THE VOTER THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SONOMA COUNTY Volume 8, No. 8 October 2003 The League of Women Voters of Sonoma County 100 E Street, Suite 209 Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-546-5943 info@sonco.ca.lwvnet.org http://sonco.ca.lwvnet.org Officers: Nancy Richards, President 707-575-7160 Phyllis Stanley, VP Action 707-539-1696 Susan Gorin, VP Administration Evelyn Roberson, VP Program Phyllis Clement, Secretary Susannah Likins, Treasurer IMAGES OF AFRICA by Rosemary Straley Forum Meeting Saturday, October 18, 12 noon Sonoma County Library Corner E and 3 rd Streets Santa Rosa (see p. 3 for more information) Directors: George Ellman, Transportation Olive Horrell, Membership 707-539-5515 Willard Richards, Voter Service The Voter Team: Jack & Marsha Dupre, Voter Editors 707-528-7146 May Huddleston Lynda Hungerford Caroline Ramberg NEW MEMBER EVENTS ROLLING ON TO STOPS IN: Healdsburg, October 8 Sebastopol, October 22 (See p. 4 for more information) CONTENTS: President s Message 2 Pros and Cons: Proposition 54 7 Civil Liberties and the Patriot Act 2 Opposition to LWVUS Position on DRE 8 Forum Meeting: Images of Africa 3 September Board Briefs 8 International Relations Study Group 3 Thanks to Our Supporters 8 Voter Service News 3 Smart Voter Award 9 New Member Events 4 Campaign Finance Reform 9 Toward Better Beginnings 4 Member Profile 9 LWVC Position on Propositions 53 & 54 5 UNA Film Festival 10 State and Local Finances 5 Book Club Corner 11 Pros and Cons: Proposition 53 6 October Calendar 12
THE VOTER VOL. 8, NO. 7, OCTOBER 2003 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE On August 27, more than 1 million signatures were submitted to qualify the Budget Accountability Act for the March 2004 ballot. A broad coalition called Californians for Budget Accountability, with the League of Women Voters of California a lead member, collected almost 200,000 of those signatures through volunteers. I am proud to say that members of our Sonoma County League contributed to this effort. Collecting signatures was not difficult. Most people readily signed when they learned the provisions of the act. 1. A reduction to a 55% vote of the legislature to pass a budget. 2. The creation of a rainy day fund of 5% in years when revenues exceed the amount needed to fund existing service levels. 3. The forfeiture, permanently, of the salary, per diem expenses and car allowance by the legislature and the governor for each day past the Constitutional deadline that a budget is not adopted and signed.. 4. A requirement that the legislature remain in session and not act on other legislation until the budget is adopted, if the deadline is not met. 5. A published summary in the voter pamphlet explaining how the money is spent and who is spending it. 6. A website address where voters can find out how legislators voted on the budget And toward the goal of real budget reform, the League opposes Proposition 53 on the October 7 ballot for much the same reason that we opposed Propositions 49 and 51 on the November 2002 ballot. We should not tie the hands of the legislature and governor when they will probably be facing hard choices among a number of critical programs during the next several years. Let s hope that Proposition 53 will be defeated in October and the Budget Accountability Act will pass in March and will make structural changes to our current system of gridlock, late budgets, and lack of accountability. The State must adopt real reforms, not stop gap measures like Prop. 53, before it can put its fiscal house in order. The Budget Accountability Act could be a good start. Nancy Richards DUES TIME AGAIN You have probably all received your membership dues notice by now. Last year, renewal notices were late, follow-up letters and phone calls were later, therefore, the 2002-2003 Roster was detained. This year, the process will be accelerated so that we can begin to work on compiling and printing the Roster so that it can be sent out by late October. A prompt remittance will save time, paper and postage for second notices and assure that your name will appear in the new 2003-2004 Roster. Please renew your membership POST HASTE. Thank you. CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF AMERICAN VALUES September 11, 2003 Statement by Kay J. Maxwell, President, League of Women Voters of the United States FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lyndsey Farrington 202-263-1332 lfarrington@lwv.org WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, the President proposed an expansion of the USA Patriot Act's law enforcement powers. This expansion of power would significantly undermine the fundamental liberties guaranteed to all citizens in the Constitution. The League of Women Voters calls on Congress to reject the Administration's attempt to limit