Who's on my Ballot? 2024 Election Research for Santa Clarita, CA

Here we go again! I'm against voting straight ticket as a matter of principle. I always research local candidates before I vote, and want to share my research here to make it easy for people in my community to research candidates too. This time around, I'm covering my ballot in my new town, Santa Clarita, CA.

(Please note: The above GIF is the last fun thing your eyes will see on this post.)

This is not academic research. Names will be linked to my sources.  I'm not going into great detail, but more taking notes for myself to remember what stood out to me about each candidate--this is definitely a biased perspective, and I encourage every voter to research for themselves and vote their conscience.

Politically, I'm a left-leaning independent. If you are far left or far right, you probably won't like this, but you can use the links to do your own research and form your own conclusions.

My presidential candidate selection summary will be the least research-based because I made my decision a LONG time ago.

City/Local

William S Hart Union High School District Governing Board Member, Trustee Area No. 4

• Eric Anderson:
• Education: U Kansas, USC; Science, Public Health
• Career - Medical Devices
• Endorsed by California Teacher's Association, Hart District Teacher's Association, Santa Clarita Valley Democrats, Everytown
• Erin Wilson:
• Incumbent since July 2023
• Nonprofit background, educator, raised 5 kids in this school system.
• Endorsed by Santa Clarita Mayor, School district superintendent

My Vote: Erin Wilson. I don't see any reason to remove her as incumbent. I like that her background is in nonprofits and education.

Santa Clarita Community College District Member of the Board of Trustees, Trustee Area 4

• Jerry Danielsen
• Incumbent; Graduate of College of the Canyons; Business Owner, Educator
• Endorsed by lots of school orgs
• Sharlene Rose Johnson
• Foundation Board Member; Graduate of College of the Canyons
• PR, Comms, Marketing background; Endorsed by Mayor

My Vote: Jerry Danielsen. Their goals and vision are pretty much the same. I don't see any reason to remove him as incumbent.

State Senator, 23rd District

• Suzette Martinez Valladares (R), Small Business Owner
• Nonprofit ED; Among founders of bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus; Brought vaccine clinics to community early in pandemic.
• Key goals - Tax Cuts, Public Safety
• Kipp Mueller (D), Workers Rights Attorney
• Worked as Prosecutor
• Key Goals - Helping Middle-Class Families, Keeping Community Safe

My Vote: Kipp Mueller. Really, their goals are the same. Kipp has more organizational endorsements. The seat is historically firmly republican, and I like to shake things up. 

Member of the State Assembly, 40th District

• Patrick Lee Gipson (R), Retired Deputy Sheriff
• Focus on criminal issues
• Pilar Schiavo (D), Assemblywoman
• Focus on supporting small businesses and helping people in need

My Vote: Pilar Schiavo - I don't think solving community issues is as simple as harsher punishments for people who commit crimes. As that's the main focus of Patrick Lee Gipson, my decision was easy.

United States Representative, 27th District

• Mike Garcia (R)
• Incumbent; Immigrant; Navy pilot
• Voting record - Sanctioned Chinese Communist Party, Restricted EPA
• Thinks abortion is a states issue; Endorsed by Anti-choice groups
• George Whitesides (D)
• NASA Chief of Staff; Newton, MA High School, Princeton U; King's College Cambridge
• Policies

My Vote: George Whitesides - it comes down to the abortion issue. It's not a states issue. Women in every state should have the right to access reproductive health care.

District

Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency Member, Board of Directors, Division 2

• Ken Cooper, Senior Director Engineering
• TOP ISSUES
• Water Supply and Drought Management
• Water Quality Standards Compliance
• Sustainable Growth and Water Planning
• Nathan Bousfield, Utility Planning Specialist
• Nathan’s vision includes:
• Expanding the use of reclaimed water
• Promoting conservation through lawn replacement programs
• Encouraging drought-tolerant landscaping
• Increasing solar power generation and use
• Piotr Orzechowski, VP Board of Directors SCV Water Agency Div.
• Piotr's Priorities
• Ensuring the certainty of clean, reliable, and reasonable cost of water.
• Protecting Santa Clarita’s environment while maintaining and expanding water infrastructure.
• Protecting our local underground water supplies and seeking additional imported supply streams.
• Working with residents and businesses to guarantee water needs are met today and tomorrow. 

