The best choices

It’s called the June 8 primary, but the earliest vote-by-mail applications will be processed beginning Monday, and ballots will be sent to voters soon after. Even most early voters will wait until later in the week, when sample ballots and information pamphlets begin to arrive in mailboxes, but if history is any guide, a large number of California voters will be casting their June ballots in May.

This year’s primary sets up the five-month campaign to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lead the state through, and we fervently hope out of, an era of shrinking resources, busted budgets and legislative deadlock.

Californians will also vote on five statewide ballot measures and nominate candidates for six other partisan statewide offices. In the nonpartisan race for superintendent of public instruction, the top two finishers will meet in a November runoff unless one candidate wins a majority in the primary. Voters will also elect or reelect members of Congress, the state Senate and Assembly and the Board of Equalization.

Los Angeles County voters will be selecting a county assessor and six Superior Court judges. Many will weigh a parcel tax to support the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The Times endorses selectively, and chose to make recommendations on the ballot measures, in the state and Los Angeles County nonpartisan races and in those statewide primaries in which there is no incumbent running. Our recommendations are restated here and will be again before June 8.

State offices

Governor: No endorsement. With only token opposition, Jerry Brown doesn’t have to tell Democrats anything, and he isn’t. Republicans? Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman are battling to capture the cliches rather than to present workable strategies. Californians deserve, and we hope they will get, a higher-quality debate in the campaign for the Nov. 2 general election.

Lieutenant governor, Democratic Party: Gavin Newsom. The mayor of San Francisco stopped ridiculing this largely ceremonial office and began running for it. He would be an interesting governor-in-waiting.

Lieutenant governor, Republican Party: Abel Maldonado. Finally confirmed to the post last month after the governor appointed him, Maldonado will run as an incumbent — and as a spokesman for pragmatism over partisanship.

Attorney general, Democratic Party: Kamala Harris. San Francisco’s district attorney focuses not simply on reducing violent crime but on reducing recidivism.

Attorney general, Republican Party: Steve Cooley. Los Angeles County’s district attorney brings an enlightened pragmatism, demonstrated in his handling of three-strikes cases.

Insurance commissioner, Democratic Party: Dave Jones. An attorney and lawmaker from Sacramento, Jones has demonstrated the kind of intelligence, creativity and drive that would be put to good use in protection of California insurance consumers.

Insurance commissioner, Republican Party: Mike Villines. The former Assembly Republican leader showed courage in seeking a budget solution last year, but he must bone up on the substance of the office if he wants to be considered a contender.

Superintendent of public instruction (nonpartisan): Larry Aceves. The retired school superintendent understands the importance of training teachers and assisting parents, and he knows the ins and outs of the state’s large education bureaucracy.

Ballot measures

Proposition 13: Yes. It would encourage owners of unreinforced masonry buildings to make their structures earthquake safe.

Proposition 14: Yes. The measure would end party primaries that, like this one, strip voters of much of their decision-making power. It would begin a system of “top-two” primaries, in which all candidates would compete against one another and the top two finishers would face off in a November runoff. When voters are no longer restricted to candidates of their own party, candidates will be compelled to seek consensus positions rather than play to the party extremes.

Proposition 15: Yes. A pilot program for full public campaign financing — for only two election cycles and for only secretary of state — should provide useful lessons on how, or whether, to proceed with a broader public financing program.

Proposition 16: No. The so-called Taxpayers Right to Vote Act is really a ploy by the Bay Area’s Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to protect its turf by making it harder and more expensive for municipalities to provide power to their residents.

Proposition 17: No. The bid for “portability” of auto insurance discounts is really a ploy by Mercury Insurance to change the landmark initiative that required insurance to be offered and priced on a driver’s record and current driving patterns. Mercury tried this before, and lawmakers went along, but the state Supreme Court ruled that the attempt violated Proposition 103. Now the company is going after Proposition 103.

Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County assessor: John Y. Wong. Wong’s experience as chairman of the county Assessment Appeals Board, together with his business and real estate acumen, make him the best of 13 candidates for the important but low-profile job of appraising property for tax purposes.

Superior Court Judge, Office No. 28: Randy Hammock. Currently serving as a bench officer in juvenile dependency court, Hammock is the best of eight candidates.

Superior Court Judge, Office No. 35: Soussan (Suzanne) Bruguera. A sitting judge with a good reputation for fairness and efficiency, Bruguera deserves to retain her seat.

Superior Court Judge, Office No. 73: Laura A. Matz. Matz too is a worthy judge who deserves to remain on the bench.

Superior Court Judge, Office No. 107: Tony de los Reyes. Civil practitioner De los Reyes has more than 40 years of courtroom experience and would make an excellent addition to the court.

Superior Court Judge, Office No. 117: Alan Schneider. Deputy Dist. Atty. Schneider is one of the county’s most capable prosecutors and is the best candidate in the race for judge.

Superior Court, Office No. 131: Maren Elizabeth Nelson. Nelson is an accomplished judge being challenged by an attorney with, at best, modest experience. Voters should keep Nelson.

Los Angeles Unified School District

Measure E: No. The school district needs money, but it deleted spending oversight from this request for a $100-per-property parcel tax.