June 2, 2008

SAN MATEO CO.:RESIDENTS TO WEIGH FOUR MEASURES TUESDAY

Along with voting for new state Assembly members, judges and county supervisors, San Mateo County residents have four measures to decide in Tuesday's statewide Direct Primary Election.

All county voters will have a chance to weigh in on Measure O, a one-eighth-cent sales tax increase that would bring the tax from 8.25 percent to 8.375 percent.

The tax, which would be in effect for 25 years, would go toward preserving natural open spaces, as well as improving playgrounds and playing fields and maintaining parks, trails and recreational areas.

In order to pass, the measure must gain two-thirds of the votes.

Half Moon Bay residents will be voting on Measure Q, which will increase the city's transient occupancy tax, a tax only paid by hotel guests. The tax would be raised from 10 to 12 percent, and all funds generated by the tax could be used by the city for any governmental use, such as library funding, police services or street improvements. The tax must be approved by 55 percent of voters.

The final two measures would enact parcel taxes to increase funding for school districts. Measure N would enact an annual $96 per parcel tax for residents living within the Pacifica School District. The tax would be in effect through 2013.

Measure P would enact an annual $78-per-parcel tax for residents living within the Millbrae School District through 2013.

Funding from both measures would go toward protecting teaching positions, reinstating programs such as music instruction, and maintaining school facilities, all of which have suffered due to state budget cuts. Each measure requires a two-thirds majority to pass.

During the statewide Direct Primary Election on Tuesday San Mateo County residents will be voting for Congressional representatives, state Assembly members and City Council members.

Congresswoman Jackie Speier, D-San Francisco/San Mateo, will be defending her newly acquired seat against Democrat Robert Barrows, a businessman from San Mateo, according to the San Mateo County Elections Office. Kevin Dempsey Peterson, a Libertarian software engineer, will win the nomination for his party and either Republican businessman Greg Conlon from Atherton and Republican Mike Moloney, a retired businessman from Burlingame, will win their party's nomination.

Speier took office after a special election on April 8, after the seat was left vacant by the passing of Congressman Tom Lantos, who died Feb. 11 due to complications from esophageal cancer. Lantos had announced that he would be stepping down from Congress on Jan 2., and endorsed Speier before his death.

Conlon and Moloney ran against Speier in the special election.

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, is running uncontested for her seat in the 14th Congressional District.

Two state Assembly seats are up for election, according to the elections office. Twenty-first District Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, D-Los Altos, does not have any contenders for the Democratic nomination, but neither does Republican Annalisa Yenne, a financial consultant, so the two will likely be running against each other in the November election.

Assemblyman Gene Mullin, D-South San Francisco, cannot be re-elected to the 19th Assembly seat due to term limits and a lengthy battle has emerged amongst the Democratic contenders. Educator and Consumer Advocate Richard Holober, San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill and Millbrae Mayor Gina Papan have had a contentious race, with the most recent incident occurring when Speier admonished Papan for a campaign mailing that used Speier's name.

Speier has not endorsed any candidate in the race, while Mullin has endorsed Hill.

Brian Perry, a Libertarian freelance editor from South San Francisco will win his party's nomination while Republicans Catherine Brinkman, a business consultant, and realtor Elsie Hernandez-Gufler will battle each other for the Assembly seat come Tuesday.

Three county supervisor seats are up for election, but only two supervisors are facing any opposition, according to the elections office. Supervisor Mark Church, District 1, will be facing San Mateo resident Demetrios Nikas, while Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson, District 4, is running against East Palo Alto resident John Bostic. Board President Adrienne Tissier, District 5, is running unopposed.

Voters will also be electing a Superior Court Judge this election. Court attorney Don Franchi and Burlingame-based trial attorney Jerry Nastari will face each other for the open court seat.

One final election that the residents of Atherton will face is an open seat on the City Council. Commercial realtor Elizabeth Lewis and retired business executive James "Jim" Dobbie will be battling it out for the position.

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