My Vote: Nathan Bousfield - I don't understand why this kind of position is a public election. I don't know what the job is like or what is required for it. They all seem to want the same thing - clean, sustainable water. But I liked the specificity in Nathan's strategies, and his everyman background. We need more diversity of backgrounds on Boards of Directors.

Fire Protection Special Tax Measure E

• Tax increase of $0.06/sqft on specific home improvements; Would go to fire protection and prevention.

My Vote: Yes. It's a minor increase, and only affects the wealthy.

County

District Attorney

• Nathan Hochman, Criminal Law Attorney
• Independent
• Called Gaxcon's actions pro-criminal, and incorporating policies into his work.
• George Gascon, District Attorney
• Incumbent, Democrat
• Has supported criminal justice reform

My Vote: George Gascon - I'm pro criminal justice reform; and the past decade has taught me that policy is inherently intertwined with legal work.

Judge of the Superior Court Office No. 39

• George A Turner Jr, Deputy Public Defender, LA County
• Over the past 50 years, California has constructed 23 prisons and only three colleges. However, a growing number of individuals, including myself, believe that we need to break free from the cycle of custody.
• As an attorney, I've devoted my career to discovering alternative solutions that cater to the community's needs. Now, as a judge, I intend to bring that experience to the bench and revolutionize many of the practices that make justice so hard to achieve in our criminal legal system.
• Steve Napolitano, Attorney/Councilmember, Manhattan Beach
• The integrity of our legal system is based on Judges being fair, unbiased and independent. Judges are supposed to apply the law and make decisions without fear or favor, and without political agendas.
• I also believe we need more judges with diverse backgrounds who know our communities, who have worked with both victims and criminals, and who have the experience to know what works and what doesn't.

My Vote: George A Turner Jr - Criminal Justice Reform - we need judges on board to make a difference.

Judge of the Superior Court Office No. 48

• Renee Rose, Deputy District Attorney, LA County (Prosecutor background)
• I have always known that I wanted to work in a courtroom and advocate for victims. 
• My decades as a prosecutor have led me to a deeper understanding of what constitutes justice and fairness.
• Each person has the right to be heard by a fair, reasoned, and thoughtful judge.
• Ericka J Wiley, Deputy Public Defender, LA County
• Ericka Wiley has worked as a Deputy Public Defender for more than 20 years in Los Angeles, representing clients in criminal cases with charges ranging from misdemeanors to capital crimes. She has worked as deputy in charge, supervising other lawyers and is passionate about finding solutions for her clients which offer alternatives to incarceration and ways to better their lives.

My Vote: Ericka J Wiley - Criminal Justice Reform - we need judges on board to make a difference.

Judge of the Superior Court Office No. 97

• La Shae Henderson, Deputy Public Defender
• As a candidate for Judge, I believe in equality and justice for all. I am dedicated to serving my community and making a positive impact in the lives of those around me. I have a proven track record of fairness and impartiality, and I will work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served for everyone who comes before me.
• My campaign is focused on bringing positive change to our legal system. I believe in transparency, accountability, and the power of working together to achieve our goals. Join me in this important mission and let's make a difference together.
• Sharon Ransom, Deputy District Attorney, LA County
• 18 years as a Deputy District Attorney and 17 years as a dispatcher for the LA County Sheriff’s Department, her life experience and commitment to community empowerment make her a powerful champion for all Los Angelinos.
• Sharon’s focus on community empowerment diverges from traditional prosecution, specializing in the Los Angeles Court System’s mental health unit. This unit offers tailored support, assessment, and resources for individuals facing mental health challenges within the legal system, ensuring fair outcomes. 

My Vote: Sharon Ransom - Like her mental health focus.