Americans' freedoms. We are deeply concerned with the Administration's plan, which would allow subpoenas to be issued without obtaining approval from judges or grand juries, and make it legal to hold suspects without bail. It is up to Congress to keep close watch over the Patriot Act's implementation and continue to address instances where citizens' freedoms have been abused. On this second anniversary of September 11, 2001, the League memorializes those who lost their lives in the attacks two years ago. We must stand together to protect and strengthen the American way of life and our democratic system of good government that our adversaries would so like to destroy. We call on the Administration and Congress to protect our homeland through means that protect our civil liberties, rather than chipping away at the basic values for which America stands. MISSION The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. 2
VOL. 8, NO. 8, OCTOBER 2003 THE VOTER IMAGES OF AFRICA To broaden our knowledge and understanding about global issues, on October 18 Rosemary Straley will share images and impressions from the Straleys recent threemonth trip to 22 African countries their fifth visit to that continent in the past 10 years. While narrating this slide presentation, Rosemary will touch on a range of topics which she hopes will generate a lively discussion, including impact of U.S. policy, poverty, education, health, environment, trade, aid, status of women, tourism, culture, religion, legacy of colonialism and the Cold War. Rosemary s encounter with Africa began in the early 1960 s while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana and hitchhiking in 18 other African countries. She later was Peace Corps director in Cameroun, and then administered projects for UNESCO, UNDP, and USAID. Her doctorate from Harvard was awarded in administration, with specialization in planning for developing countries. Rosemary s interest in Africa continues through projects funded by the George-Straley Foundation. Bring your brown bag lunch to the Santa Rosa Library at 3 rd & E Streets at 12 noon on Saturday, October 18. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS STUDY GROUP The International Relations study group meets the second Tuesday of the month in the Santa Rosa League office. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 at 12 noon. The topic planned for the Great Decisions discussion is: U.S. and Nigeria: thinking beyond oil. Africa's most populous country and emerging democracy faces many challenges. How will religious conflict, regional tensions and oil production affect Nigeria's stability?" Please feel free to bring current material from publications or invite anyone who is knowledgeable about the topic so we can learn more and add to our lively discussion. We follow topics in the Great Decisions briefing book, which is published by the Foreign Policy Association in New York City. It is a brown-bag lunch session. All members are welcome. If anyone is interested in purchasing the Great Decisions 2003 briefing book, you may do so by calling the Foreign Policy Association at 1-800-477-5836. We will be ordering the 2004 Great Decisions briefing book in November for those who are interested in following the topics for discussion next year. If you have any questions, please contact Rosalie Gillmore at 769-8826 or Gillmore_R@msn.com. Rosalie Gillmore VOTER SERVICE NEWS MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION New local members: Muriel Knapp 329 Grant Ave. Petaluma, CA 94952 769-1133 msutch@comcast.net Dina Angress 720 Petaluma Blvd. South #29 Petaluma, CA 94952 762-1028 dina@svn.net Railey Album 1666 Creekview Cir. Petaluma, CA 94954 766-7056 The County Registrar of Voters will arrange a booth for the League at the Harvest Fair, October 4-6, to register voters for the November and later elections. Let me know if you wish to volunteer for a couple of hours. A free ticket to the fair is included. The state Education Fund is publishing an Easy Voter Guide, which provides an easily read introduction to the Recall Election. You can read this publication, and see other voter information, at www.easyvoter.org. By the time you read this, I will have received 3100 copies of the Easy Voter Guide: 2000 in English, 900 in Spanish, 150 in Chinese, and 50 in Vietnamese. They are free to us and were paid for by a foundation grant. 2150 of these will be given to the Sonoma County Library for distribution through the 13 branches. That leaves nearly 1000 copies for us to distribute. Contact me if you know of organizations that could help distribute copies to potential voters. Willard Richards 575-7160 3
