Our Ballot Recommendations

The following is a summary of the Times Orange County Edition’s local recommendations in Tuesday’s election.

46th Congressional District: Loretta Sanchez. Democrat Sanchez’s surprising 984-vote victory over Republican Robert K. Dornan two years ago propelled a political newcomer into the national spotlight. Sanchez has handled the attention well, paid attention to the needs of her constituents and should be reelected.

73rd State Assembly District: Patricia C. Bates. Considering the growth in recent decades, it’s surprising that South County has not been able to get a home-grown representative in the state Assembly. Someone from neighboring San Diego County always has won the seat. Both major-party candidates are from South County this time. Republican Bates’ deep roots in the community should make her a persuasive advocate for South County residents. She also has a good view of Orange County’s overall needs. With this Assembly seat open, she would be a good choice to represent the district.

2nd County Supervisorial District. This covers Costa Mesa, Cypress, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Santa Ana, Seal Beach and Stanton. In the 2nd District, we make no endorsement.

4th County Supervisorial District. This covers Anaheim, Buena Park, La Palma, Orange and Placentia. There is no strong candidate to succeed outgoing Supervisor William G. Steiner. No endorsement.

Assessor: James S. Bone. There is one other county runoff race, for the post now held by outgoing Assessor Bradley J. Jacobs. Bone, an accountant, remains our choice over Webster J. Guillory, managing deputy assessor. Bone, a former member of the Orange County Assessment Appeals Board and an author on real estate assessment in California, has the knowledge, disposition and style to give the office new and open leadership.

Buena Park Bonds-Measure K: Yes. Buena Park voters should look on the Measure K bond issue as a bargain. It’s the district’s request for a $13.8-million general bond issue. Letting school facilities deteriorate further only would mean more expensive repairs later. And rejection of the bonds would mean a loss of matching state funds that can help make the local dollars buy even more improvements.

Westminster-Measure H: No. There is a measure on Tuesday’s ballot in Westminster to repeal the city’s ban on the sale and discharge of fireworks. It’s there because residents in 1990 wisely voted to ban them, and that restriction cannot be removed without another vote. Nothing really has changed. The reasons residents enacted the restriction are as true today as they were then, and the arguments turned down for allowing the use of so-called safe and sane fireworks still deserve rejection.

For a listing of other Times ballot choices, please see today’s Opinion section.