Judge of the Superior Court Office No. 135

• Georgia Huerta, Deputy District Attorney, LA County
• experience in the criminal justice system where she currently serves as a Deputy District Attorney IV. Growing up in South Central Los Angeles fueled Georgia Huerta’s drive and commitment to serving the community. Georgia Huerta will work hard to ensure that the justice system works to make our communities safer and protects the rights of victims as well as those of the accused.
• Endorsed by National Women's Political Caucus, SCV Dems, LA African American Women PAC, Long Beach Black Dem Club
• Steven Yee Mac, Deputy District Attorney, LA County
• Steven Mac is the son of refugees, a Lt. Colonel in the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG), and a Deputy District Attorney.
• endorsed by SCV Signal, Stonewall Democrat Club, Democrats for the Protection of Animals, LGBT Prosecutors Association of LA, Latino Prosecutors Association

My Vote: Steven Yee Mac - Military and immigrant background appeal to me, as well as support from LGBT Law orgs. Brings a diverse perspective compared to other candidates I've researched thus far.

Judge of the Superior Court Office No. 137

• Luz E Herrera, Attorney/Law Professor
• I want to make courts more effective and increase access to law and justice. Lawyers are important instruments of justice, but ultimately, law is about people and courts need to be too. 
• For more than two decades, I have focused my work on helping individuals, nonprofits, and small businesses navigate legal issues in and out of court. What I have learned is that most people that walk into courthouses and courtrooms are intimidated by the process and confused by the language. 
• As a law school professor I teach my students to be client-centered and to help make law more accessible. My experiences in public interest and corporate law, helping unrepresented litigants and representing clients in civil litigation, allow me a unique understanding of the complexities of the various interests at stake.
• Tracey M Blount, Senior Deputy County Counsel, LA County
• attorney with over 20 years of experience, including 12 years of daily courtroom appearances as trial counsel handling child abuse and neglect cases
• vision for a fair and just legal system

My Vote: Luz E Herrera - Better vision statements.

County Measure G: Proposed County Charter Amendment

• Ballotpedia
• LAist
• Increases size of LA County Supervisors for first time since 1912
• Requires budgets to be presented and approved publically

My Vote: Yes

County Measure A: Homelessness Services and Affordable Housing Ordinance

• LAist
• Increase sales tax by $0.005 per $1 in LA County to support Homelessness relief efforts - expected to raise over $1B/year

My Vote: Yes

State

State Measure 2: Authorizes Bonds for Public School and Community College Facilities.

• LAist
• A "yes" vote means: California can borrow $10 billion to repair and renovate existing public schools and community college facilities or construct new buildings.

My Vote: Yes

State Measure 3: Constitutional Right to Marriage.

• LAist
• This fall, Californians will be tasked with deciding whether the state should update the state constitution to reflect the right for same-sex couples to marry. It’s a preemptive move to safeguard LGBTQ+ marriages amid concerns the U.S. Supreme Court could change things in the future.
• The amendment is practically a repeal of Prop. 8, a measure that banned same-sex marriages from being recognized by the state in 2008.

My Vote: Yes

State Measure 4: Authorizes Bonds for Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, and Protecting Communities and Natural Lands from Climate Risks.

• LAist
• Proposition 4 is a $10 billion bond to help the state pay for efforts to address the impacts of climate change, including boosting water recycling, flood control and wildfire and sea level rise protections.
• Much of the bond money would be used for loans and grants to local governments, Native American tribes, not-for-profit organizations, and businesses. Some bond money also would be available for state agencies to spend on state-run activities.
• Opponents include Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones, Assemblymember Jim Patterson and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
• They say the bond will only add to California’s worsening deficit and that the harm to taxpayers due to paying the bond back with interest outweigh the benefits. They argue the projects the bond proposes to cover are too ambiguous.

My Vote: No - Lawmakers need to get more creative in reprioritizing budgets to fund these projects, and be more specific in what the money goes to. We can't endlessly increase spending and taxes, even for worthy projects.

State Measure 5: Allows Local Bonds for Affordable Housing and Public Infrastructure with 55% Voter Approval.

• LAist
• Currently, proposals need 2/3 support to pass. This proposal lowers that threshold to 55%.
• What people who support it say
• Nurses, firefighters and housing advocates say more local action is needed to address a housing crisis that is pushing middle-class families out of California. They say Prop. 5 would make such action possible, and would come with increased accountability measures, such as citizens oversight committees and annual audits.
• What people who oppose it say
• Taxpayer and homeowner groups say Prop. 5 would make it easier to pile new costs on taxpayers across the state. They say the current two-thirds threshold was enshrined in the 1879 California Constitution, and lowering it now would mean higher property taxes for homeowners in exchange for affordable housing projects that — in some parts of the state — cost more than $1 million per unit to build.
• Potential financial impact
• The exact financial impact of Prop. 5 is unclear because increased costs would only come when and if voters approve other, separate, bond measures. The Legislative Analyst’s Office says if the 55% threshold had been in effect during recent elections, between 20% and 50% more local bond measures likely would have passed. 
• State analysts say that change could lead to a couple billion more dollars over many years for housing and infrastructure projects, to be recouped through higher property taxes. But, they conclude, revenue would vary across regions, and voters would have the final say on what local government bonds pass.

