Times Endorsements in Tuesday’s Election

T imes policy is to endorse selectively, on a case-by-case basis. Only those races in which this newspaper is endorsing in Tuesday’s election are listed below.

National Offices

U.S. Senate: DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D). Why take a chance with a relative unknown? Especially when the incumbent is terrifically effective? Feinstein is a powerful voice for California in the U.S. Senate and richly deserves reelection.

U.S House of Representatives,

by District:

24th--ANTHONY C. BEILENSON (D)

26th--HOWARD L. BERMAN (D)

28th--DAVID DREIER (R)

29th--HENRY A. WAXMAN (D)

30th--XAVIER BECERRA (D)

32nd--JULIAN DIXON (D)

33rd--LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD (D)

34th--ESTEBAN E. TORRES (D)

35th--MAXINE WATERS (D)

36th--JANE HARMAN (D)

38th--STEVE HORN (R)

40th--JERRY LEWIS (R)

42nd--GEORGE E. BROWN JR. (D)

43rd--MARK TAKANO (D)

47th--CHRISTOPHER COX (R)

State Offices

Governor: PETE WILSON (R). Kathleen Brown is fresh and determined but the experienced and capable Wilson, though wrong about Proposition 187, is right about a lot of other things and merits a second term.

Lieutenant Governor: GRAY DAVIS (D). The longtime state controller offers experience and imagination.

Secretary of State: TONY MILLER (D). Miller, the acting secretary of state, promises to curb voter fraud and clear the deadwood from voter registration rolls.

Controller: KATHLEEN CONNELL (D). Formerly an investment banker, Connell would bring sharp, modern management ideas to government.

Treasurer: MATT FONG (R). Fong gets the nod over Phil Angelides, a quality player, because of his comprehensive proposals to increase efficiency and cut government costs.

Attorney General: TOM UMBERG (D). The tough-on-crime Orange County assemblyman offers a nuanced approach to crime-fighting.

Insurance Commissioner: ART TORRES (D). The Los Angeles state senator has a solid record as an advocate for consumers and has much experience dealing with insurance issues.

Board of Equalization Office No. 4: BRAD SHERMAN (D). Sherman is a solid choice and deserves a second term in this important but often overlooked office.

Superintendent of Public Instruction: DELAINE EASTIN. Maureen DiMarco is also a good candidate, but the edge for this nonpartisan office is held by Eastin, a Fremont assemblywoman who knows educational issues and has the political acumen for this key post.

California Legislature

State Senate:

36th--KAY CENICEROS (D)

State Assembly:

41st--SHEILA JAMES KUEHL (D)

42nd--WALLY KNOX (D)

43rd--ADAM SCHIFF (D)

44th--BRUCE PHILPOTT (D)

53rd--DEBRA BOWEN (D)

69th--MIKE METZLER (D)

70th--MARILYN C. BREWER (R)

Statewide Propositions

NO--Proposition 181 (Public Transportation Bonds): Authorizes $1 billion in general-obligation bonds to fund California’s passenger rail transportation network. Unwise given the state’s heavy debt load.

YES--Proposition 183 (Recall Elections): Attacks wasteful back-to-back elections by allowing recall votes to be held as late as 180 days after certification.

NO--Proposition 184 (“Three Strikes”): This ill-conceived and hugely expensive measure would imprison criminals convicted of a third felony (there are more than 500 such felonies under California law) for 25 years to life. It’s dumb criminal justice policy. Worse still, it’s unnecessary; legislation nearly identical to this initiative took effect last March. Passage would only make it harder for the Legislature and the governor to make necessary refinements in the existing law.

NO--Proposition 185 (Gas Tax/Transportation): This measure, backed by Southern Pacific Railroad Co., imposes a 4% sales tax on gasoline. It would fund rail projects primarily; other transportation-related needs such as seismic retrofitting would be scanted.

