Ballot choices could boost voter turnout
This year, two factors are likely to appreciably improve Yorba Linda voters’ usual tepid response to June primary elections, with past turnouts ranging from 23.3 to 56.4 percent of registered voters.
One dynamic certain to boost voter turnout will be the two measures asking for a “yes” or “no” vote on increasing densities to 10, 20 and 30 units per acre on 11 properties to allow low-cost, multi-family residential housing that would meet state-mandated requirements.
The measures include one for two eastside properties in Savi Ranch that total six acres and would allow 180 units and another for nine westside properties that total nearly 40 acres and would allow 770 units, although potential developers could choose to build fewer units.
(Three other westside sites identified by the City Council for potential low-cost housing, totaling nearly eight acres and allowing 77 units, are not on the ballot, since their zoning and potential densities don’t require a public vote under the provisions of Measure B, an initiative passed in 2006.)
The second dynamic is a possible competitive race to capture the state’s delegates to the GOP convention. This city’s 24,508 registered Republicans might be more motivated to cast ballots if Rick Santorum and/or Newt Gingrich continue to challenge Mitt Romney.
Other aspects of the June 5 ballot might not excite voters. The two county contests to represent Yorba Linda include a supervisor race to replace termed-out Bill Campbell that pits veteran office-holder Todd Spitzer against Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly.
And a county board of education race for the area that includes Yorba Linda drew two candidates, 16-year incumbent Ken Williams and community volunteer Mary Galuska.
Interestingly, due to the new “open primary” rules that advance the top two vote-getters to the November ballot, irrespective of party affiliation, the legislative contests involving Yorba Linda will repeat in November, since just two candidates are running in each race.
Vying to represent Yorba Lindans in Congress are 10-term incumbent Ed Royce and Orange resident D’Marie Mulattieri. Royce represented a west-end sliver of this city before redistricting in 2000. Gary Miller ducked a primary showdown with Royce by choosing to seek his eighth term in different district.
Two candidates for the new state Senate district representing Yorba Linda are incumbent Bob Huff and Brea resident Greg Diamond. Running in a redrawn state Assembly district that now covers the entire city are incumbent Curt Hagman and Gregg Fritchle. Sitting westside Assemblyman Chris Norby moved his re-election campaign to another district.
One little-noticed contest—for six seats on the Orange County Republican Central Committee representing the new 55th Assembly District that includes Yorba Linda—drew an all-time high of six Yorba Linda residents out of a total 10 candidates.
Running from Yorba Linda are Brett Barbre, Jim Domen, Karla Downing, Peggy Huang, Brenda McCune and Dennis White. Since many are life-time or long-time residents, I’ll devote future space to this contest, along with some of their interesting backgrounds.
One dynamic certain to boost voter turnout will be the two measures asking for a “yes” or “no” vote on increasing densities to 10, 20 and 30 units per acre on 11 properties to allow low-cost, multi-family residential housing that would meet state-mandated requirements.
The measures include one for two eastside properties in Savi Ranch that total six acres and would allow 180 units and another for nine westside properties that total nearly 40 acres and would allow 770 units, although potential developers could choose to build fewer units.
(Three other westside sites identified by the City Council for potential low-cost housing, totaling nearly eight acres and allowing 77 units, are not on the ballot, since their zoning and potential densities don’t require a public vote under the provisions of Measure B, an initiative passed in 2006.)
The second dynamic is a possible competitive race to capture the state’s delegates to the GOP convention. This city’s 24,508 registered Republicans might be more motivated to cast ballots if Rick Santorum and/or Newt Gingrich continue to challenge Mitt Romney.
Other aspects of the June 5 ballot might not excite voters. The two county contests to represent Yorba Linda include a supervisor race to replace termed-out Bill Campbell that pits veteran office-holder Todd Spitzer against Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly.
And a county board of education race for the area that includes Yorba Linda drew two candidates, 16-year incumbent Ken Williams and community volunteer Mary Galuska.
Interestingly, due to the new “open primary” rules that advance the top two vote-getters to the November ballot, irrespective of party affiliation, the legislative contests involving Yorba Linda will repeat in November, since just two candidates are running in each race.
Vying to represent Yorba Lindans in Congress are 10-term incumbent Ed Royce and Orange resident D’Marie Mulattieri. Royce represented a west-end sliver of this city before redistricting in 2000. Gary Miller ducked a primary showdown with Royce by choosing to seek his eighth term in different district.
Two candidates for the new state Senate district representing Yorba Linda are incumbent Bob Huff and Brea resident Greg Diamond. Running in a redrawn state Assembly district that now covers the entire city are incumbent Curt Hagman and Gregg Fritchle. Sitting westside Assemblyman Chris Norby moved his re-election campaign to another district.
One little-noticed contest—for six seats on the Orange County Republican Central Committee representing the new 55th Assembly District that includes Yorba Linda—drew an all-time high of six Yorba Linda residents out of a total 10 candidates.
Running from Yorba Linda are Brett Barbre, Jim Domen, Karla Downing, Peggy Huang, Brenda McCune and Dennis White. Since many are life-time or long-time residents, I’ll devote future space to this contest, along with some of their interesting backgrounds.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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