My Vote: No - The state is still wildly majority Democrats. I think it's good to require a higher threshold of voter approval to pass initiatives that can potentially have implications for future taxes and cost of living for the general public.

State Measure 6: Eliminates Constitutional Provision Allowing Involuntary Servitude for Incarcerated Persons.

• LAist
• When California joined the United States in 1850, the state banned forced labor with one key exception: as punishment for a crime.
• The Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that about one-third of people incarcerated in state prisons work. They do jobs that keep the jails running — like cooking and cleaning. They also help fight wildfires by cutting firelines and trimming vegetation. "People who refuse to work or do other activities can face consequences such as losing the ability to make regular phone calls," according to the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• According to the office, many people doing work inside state prisons earn less than $1 per hour.
• California Proposition 6 would ban state prisons from forcing incarcerated people to work against their will.

My Vote: Yes - Prisons legally continue the practice of slavery. It's morally wrong.

State Measure 32: Raises Minimum Wage.

• LAist
• The proposal would raise the minimum wage from the current $16 an hour to $18. Yearly increases from there would be tied to the consumer price index.

My Vote: No - Rather than putting the burden of affordable housing and rising cost of living on businesses, the state should pursue other measure that address these issues. Really, consumers end up paying the increase in the form of inflated prices. There has to be better solutions.

State Measure 33: Expands Local Governments' Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property.

• LAist
• What people who support it say
• Like the previous two failed attempts at repealing Costa-Hawkins, Prop. 33 is backed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The L.A.-based group’s president Michael Weinstein is a frequent supporter of housing-related measures.
• Proponents of Prop. 33 argue different parts of California require different housing regulations, but state law imposes a one-size-fits-all approach. They say local governments should have more power to regulate the crushing rents that are driving people out of state and putting many on the brink of homelessness.
• What people who oppose it say
• Landlord groups, realtors and business advocates argue voters have soundly rejected similar proposals twice. They say expanding rent control could reduce property values and hurt small landlords and single-family homeowners who rent out their properties.
• What state analysts say
• According to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, Prop. 33 could result in “reduction in local property tax revenues of at least tens of millions of dollars annually due to likely expansion of rent control in some communities.”

My Vote: Yes - Rent increases the past 5 years have been out of control, so I'm inclined to support an initiative to check that trend.

State Measure 34: Restricts Spending of Prescription Drug Revenues by Certain Health Care Providers.

• LAist
• Proposition 34 would limit how certain healthcare organizations spend the money they make from a federal discount drug program. But at its core, the initiative pits the state's rental housing industry against the L.A.-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which has a history of backing rent control initiatives, including one on the Nov. 5 ballot. It has been dubbed by opponents as a "revenge initiative." 
• Prop. 34 would make certain health organizations spend 98% of their net revenue from the federal discount drug program on “direct patient care.” That program, known as 340B, has allowed healthcare organizations who serve vulnerable and low-income patients to buy drugs at a discounted price and then sell at a market rate. The intent is they can use the profit to serve more patients in need.

My Vote: No - In general, I'm supportive of such restrictions, but this specific proposal is worded so it only applies to the organization supporting the rent control initiative, and I'm morally opposed to retaliatory legal action.

State Measure 35: Provides Permanent Funding for Medi-Cal Health Care Services.

• LAist
• California budgeted $157 billion dollars this past fiscal year to provide health care for low-income residents. It provides that care through a program called Medi-Cal, which is funded by a combination of state and matching federal funds. The services covered serve about 15 million low-income Californians.
• The program is an important safety net but as health-care costs balloon the state has sought to find other sources of funding besides general fund monies.
• Since 2009, a Managed Care Organization Provider Tax has raised revenue off of the health-care management companies that provide the bulk of Medi-Cal services. The tax generates billions of dollars each year and increases the amount of federal matching funds that come to state coffers to pay for Medi-Cal. The tax has been approved by the state legislature repeatedly, and the current renewal expires in 2026.
• Proposition 35 on the November ballot would make that tax permanent and create dedicated funding for some Medi-Cal services.

