SECRETARY OF STATE

BILL JONES

Jones is seeking reelection to a second term. In his first term, he concentrated on voter registration, cleansing the rolls of ineligible voters and launching online reform aimed at getting more information to the public faster. He supports California’s new blanket primary law against a legal challenge by the Republican and Democratic parties.

* Party: Republican

* Occupation: Secretary of state

* Age: 48

* Residence: Fresno

* Education: Bachelor’s degree in agribusiness-plant science from Cal State Fresno, 1971.

* Career highlights: Cattle rancher who served in the Assembly from 1982 to 1994, including a stint as GOP floor leader. Author of the three-strikes law against career criminals and supporter of the new law moving California’s primary to March 7.

* Priorities: Wants to continue modernization of electronic election process, emphasizing voter convenience, accessibility and security; would examine use of Internet for online voting.

MICHELA ALIOTO

Alioto wants to open the election process by making it more friendly to voters. She pledges to get more young people involved in the political process and ensure that they are taught the importance of civic involvement.

* Party: Democratic

* Occupation: Financial partner in wine company

* Age: 30

* Residence: St. Helena

* Education: Bachelor’s degree in anthropology from UCLA, 1992.

* Career highlights: At age 17, was appointed to advisory board to President Reagan’s National Council on Disabilities; coordinator for disabilities outreach for Clinton-Gore campaign in 1992; domestic policy issues staffer for Vice President Al Gore; financial partner and marketing director of a Napa Valley wine company. In her first try for office, Alioto lost a 1996 race for a North Coast seat in Congress.

* Priorities: Supports multi-day elections; would promote same-day registration and voting; wants to extend permanent absentee voter status to all voters and experiment with online voting.