOVERNOR
No recommendation
The governor of California is the head of the government of California. The governor is the commander-in-chief of the California National Guard and the California State Guard. The governor is elected to serve a four-year term and can serve a maximum of two terms.
*I don’t vote for people who took money from Ed Buck and didn’t return it to assist Buck’s victims.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Eleni Kounalakis
The lieutenant governor of California is the second highest executive officer of the government of California. The lieutenant governor is elected to serve a four-year term and can serve a maximum of two terms. In addition to largely ministerial roles, serving as acting governor in the absence of the governor of California and as President of the California State Senate, the lieutenant governor either sits on (or appoints representatives to) many of California’s regulatory commissions and executive agencies.
SECRETARY OF STATE
Dr. Shirley Weber
The secretary of state of California is the chief clerk of California, overseeing a department of 500 people. The secretary of state is elected for four-year terms, like the state’s other constitutional officers; the officeholder is restricted by term limits to two terms.
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Tony Thurmond
The state superintendent of public instruction (SPI) of California is the nonpartisan (originally partisan) elected executive officer of the California Department of Education. The SPI directs all functions of the Department of Education, executes policies set by the California State Board of Education, and also heads and chairs the Board. The superintendent is elected to a four-year term, serves as the state’s chief spokesperson for public schools, provides education policy and direction to local school districts, and also serves as an ex officio member of governing boards of the state’s higher education system.
CONTROLLER
Malia Cohen
The state controller of California is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of California. The term of office is four years, renewable once.
TREASURER
Fiona Ma
The state treasurer of California is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the government of California. The term of office is four years, renewable once.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Rob Bonta
The attorney general of California is the state attorney general of the Government of California. The officer’s duty is to ensure that “the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced” (Constitution of California, Article V, Section 13). The California attorney general carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice. The California attorney general is elected to a four-year term, with a maximum of two terms.
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Ricardo Lara
The California insurance commissioner has been an elected executive office position in California since 1991. Prior to that time, the insurance commissioner was appointed by the governor. The officeholder is in charge of the California Department of Insurance.
The California insurance commissioner is elected to a four-year term, with a maximum of two terms.
UNITED STATES SENATE
Alex Padilla
The United States Senate consists of 100 members, two from each of the 50 states. There are no term limits.
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they comprise the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The House is charged with the passage of federal legislation, known as bills; those of which that are also passed by the Senate are sent to the president for consideration. The House also has exclusive powers: it initiates all revenue bills, impeaches federal officers, and elects the president if no candidate receives a majority of votes in the Electoral College.
California’s current congressional delegation in the 117th Congress consists of its two senators, both of whom are Democrats, and its 53 representatives: 42 Democrats and 11 Republicans.
The current dean of the California delegation is Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of 12th district, having served in the House since 1987.
Minority leader of the House Kevin McCarthy is also a member of California’s congressional delegation, serving 23rd district.
In total there are 435 voting members, 6 non-voting members with 218 needed for a majority.
CD 23 – Derek Marshall
CD 24 – Salud Carbajal
CD 25 – Raul Ruiz
CD 26 – No recommendation – I do not support candidates who took Ed Buck’s money and didn’t return it to assist with justice for Buck’s victims.
CD 27 – Christy Smith
CD 28 – Judy Chu
CD 29 – Angelica Duenas
CD 30 – G. Maebe A. Girl Pudlo
CD 31 – Grace Napolitano
CD 32 – Brad Sherman
CD 33 – No recommendation – I do not support candidates who took Ed Buck’s money and didn’t return it to assist with justice for Buck’s victims.
CD 34 – David Kim
CD 35 – Norma Torres
CD 36 – No recommendation – I do not support candidates who took Ed Buck’s money and didn’t return it to assist with justice for Buck’s victims.
CD 37 – Jan Perry ( I donated to this campaign.)
CD 38 – Linda Sanchez
CD 39 – Mark Takano
CD 40 – Asif Mahmood
CD 41 – Will Rollins
CD 42 – Robert Garcia
CD 43 – Maxine Waters
CD 44 – Nanette Barragan
CD 45 – Jay F. Chen
CD 46 – Lou Correa
CD 47 – Katie Porter
CD 48 – Stephen Houlahan
CD 49 – Mike Levin
CD 50 – Scott Peters
CD 51 – Sara Jacobs
CD 52 – Juan Vargas
California Supreme Court
The terms of five California Supreme Court justices will expire on January 1, 2023. Four seats are up for retention election on November 8, 2022. Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye announced she would not file for retention to her seat. Justice Patricia Guerrero was confirmed as the court’s next chief justice on August 26, 2022. She must stand for retention to assume office as chief justice.
