March 5, 2002 Election

YES ON PROPOSITION 40--PARK BONDS

Support Proposition 40 for Clean Water and Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks and Coastal Protection

Californians need clean water and clean air. We also want safe neighborhood parks where our children and families can enjoy the outdoors. Protecting California’s coast from pollution and over-development is also a vital investment for both people and wildlife. This measure will improve our quality of life not only for today, but for future generations.

YES ON PROPOSITION 41--VOTING EQUIPMENT BONDS

Support Proposition 41 for Voting Modernization

California has been running its elections with a variety of vote tabulating systems, including some that are decades old and subject to significant errors. Some of these systems have been decertified by the Secretary of State. This bond measure will provide matching funds for local governments to bring their systems up to date and assure our citizens that their votes will be correctly recorded.

YES ON PROPOSITION 43--RIGHT TO HAVE VOTE COUNTED

Support Proposition 43 to Assure That Your Vote Is Counted

This measure simply adds to the California Constitution a statement that says “A voter who casts a vote in an election in accordance with the laws of this state shall have that vote counted.” Before the Florida election debacle, most of us would have thought that went without saying, but now we know better. This measure helps ensure the integrity of our elections and would allow courts to extend post-election deadlines to assure properly-cast votes are counted. Your right to vote is meaningless if your vote is not counted.

YES ON PROPOSITION 45--LEGISLATIVE TERM LIMITS

Support Proposition 45 to Give Control of Term Limits Back to Local Voters

Proposition 45 simply gives local voters the option to extend the term of their own legislator for a maximum of four more years. A termed-out Senator would be allowed to run for one additional four-year term, or an Assemblymember for two more two-year terms, only if petitions signed by registered voters in their district equal to 20% of the ballots cast for that office in the last election are submitted. The option is permitted only once per legislator. These are difficult times when we need experienced leadership. Proposition 45 will increase accountability and allow legislators who have earned the confidence of their own constituents to stay on the job longer. This is a reasonable reform that gives decision-making power back to the voters where it belongs.