THE VOTER VOL. 8, NO. 7, OCTOBER 2003 NEW MEMBER EVENTS ROLLING ON TO THE NEXT STOPS: HEALDSBURG AND SEBASTOPOL Following the initial two LWVSC's "Get Acquainted As You Get Informed" area meetings, we move on to Healdsburg and Sebastopol in October. Members in those two locales will want to mark their calendars NOW for these dates: Healdsburg, Wednesday, October 8, 4 to 6 PM, at the residence of Joyce Scramaglia, 319 Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg. Sebastopol, Wednesday, October 22, 10 AM to 12 noon, at the residence of Phyllis & Bob Clement, 753 Hurlbut Ave., Sebastopol. These informal meetings provide an ideal opportunity for members, prospective members and guests to meet the LWVSC President Nancy Richards, and other Board Members. A brief program at each event will allow for a Q & A session, and an update on current League activities and issues. Refreshments will be served. Note: The first of these area meetings was held in Petaluma on September 6. It was an interesting sharing of announcements, ideas, and open discussion about League concerns with questions and responses between LWVSC officers and local members. Three prospective members were inspired to join League right then and there and presented their checks to Treasurer, Susannah Likins. As this VOTER goes to press, the Membership Committee is ready for the second "Get Acquainted As You Get Informed event in Sonoma on September 25. Please call Janie Hawker, 584-5210, if you have any questions. TOWARD BETTER BEGINNINGS It is well accepted that the very first year of League membership is the critical period for ensuring long-term interest and commitment. Member retention is a concern in most every League. We need to do more than offer a warm welcome to new members - and we can! Please consider becoming one of a cadre of members who would be willing to provide a new member with information about the League experience, about local League activities, opportunities, meetings and events. A few minutes on the telephone, that personal touch of interest and outreach, can give a positive, encouraging message to a new member. Interested? Please call me at 584-5210 for more information. Janie Hawker 4
VOL. 8, NO. 8, OCTOBER 2003 THE VOTER THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR: OCTOBER 2003 SPECIAL ELECTION NO ON PROPOSITION 53 DEDICATED SPENDING Oppose Proposition 53 Funds Dedicated for State and Local Infrastructure. This measure would lock into the state constitution a new program of pay-as-you-go infrastructure funding. It is true that public works projects are needed, but Prop. 53 is the wrong way to pay for them. Legislators would allocate funds, half to state and half to local projects of their choice, with no requirement for funding the projects of greatest need and no accountability. K-12 schools and community colleges would be excluded. Prop. 53 does not provide new revenue but simply earmarks funds, even if that means cuts for essential health care, education, public safety, or other programs. Even in hard times, transfers from the General Fund might still be required, reducing the state's flexibility in setting priorities. NO ON PROPOSITION 54 INFORMATION BAN Oppose Proposition 54 Classification by Race, Ethnicity, Color, or National Origin. This constitutional amendment would ban state and local governments from using information essential to public health, education reforms, crime prevention, and civil rights enforcement even though much of this data would still have to be collected to meet federal mandates. The medical "exemption" is poorly written, will invite litigation, and could jeopardize the use of information important in fighting cancer, heart disease, diabetes, the spread of infectious diseases and other illnesses. The California Medical Association and more than 40 other health organizations agree that Proposition 54 is bad medicine for all Californians. LWVCA VOTE WITH THE LEAGUE ON OCTOBER 7 STATE AND LOCAL FINANCES Delegates to the LWVC convention in May chose State and Local Finances (SLF) as one of their Issues for Emphasis. Excerpts from the goal for this emphasis state, "The education focus will include educating our members, encouraging local Leagues to engage in community education activities, monitoring current proposals, and encouraging public involvement. Citizen education on the state budget process and state/local fiscal relationships and proposals for improvement will be a focus. The action agenda will include tracking legislation and advocacy in the state legislature based on the LWVC position and legislative priority. This is the first in a series of articles on this important issue from LWVC. Why Does It Matter? Adapted from the newsletter of the Association of Bay Area Governments The morning news details another mugging; it is news because, this time, it is in a good neighborhood. Pouring your morning coffee, you wonder why the police are not more vigilant. Later you hear that the mugger has been caught and this is not his first offense. You wonder what his