The California Supreme Court is the state’s court of last resort. The court is composed of a chief justice and six associate justices, who are appointed by the governor to 12-year terms. Appointments must be confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. The court has jurisdiction to review any ruling of the California Courts of Appeal, and also handles misconduct cases and discipline of state attorneys and judges
Three appointed associate justices — Patricia Guerrero, Joshua Groban and Martin Jenkins — are on the ballot for the first time. Associate Justice Goodwin Liu is on the ballot because his 12-year elected term is up.
This is a list of the justices who must stand for retention election in 2022 in order to remain on the bench. Justices may choose not to stand for election. The list is subject to change if justices retire or are appointed.
Tani Cantil-Sakauye
Joshua Groban
Patricia Guerrero
Martin J. Jenkins
Goodwin Liu
You simply vote “yes” or “no.”
California appellate court
The terms of 43 California intermediate appellate court judges will expire on January 2, 2023. The 43 seats are up for retention election on November 8, 2022.
The judges of the California Court of Appeals are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. Newly appointed judges are required to stand for retention at the next gubernatorial election. After retention, judges serve 12-year terms.
In retention elections, which are uncontested (no opposing candidate), the voters vote “yes” or “no” to indicate whether the justice shall continue to serve. If a majority of voters cast “yes” votes for a particular justice, that justice remains for another term.
You simply vote “yes” or “no.”
CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature, the lower house being the California State Assembly. The State Senate convenes, along with the State Assembly, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. Each of the 40 state senators represents approximately 931,349 people.
As a result of Proposition 140 in 1990 and Proposition 28 in 2012, members elected to the legislature prior to 2012 are restricted by term limits to two four-year terms (eight years), while those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years in the legislature in any combination of four-year State Senate or two-year State Assembly terms. Members of the State Senate serve four-year terms. Every two years, half of the Senate’s 40 seats are subject to election. This is in contrast to the State Assembly, in which all 80 seats in the Assembly are subject to election every two years.
SD 18 – Steve Padilla
SD 20 – Carolyn Menjivar
SD 22 – Susan Rubio
SD 24 – Ben Allen
SD 26 – Maria Elena Durazo
SD 28 – Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
SD 30 – Bob Archuleta
SD 32 – Brian Nash
SD 34 – Tom Umberg
SD 36 – Kim Carr
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature, the upper house being the California State Senate.
As a result of Proposition 140 in 1990 and Proposition 28 in 2012, members elected to the legislature prior to 2012 are restricted by term limits to two four-year terms (eight years), while those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years in the legislature in any combination of four-year State Senate or two-year State Assembly terms. In the State Assembly, all 80 seats in the Assembly are subject to election every two years.
AD 36 – Eduardo Garcia
AD 37 – Gregg Hart
AD 38 – Steve Bennett
AD 39 – Juan Carillo
AD 40 – Pilar Schiavo
AD 41 – Chris Holden
AD 42 – Jacqui Irwin
AD 43 – Luz Maria Rivas
AD 44 – Laura Friedman
AD 45 – James C. Ramos
AD 46 – Jesse Gabriel
AD 47 – Christy Holstege
AD 48 – No recommendation – I do not support candidates who took Ed Buck’s money and didn’t return it to assist with justice for Buck’s victims.
AD 49 – Mike Fong
AD 50 – Eloise Gomez Reyes
AD 51 – Louis Abramson
AD 52 – Mia Livas Porter
AD 53 – Freddie Rodriguez
AD 54 – Miguel Santiago
AD 55 – Isaac G. Bryan
AD 56 – Lisa Calderon
AD 57 – No recommendation – I do not support candidates who took Ed Buck’s money and didn’t return it to assist with justice for Buck’s victims.
AD 58 – Sabrina Cervantes
AD 59 – Leon Q. Sit
AD 60 – Corey A Jackson
AD 61 – Tina McKinnor
AD 62 – Maria Estrada
AD 63 – Fauzia Rizvi
AD 64 – Blanca Pacheco
AD 65 – Mike Gipson
AD 66 – Al Muratsuchi
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT
The Supreme Court of California is the highest and final court of appeals in the courts of the U.S. state of California. It is headquartered in San Francisco at the Earl Warren Building, but it regularly holds sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts.
Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court
PATRICIA GUERRERO
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
GOODWIN LIU
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
MARTIN J. JENKINS
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
JOSHUA P. GROBAN
STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION
The California State Board of Equalization is a public agency charged with tax administration and fee collection in the state of California. The BOE is the only publicly elected tax commission in the United States. It is made up of four directly elected members, each representing a district for four-year terms, along with the State Controller, who is elected on a statewide basis, serving as the fifth member.
Office #1: Jose S. Altamarino
Office #2: Sally J. Lieber
Office #3: Antonio Vasquez
L.A. COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is the five-member governing body of Los Angeles County. Members are elected to four-year terms and can only serve three terms.
District 1 – Hilda Solis
District 3 – Lindsey Horvath ( I donated to this campaign.)