My Vote: Yes

State Measure 36: Allows Felony Charges and Increases Sentences for Certain Drug and Theft Crimes.

• LAist
• What people who support it say
• Supporters include the California District Attorneys Association.
• “What we do is address the nucleus of the retail theft problem, which is those individuals who repeatedly steal,” said Greg Totten, the association’s president. Much of the rest of law enforcement also backs Prop. 36. Totten praised the measure’s effort to target smash-and-grab robberies involving three or more people. “It inevitably is a more serious offense and has a greater impact on the merchant,” Totten said. “We think these provisions will help us deal with the explosion in retail theft,” he added.
• Major retailers including Walmart and Target also support the measure.
• What people who oppose it say
• Opponents of the measure include Sam Lewis, who heads the Anti-Recidivism Coalition in Los Angeles. It is a justice reform group that also helps people when they get out of prison.
• He called the measure “fear mongering” and unnecessary, adding there would be no need to increase penalties for drug and theft crimes if police did their job. “Police could stop petty thieves if they made misdemeanor arrests,” he said. Many police officers have complained that misdemeanors are not worth their time.
• Lewis also said the measure amounts to a return to over incarceration for minor crimes. “We did mass incarceration,” he said. “We saw that it didn’t work and that’s why we moved away from it.”
• Financial impact
• Prop. 36 would increase state criminal justice costs, “likely ranging from several tens of millions of dollars to the low hundreds of millions of dollars each year,” according to the state Legislative Analyst’s Office.

My Vote: No - I do support some of the initiative - there needs to be palpable penalties for robberies, and I support mandated treatment for drug charges. But felonies ruin lives, and it shouldn't ruin a life for a $900 theft. There has to be a middle ground.

National

President and Vice President

My Vote: I'm voting for the Harris/Walz ticket, and it has very little to do with politics. 

I believe Pres. Trump has eroded the moral fiber of our nation in (but not limited to) the following ways:

1. Inflammatory ad hominem attacks, rather than level headed dialogue

2. Breeding distrust in the media, and more broadly with anyone who disagrees with him.

3. Deepening divisions and distrust in our communities, by dehumanizing and otherizing democrats and anyone who disagrees with him. This is opposed to the more difficult and adult behavior of encouraging compromise, dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding (the foundation of a healthy democracy).

4. Regularly spouting made up information as fact, or blatantly lying.

United States Senator - Full Term

• Adam Schiff (D), US Representative
• Gov Site
• Campaign Site
• Wikipedia
• Career Politician
• Founded Congressional Caucus for the Freedom of the Press
• Supported pausing aid delivery to Gaza
• Supports ban on stock trading by members of Congress
• Steve Garvey (R), Pro Baseball Representative
• Campaign Site
• Steve’s campaign is focused on quality-of-life issues, public safety, and education.  As your U.S. Senator, Steve will serve with commonsense, compassion, and will work to build consensus to benefit all of the people of California.
• Steve has been fortunate to wear many hats in his life – from professional athlete to businessman to philanthropist. But the one thing that has remained consistent is his love for this great state and his desire to make a difference.
• In baseball, it’s not about the individual; it’s about the team. Steve believes the same holds true for politics. It’s time we come together, find common ground, and work towards a brighter future.
• Wikipedia
• On September 1, 2000, Garvey and his management company, Garvey Management Group, were charged by the Federal Trade Commission in the United States District Court for the Central District of California for false advertising related to a weight-loss product.
• Garvey voted for Donald Trump in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections. In April 2024, Garvey repeatedly called college students protesting the war in Gaza, "terrorists". He encouraged law enforcement to take action against the anti-war protestors, but his comments came the day following arrests at universities across the U.S. He claimed that interruptions to and obstruction of education are an act of terrorism.

My Vote: Adam Schiff - Lesser of 2 evils. I dislike career politicians, but I hate what the Trump movement stands for.