probation officer has been doing. Driving your grandson to school, there is additional graffiti on the overpass near the school, and last week s swear words have not yet been erased. As you leave your grandson at the school, you think about how large his class has grown, that the building needs paint, and that he has complained that there is no orange construction paper (and it s October!). On the way to the grocery store, you drive over another pothole. It is getting harder to avoid the corners where homeless folks stand with signs such as, Will work for food. You want to stop at the library on your way home, but realize that the library has cut back its hours and will not open until noon. You wonder why the city is not acting more quickly to solve the problems that are affecting your quality of life. A cogent argument can be made that there IS a connection between the above thoughts and the fact that your community has fewer and fewer resources, and many of those resources have strings attached. The state s authority to allocate resources strikes at the very heart of a local government s ability to meet public demands and expectations. Although not sexy, state and local finances matters more than we may have realized! 5
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS 7 OF CALIFORNIA EDUCATION FUND PROS & CONS 801 12th Street, Suite 220, Sacramento, CA 95814 Press Date August 21, 2003 STATEWIDE SPECIAL ELECTION OCTOBER 7, 2003 There will be three questions on this statewide special election ballot: a two-part question regarding the recall of the governor; Proposition 53; and Proposition 54. The recall question contains two parts. You may vote on both parts or on just one. The first part will ask, Shall Gray Davis be recalled (removed) from the office of governor? The second part will list the names of candidates running to replace the governor if he is recalled. If you choose to vote for a replacement candidate, you may vote for only one of those candidates. For more information: www.smartvoter.org, www.ca.lwv.org PROPOSITION 53 FUNDS DEDICATED FOR STATE AND LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE Legislative Constitutional Amendment THE QUESTION Should the California Constitution be amended to require specified percentages of General Fund revenues to be committed to pay-as-you-go infrastructure projects for state and local governments? THE SITUATION California has hundreds of billions of dollars invested in public infrastructure. This includes facilities and structures for water resources, transportation, higher education, natural resources, criminal justice, health services, and office space. In addition, the state provides funds for local infrastructure, including K-12 schools and community colleges, streets and roads, parks, water treatment, flood control, and jails. This infrastructure, from time to time, requires modernization or expansion. State infrastructure needs are estimated at $54 billion over the next five years. At present the only major dedicated revenues are for transportation (highways and mass transit). In the past five years the state has spent about $2.3 billion annually on that infrastructure. Most state infrastructure projects use funds from general obligation bonds that must be presented to the voters for approval, or lease-revenue bonds approved by the legislature and repaid out of rent payments. The state has spent about $4.2 billion of bond proceeds annually over the past five years. Direct General Fund appropriations, called pay-as-you-go financing, have totaled about $275 million annually in the past five years. THE PROPOSAL establishes an infrastructure investment fund and commits a percentage of the General Fund for pay-as-you-go infrastructure projects requires the Legislature to allocate the funds annually 50 percent for state-owned projects and 50 percent for local government projects, other than schools and community colleges transfers 1 percent of General Fund revenues to the infrastructure fund beginning with the 2006-07 fiscal year, and increases transfers to the fund annually over several years to a maximum of 3 percent of General Fund revenues. Transfers would be subject to increase, decrease, or suspension with revenue increases and decreases. reduces the transfer rate if growth in the Proposition 98 school funding guarantee exceeds the percentage growth in revenue. Caps transfers so that total of transfers plus debt payment for bonds would not exceed 7.5 percent of revenue. FISCAL EFFECT The amount of transfers from the General Fund to the infrastructure fund is difficult to determine. The Legislative Analyst s estimate for 2006-07 is $850 million, increasing to several billion dollars when transfers reach the 3 percent maximum rate. 6 SUPPORTERS SAY The Legislature has failed to keep up with critical infrastructure needs such as