L.A. COUNTY SHERIFF
Robert Luna
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, officially the County of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, is a police force serving Los Angeles County, California.
LASD is the largest sheriff’s department in the United States and the fourth largest local police agency in the United States, following the New York Police Department (NYPD), the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the Los Angeles municipal Police Department (LAPD). LASD has approximately 18,000 employees, 9,915 sworn deputies and 9,244 unsworn members.
The department’s three main responsibilities are to provide municipal police services within Los Angeles County, courthouse security for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, and housing and transportation services of inmates within the county jail system. The LASD provides municipal police services to the unincorporated communities and 42 of the 88 cities within Los Angeles County.
In addition to its primary responsibilities, LASD contracts with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Metrolink, provides law enforcement services to ten community colleges, and patrols county parks, golf courses, special event venues, lakes, hospitals, and county facilities. LASD provides services, such as crime laboratories, homicide investigations, and academy training, to smaller law enforcement agencies within the county and across the State of California.
There are no term limits for the office of sheriff in Los Angeles County.
L.A. COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (the Court) is one of 58 superior courts created by Article VI of the California Constitution. It is the only court for the County of Los Angeles, an area which encompasses 88 cities, 140 unincorporated areas and more than 90 law enforcement agencies. It serves a population of over 10 million, an increase of almost 500,000 since 2000. The Court includes 37 courthouses located in 12 judicial districts throughout the county’s 4,752 square miles.
The Court’s judicial officers hear every case type under state law – criminal, civil, family law, juvenile dependency and delinquency, probate, mental health, and traffic. Cases range from simple traffic infractions to murders; landlord/tenant disputes to multi-million dollar lawsuits; guardianships to involuntary commitments.
Superior court judges serve six-year terms and are elected by county voters on a nonpartisan ballot at a general election. Vacancies are filled through appointment by the Governor.
Office 60 – Anna Slotky
Office 67 – Elizabeth Lashly-Haynes
Office 70 – Holly L. Hancock
Office 90 – Melissa Lyons
Office 118 – Carolyn Jiyoung Park
Office 151 – Patrick Hare
CITY OF LOS ANGELES
MAYOR
Karen Bass
The mayor of the City of Los Angeles is the official head and chief executive officer of Los Angeles. The officeholder is elected for a four-year term and is limited to serving no more than two terms. (Under the Constitution of California, all judicial, school, county and city offices are nonpartisan.)
CITY ATTORNEY
Faisal Gill
The Los Angeles City Attorney is an elected official who serves as the city of Los Angeles’ government’s lawyer and as a criminal prosecutor for misdemeanor violations. The Los Angeles County District Attorney prosecutes felonies. The city attorney is elected for four years, and the city charter requires the city attorney to be a lawyer qualified to practice in the California courts for five years preceding their election. In addition, the General Counsel Division of the office provides legal counsel for the city and represents it in civil actions.
I worked on the campaign for Faisal Gill.
CONTROLLER
Kenneth Mejia
The Los Angeles City Controller is an official in the government of the city of Los Angeles, California. The City Controller is the paymaster and chief accounting officer of the city. Along with the Mayor and the City Attorney, the City Controller is chosen by popular vote every four years.
CITY COUNCIL
The Los Angeles City Council is the legislative body of the City of Los Angeles.
The council is composed of 15 members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the council at the first regular meeting of the term (after June 30 in odd-numbered years until 2017 and the second Monday of December in even-numbered years beginning in 2020). An assistant president pro tempore is appointed by the President. As of 2020, council members receive an annual salary of $207,000 per year, which is among the highest city council salary in the nation.
Regular council meetings are held in the City Hall on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 am except on holidays or if decided by special resolution.
District 5 – No recommendation
District 11 – Erin Darling ( I donated to this campaign.)
District 13 – Hugo Soto-Martinez
District 15 – No recommendation
LOS ANGELES BOARD OF EDUCATION
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is a public school district in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the 2nd largest public school district in the United States.
District 2 – Rocio Rivas
District 6 – Kelly Gonez
L.A. Community College District Member, Board of Trustees
The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) is the community college district serving Los Angeles, California, and some of its neighboring cities and certain unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. The LACCD consists of nine colleges and covers an area of more than 882 square miles.
Seat 2 – Steve Veres
Seat 4 – Christine T. LaMonica
Seat 6 – No Recommendation
Seat 7 – Kelsey Iino
STATE PROPOSITIONS
PROPOSITION 1 – YES
Provides a state constitutional right to reproductive freedom, including the right to an abortion
A legislatively referred constitutional amendment is a proposed constitutional amendment that has been passed by a state’s legislature and appears on the statewide ballot for voter ratification. Every state but Delaware requires voter approval before a proposed amendment becomes a part of the state’s constitution.