NO--Proposition 186 (Single-Payer Health Care): Establishes a state-run “single-payer” health care insurance plan and creates the post of state health commissioner. It sounds good in principle, but it’s a big-government nightmare. This is one time California doesn’t need to be the guinea pig for the nation.

NO--Proposition 187 (Illegal Immigrants): This counterproductive measure would cut schooling, health and social services for the estimated 1.7 million illegal immigrants here--and, even then, not come close to addressing the complex problem of immigration, which is rooted in economics.

NO--Proposition 188 (Smoking and Tobacco Products): Masquerading as a tough anti-smoking measure, this mendacious offering--paid for by tobacco companies--would in fact emasculate all tough smoking regulations, both local and statewide.

YES--Proposition 189 (Expanding No-Bail Provisions): Amends the Constitution to permit courts to deny bail to individuals accused of “felony sexual assault offenses” who threaten another with physical harm. Good idea as long as it’s not abused in implementation.

YES--Proposition 190 (Judicial Performance Commission): Reforms the state’s Commission on Judicial Performance, which is responsible for disciplining errant or incompetent judges. The measure ensures that a majority of commission members will be from the public and grants the panel more authority to remove or discipline current and former judges.

YES--Proposition 191 (Justice Courts): Eliminates justice courts and merges them with the municipal courts in jurisdictions of 40,000 or fewer people.

Los Angeles County

Superior Court Office No. 2: TERRY B. FRIEDMAN. This veteran state assemblyman and former poverty lawyer has the patience, fairness and compassion to be an excellent judge.

Superior Court Office No. 4: TERI SCHWARTZ. An outstanding prosecutor with the hard-core gang division of the L.A. County district attorney’s office, Schwartz has the respect of her peers for her skill, intelligence and demeanor.

Superior Court Office No. 93: MITCHELL BLOCK. In a close call over Susan Bryant-Deason, an accomplished prosecutor.

Measures in L.A. County

YES--Los Angeles County, Charter Amendment A: Gives the County Board of Supervisors needed flexibility to increase or decrease the compensation for the posts of district attorney, assessor and sheriff.

YES--El Rancho Unified School District, Bond Measure C: Permits the El Rancho Unified School District in Pico Rivera to issue $13.3 million in general-obligation bonds in order to upgrade facilities including fire, earthquake, electrical and security systems; provide students with access to modern technology; renovate or replace obsolete facilities; construct permanent facilities, and make improvements to older buildings on district property.

YES--La Verne, Lancaster, San Dimas and Walnut, Measures E, F, G and L: An advisory vote to support the L.A. County Board of Supervisors’ creation of a community facilities district (CFD). Property owners in cities that voluntarily join the CFD would be subject to a small assessment on their property taxes, when needed, to increase materials, hours and days of service at the besieged county public library branches in their communities.

YES--Long Beach, Bond Measure D: Authorizes the issuance of up to $48 million in general-obligation bonds to finance improvements to city facilities, bringing them into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

YES--San Marino, Special Tax I: Extends a special public safety tax for paramedic services, police protection and fire protection and prevention. The current levy expires in 1995.

YES--Santa Monica, Charter Amendment J: Saves the city money by allowing it to publish condensed versions of city ordinances.

YES--Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District, Measure K: Permits the school district to continue a special tax that funds educational improvements. This measure extends the special parcel tax--$58 a year--for six years and increases it to $68 per parcel. The measure requires a two-thirds majority for passage.

Orange County Offices

(Nonpartisan)

Supervisor, 2nd District:

LINDA MOULTON PATTERSON

Clerk-Recorder: GARY GRANVILLE

Judge, West Muni Court:

DANIEL C. DUTCHER

Orange County Measures

NO--El Toro Initiative, Measure A: Movers and shakers are agitating prematurely to require that a commercial airport be established at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, in Orange County’s largest remaining open space. Let planners study the airport and other ideas before deciding. Everybody will be better off if this initiative is rejected.