highways, water systems, and universities in California, and that is damaging both our economy and our quality of life. Proposition 53 would meet those needs without raising taxes by requiring a stable pay-as-you-go system of infrastructure financing. OPPONENTS SAY Less than 30 percent of the state budget is currently discretionary. Proposition 53 locks in spending increases out of limited existing revenues, meaning that the money will come at the expense of other important services such as education, health care and public safety. It is a blank check with no oversight or guidelines, which will allow more pork barrel spending by the Legislature. FOR MORE INFORMATION Supporters Yes on California s Future, Yes on Prop 53 916-444-5701 www.yeson53.org Opponents California Tax Reform Association 916-446-4300
LWVCEF Pros & Cons Page 2 PROPOSITION 54 CLASSIFICATION BY RACE, ETHNICITY, COLOR, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN Initiative Constitutional Amendment THE QUESTION Should the California Constitution be amended to restrict state and local governments from classifying (collecting and using) information on an individual s race, ethnicity, color, or national origin? THE SITUATION Currently, information relating to race, ethnicity, color, and national origin is collected by state and local government institutions on individuals for various purposes, all allowable by the state constitution. Much of the information collected is required by the federal government to assure compliance with federal nondiscrimination legislation and as a condition for receiving federal funds. The state constitution prohibits state and local government agencies from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to any individual or group based on race, color, ethnicity or national origin in public employment, public education, and public contracting. THE PROPOSAL Proposition 54 prohibits the classifying (collection and use) of race-related information by state and local governments, effective January 1, 2005. The exceptions are: to comply with federal law to remain eligible to receive federal monies to comply with a court order in force as of 1/1/05 to allow law enforcement agencies to describe individuals to place prisoners and assign undercover officers to collect and use information related to medical research subjects and patients to allow the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to collect certain race-related data through 2014. Race-related information could continue to be collected and used in areas other than public education, contracting, and employment if classification of those individuals is approved by a 2/3 majority of the Legislature and by the Governor as serving a compelling state interest. For some current government activities, the effect of the measure is unknown and would depend on future interpretation of the measure s language by courts and future actions by the Legislature. FISCAL EFFECT State and local governments could experience minor one-time costs to modify forms and data collection systems. Minor annual savings might be experienced due to reduced data collection and use. Overall, no significant fiscal effect is expected. SUPPORTERS SAY Labeling people as to their ancestry and racial background without their knowledge and/or consent is an invasion of privacy. Government-imposed racial classifications have been used to divide people by emphasizing minor differences rather than common interests and values. We should stop categorizing citizens and create a colorblind society where we re all just Americans. The California Constitution forbids state and local governments from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment based on race; therefore there is no need to classify people by race, ethnicity, color or national origin. OPPONENTS SAY Preventing the collection, analysis and use of race-related data will hinder the ability to address disparities by race and ethnicity in public health, education, crime prevention, and civil rights enforcement. The exceptions leave open questions about the scope of the prohibitions, making numerous legal challenges a certainty. America is not close to being a colorblind society. We need to understand our differences in order to deal with them in a positive way. FOR MORE INFORMATION Supporters American Civil Rights Coalition 916-444-2278 www.racialprivacy.org Opponents Coalition for an Informed California 510-452-2728 www.informedcalifornia.org ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2003 Polls are open from 7am to 8pm www.smartvoter.org Personal Complete Ballot Polling Place Lookup Including Map Candidate Statements Election Results QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING In order to vote in the October 7th election, you must be: 18 years old a resident of the state registered to vote not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction not have been judged mentally incompetent by a court WHEN DO YOU NEED TO RE-REGISTER TO VOTE? When you move When you change your name When you want to change your political party affiliation. Last Day to Register to Vote September 22, 2003 First Day to Apply for an Absentee Ballot September 8, 2003 Last Day County Elections Officials Will Accept Absentee Ballot Application by Mail September 30, 2003 Secretary of State: www.ss.ca.gov R Copyright 2003 League of Women Voters of California Education Fund. No portion of the Pros & Cons may be reprinted without express permission of the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund. 7