PROPOSITION 26 – YES
Legalizes sports betting at American Indian gaming casinos and licensed racetracks in California
A combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statute is a ballot measure that combines an initiated constitutional amendment with an initiated state statute. If approved, it will change both a state’s constitution and one or more state statutes.
PROPOSITION 27 – NO
Legalizes sports betting at American Indian gaming casinos and licensed racetracks in California
A combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statute is a ballot measure that combines an initiated constitutional amendment with an initiated state statute. If approved, it will change both a state’s constitution and one or more state statutes.
PROPOSITION 28 – YES
Requires funding for K-12 art and music education
An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute (state law). Of the 26 states that provide some form of initiative, 21 states allow for citizens to initiate state statutes.
PROPOSITION 29 – YES
Enacts staffing requirements, reporting requirements, ownership disclosure, and closing requirements for chronic dialysis clinics
An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute (state law). Of the 26 states that provide some form of initiative, 21 states allow for citizens to initiate state statutes.
PROPOSITION 30 – YES
Increases the tax on personal income above $2 million by 1.75% and dedicates revenue to zero-emission vehicle projects and wildfire prevention programs
An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute (state law). Of the 26 states that provide some form of initiative, 21 states allow for citizens to initiate state statutes.
PROPOSITION 31 – NO RECOMMENDATION
Upholds the ban on flavored tobacco sales.
Full disclosure, I use a vape so I am not going to vote against my own self-interest. That said, you vote how you want to on this.
A “yes” vote is to uphold the contested legislation, Senate Bill 793 (SB 793), which would ban the sale of flavored tobacco products.
A “no” vote is to repeal the contested legislation, Senate Bill 793 (SB 793), thus keeping the sale of flavored tobacco legal in the state.
A veto referendum is a type of citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal a law passed by the state legislature, a city council, a county board of supervisors, or some other legislative body. This type of ballot measure is also called citizen referendum, statute referendum, statute remand, popular referendum, people’s veto, or citizen’s veto.
COUNTY & CITY MEASURES
MEASURE A – NO
Shall the measure amending the County of Los Angeles Charter to grant the Board of Supervisors authority to remove an elected Sheriff from office for cause, including violation of law related to a Sheriff’s duties, flagrant or repeated neglect of duties, misappropriation of funds, and willful falsification of documents.
I received a lot of emails asking me about my position on Measure A, so here it is…
I am a no on Measure A because
- I don’t believe in making laws like this to deal with one person.
- We like the current board of supes, but they have terms limits, unlike the sheriff. If we get a radically different board in the future and have a good sheriff, this can have the reverse effect.
- The people elected the sheriff, and so the people can, if they decide to, take the sheriff out of office.
- It’s a very slippery slope. A while back, voters voted to give the sheriff term limits. The sheriff at the time, Baca, took it to court and won. It was overturned. Why? The judge said that it’s the state of California that has jurisdiction over the sheriff and not the county. The board is responsible for the budget of the sheriff’s office and not hiring and firing the sheriff.
I do not like Villanueva, so this is in no way to support him. But just because I don’t like him doesn’t mean I am going to make up a law that’s more than likely going to be overturned. That’s just as bad as what we say the Republicans are doing.
I hope that helps. But look, if you are feeling it—vote yes. These are just the reasons I am voting no.
MEASURE C – YES
Shall the measure enacting a tax in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County on cannabis businesses at annual rates not to exceed $10 per square foot for cultivation (adjusted for inflation) and a percentage of gross receipts for various cannabis businesses, including retail (6 percent).
MEASURE H – YES
Establishes rent control in the City of Pasadena, enacts “just cause” eviction protections to reduce housing displacement, creates an independent rental housing board to preserve affordable housing and implement tenant protections and provides for relocation benefits under certain circumstances.
MEASURE LH – YES
Shall a measure authorizing public entities in the City of Los Angeles to develop, construct, or acquire up to 5,000 additional units of low-income rental housing in each Council District to address homelessness and affordable housing needs, subject to availability of funding and City development requirements,…
MEASURE SP – NO
Shall an ordinance providing funding for parks, recreational centers, pools, playgrounds, waterways, beaches, green spaces, open spaces, childcare and other facilities, and increasing park equity in the City of Los Angeles, through a tax of $0.08414 per square foot on improved parcels, reduced to $0.0222…
MEASURE ULA – YES
Shall an ordinance funding and authorizing affordable housing programs and resources for tenants at risk of homelessness through a 4% tax on sales/transfers of real property exceeding $5 million, and 5.5% on properties of $10 million or more, with exceptions; until ended by voters; generating approximately…
MEASURE LA – YES
To repair/upgrade local community colleges, classrooms, water pipes, sewer/gas lines, technology, science labs for nurses, paramedics, firefighters, veterans; prepare students for jobs/university transfer; remove asbestos, lead paint; acquire, construct, repair facilities, sites, equipment.