THE VOTER VOL. 8, NO. 7, OCTOBER 2003 LEAGUE MEMBERS OPPOSE LWVUS POSITION ON DRE VOTING MACHINES Recently a number of League members throughout the country have voiced their concerns regarding the position taken by LWVUS on DRE (direct recording electronic) voting machines. In particular, there is concern with the LWVUS statement on paper trails. That statement reads, in part, The LWVUS does support an individual audit capacity for the purposes of recounts and authentication of elections for all voting systems, including, but not limited to, DREs. The LWVUS does not believe that an individual paper confirmation for each ballot is required to achieve those goals. Some League members have cited a number of experts who have stated that DREs have security flaws and that paper trails are necessary to reduce the possibility of fraud. This is an issue that many League members consider vitally important. If you are interested in learning more about this issue, you can first reread Lynda Hungerford s article on HAVA (Help America Vote Act) in the September VOTER. In addition, the following URLs present the LWVUS statement in full and a page of links on the topic assembled by a League member: http://www.lwv.org/where/promoting/votingrights_hav a_drevm.html http://www.zianet.com/leverett/voting.html Genevieve Katz, a member of the Oakland League, has written an open letter to President Kay Maxwell, President of LWVUS. This letter asks LWVUS to reconsider its position on individual paper confirmation for each ballot. If, after reading the discussions on both sides of the issue at the above URLs, you wish to add your name to the open letter, you can log on to http//www.leagueissues.org/ and sign on. If you do not have a computer, you can send a postcard to Gen Katz, 3317 Brunnell Drive, Oakland, CA 94612. Give your name and your League affiliation and ask that your name be added to the letter to President Kay Maxwell. Nancy Richards SEPTEMBER BOARD BRIEFS Old Business Janie Hawker reported plans for new member meetings in Petaluma and Sonoma in September and in Healdsburg and Sebastopol in October. Eve Roberson discussed the Kick-off meeting to be held Sept. 13 at the Santa Rosa City Hall, with a continental breakfast membership meeting at nine, followed by a public forum on the recall election. Nancy Richards gave us advance notice of a Theater Party on Feb. 5 to raise needed funds. Janie Hawker told us about a League mentoring program she is working on to assist new members in learning about League. New Business The Board discussed dues notices, and it was MSC to use first class postage so they won t get overlooked. The Board also decided that in order to be more timely, the roster should come out at the end of October. The names of members who have not renewed by Oct. 15 will not be included in the new Roster. Nancy Richards reported that our opposition to Propositions 53 and 54 is stated in the LWVC Action guide. We regretfully decided that we would not give a donation to the Sonoma County Literacy Coalition. A motion was carried with dissenting voices. The board noted that the League needs workers in membership, program and development. Phyllis Clement THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS! Education Fund Susannah Likens. RECALL INFORMATION For accurate, balanced, up-to-theminute information on the recall election, your first stop in cyberspace is the League of Women Voters of California website, http://ca.lwv.org. Click on "Recall Election." General Fund Bay Area Council of Northern California American Business Women s Association (Thanks to Susan Gorin who served as moderator for a candidates forum) Jack and Marsha Dupre (In honor of Nancy Richards and Susan Gorin s birthdays) 8
VOL. 8, NO. 8, OCTOBER 2003 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA HONORED FOR SMART VOTER In a recent competition by the Global 2003 Tech Museum of Innovation, the League of Women Voters of California was honored as one of 25 laureates recognized for helping to bridge existing technology in emerging countries and emerging technologies in developed countries. The League is being recognized for Smartvoter.org a website that provides objective, nonpartisan background information on the candidates and complex issues that appear on election ballots. We re honored that Smart Voter has been recognized as a tool that is improving the quality of life. It is critical that California voters have access to objective and impartial information that enables them to make educated decisions about the future of their state, said Trudell Een, Project Director for Smart Voter. The judges considered more than 500 nominations from 70 countries. This year s laureates come from Bangladesh, Canada, Costa Rica, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nicaragua, Nepal and the United States. On October 15, Silicon Valley leaders and delegates from the United Nations will join together to honor all 25 laureates, and one laureate from each of 5 categories will be awarded a $50,000 cash honorarium. For more information on the awards and laureates, visit: http://techawards.thetech.org. And if you have never clicked on to www.smartvoter.org, you are urged to do so. We are very fortunate to have Lynda Hungerford maintaining our local web pages for our Sonoma County League. Nancy Richards CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM THE VOTER My heartfelt thanks to the many League members who participated in work to advise the Santa Rosa City Council on the provisions in the campaign finance ordinance required by the voters last November. We did not achieve everything we hoped for, but can claim a number of accomplishments. The League recommendation to require an additional financial disclosure statement on the Friday before Election Day and to put all disclosure statements on the City website was readily accepted. There is no question that the new ordinance makes timely campaign contribution and expense data more readily accessible to all residents. Decreasing campaign contributions and expenditures is always difficult, because limiting the normal channels can cause money to go underground. However, providing public financing only to candidates who agree to voluntary spending limits has been effective in other jurisdictions. Unfortunately, Santa Rosa is probably unique in the United States because the City Council voted to provide the voter-mandated public financing to all candidates without restriction other than qualifying for the ballot. I think this campaign has been good for the local League. We have been mentioned in The Press Democrat several times, which is unusual. Our meeting with the PD Editorial Staff may have encouraged them to write the editorials on campaign finance reform. And finally, several organizations joined our cause, with the result that about 17 people spoke to the City Council in favor of the positions first articulated by the League. Other organizations are now planning to pick up the political process. I believe the League study and recommendations were helpful to all sides of the debate. Willard Richards MEMBER PROFILE Marian Jones is a native of Healdsburg and a citizen of the world. Born and raised in Healdsburg, she and her husband Bob returned to Sonoma County after 25 years in Sacramento, where she joined the League while working at the Sacramento County Library and rearing two sons. Members of our League ever since their return seventeen years ago, Marian and Bob Jones live on a twenty-acre parcel east of Windsor with a Healdsburg address. Marian says that they actually live on a quarter acre and leave the rest for native wild life, including several rattlesnakes that show up every year. Someone who has always been interested in world affairs, she participates in the League s Great Decisions Group. In addition, she selects a specific country to study each year on her own. This year it is Chile. She is the League s representative to the Sonoma County Chapter of the United Nations Association. She and Pat Oberg, also a League member, are co-presidents of the Chapter this year. Marian also serves as the League Representative on a recycling task force for Sonoma County Waste Management and on the Russian River Watershed Council. The mission of the Council is to protect, restore, and enhance the biological health of the Russian River and its watershed through a community-based process, which facilitates communication and collaboration among all interested parties. For Marian, Think globally, act locally is not a cliché. It is a way of life. 9
THE VOTER VOL. 8, NO. 7, OCTOBER 2003 UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF SONOMA COUNTY TRAVELING FILM FESTIVAL When Saturday November 1, 2003 SRJC Newman Auditorium 1:00-5:30 PM Program 1:00 Introduction to the Festival 1:15 BOMBIES (57 minutes Canada/Laos/USA + 15 minute discussion) 2:28 DANGEROUS ART (7 minutes - Canada/Mozambique) 2:36 NOT FOR SALE (32 minutes - India/Peru/USA) 3:00 Refreshment Break (20 minutes) 3:29- IN WHOSE INTEREST (27 minutes - USA + 15 minute discussion) 4:11 UNDESIRABLES (23 minutes Russia/USA + 15 minute discussion) 4:50 WOMAN BY WOMAN (27 minutes India/USA) 5: 17 Conclusion to the Festival Ticket Information General Public - $8 Students - $5 Advance ticket purchase recommended - SEE BELOW. Location SRJC Newman Auditorium Parking $2 - From Mendocino Ave. turn onto Elliott Ave., then right at first entrance into the college parking lot behind Newman Auditorium. Inquiries Please contact Bob Brown, 537-1577 or Pat Oberg, 566-7500 Sponsored by: United Nations Association of Sonoma County Chapter World Affairs Council of Sonoma County Santa Rosa Junior College, Social Sciences Department The Films BOMBIES - Director/Producer Jack Silberman Between 1964 and 1973 the United States conducted a secret air war, dropping over 2 million tons of bombs on Laos, making it the most heavily bombed country in history. Millions of these "cluster bombs" did not explode when dropped, leaving the country massively contaminated with "bombies. DANGEROUS ART - Director/Producer Sean Kelly DANGEROUS ART is the story of a deadly civil war, which ended in the African nation of Mozambique in 1992. Thousands of guns, grenades and landmines remain a continuing threat to the hard-won peace. NOT FOR SALE - Director/Producers Mark Dwarkin/Melissa Young Global trade agreements expand what corporations can own and control - like machines, knowledge and living creatures. What does this mean for the environment, our food supply and human rights? IN WHOSE INTEREST - Director/Producer David Kaplowitz This film was made in response to the events of September 11th. David Kaplowitz leads us on an eye-opening journey, questioning the effects of US foreign policy over the past 50 years. UNDESIRABLES - Director/Producer Marianna Yarovskaya In the bleak world of homeless teenagers in Russia, the camera follows young men and women trying to exist on the margins of their society. WOMAN BY WOMAN - NEW HOPE FOR THE VILLAGES OF INDIA - Director/Producer Dorothy Fadiman/Kristin Arwell In rural India, women are moving toward personal freedom. Vivid images portray the humanity of the people, the beauty of the countryside, as well as the toll of centuries of poverty. ADVANCED TICKET PURCHASE RECOMMENDED Name: Phone: Number of Tickets: Amount Enclosed: Please mail this form and check payable to UNA, 1350 Spring Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404. Please Note: Tickets will be held in your name at the door. 10
VOL. 8, NO. 8, OCTOBER 2003 THE VOTER BOOK CLUB CORNER The Book Club invites members and the public to join our lively discussion of a wide variety of books. We have moved our meetings from the second Thursday of the month to the third Thursday, and we have decided to meet occasionally in a member s home. We found at our last meeting that we did not have sufficient time to discuss everything we wanted to about Fareed Zakaria s The Future Of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad. Therefore, we will continue our discussion of this controversial book on Thursday, October 16, at 10:30 AM at the home of Olive Horrell, 87 Greenrock Court, Santa Rosa. Zakaria attempts to define the necessary and sufficient conditions of a successful liberal democracy. He argues that elections are not enough. A successful liberal democracy requires a minimum per capita income that does not derive primarily from the exploitation of natural resources. It also requires a constitutional tradition and a strong judiciary. In addition, he argues that too much dependence on direct democracy can lead to either an illiberal democracy or a dysfunctional democracy. On Thursday, November 20, at 10:30 AM, we will discuss Doris Granny D Haddock s Granny D: You re Never Too Old to Raise a Little Hell at the home of Caroline Ramberg, 2191 Siesta Lane, Santa Rosa. Granny D at 90 walked across the country to call attention to the need for campaign finance reform. That trek, however, was but one example of her activism. Local reviewer Jonah Raskin said in his Press Democrat review of this memoir, Granny D is a very funny, very witty and a very wise book. Don t miss this opportunity to share the pleasure of reading it. Lynda Hungerford League of Women Voters of Sonoma County Membership Application Name Address City Zip Telephone Fax Email Yes, I want to join the League of Women Voters. Enclosed is my check for dues. ($49.00 for individual annual membership, $70.00 for household, and $35.00 for limited income. The membership year is July 1 to June 30.) Please mail check to LWV Sonoma County, 100 E Street, Suite 209, Santa Rosa, CA 95404. Thank you. I am interested in the following areas: Program Membership Speakers Bureau Social Policy Natural Resources Voter Service Newsletter Fundraising Cable TV Smart Voter Community Outreach Website 11