Recently in Elections Category

"Some say, compar'd to Bononcini
That Mynheer Handel's but a Ninny
Others aver, that he to Handel
Is scarcely fit to hold a Candle
Strange all this Difference should be
'Twixt Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee!" -- political observer John Byrom, 1692-1763.

As evinced by Jew v. Arab; Protestant v. Catholic; Hindustan v. Pakistan and most every Hatfield v. McCoy conflict: It's the slight differences which start a good blood feud. The more alike two people are; the more intensely they'll dispute their superficial divergences.

It seems many Democrats embrace both their candidates and are uneasy Clinton v. Obama has pit two people made of similar ideological stuff in a political steel-cage match. Goaded by the permanently cross-eyed, self-obsessed Tim Russert, both seemed compelled to perform surreal personality theater during Tuesday night's debate. Vestigial personality emerged to half-heartedly challenge Russertesque questions about what they'd do when al Qaeda "resurfaced" in their post-Defeatocrat/Surrender Monkey Iraq.

From the NYT's take:

Mrs. Clinton entered the room Tuesday night not as the underdog, but as a curiosity. Primed by cable newscasts, viewers were eager to witness the latest incarnation: Would she seem sensitive or sarcastic? Bountiful or brass-knuckled? Magisterial or just plain mad? Earlier in the day on MSNBC, when a Clinton supporter said the candidate should just be herself, the anchor, David Gregory, replied, “I don’t mean to be cynical about this, but which self?”

Two days after Tuesday's historic mega-primary, Thursday brings us another defining moment: Probably the last time Measure D will be mentioned in print. Story below.

Didn't have a breakdown of vote-by-mails and PAVs versus actual votes cast Tuesday night. Political consultant Fred Register said the results showed support had narrowed in the ensuing weeks -- but not enough to drop below a majority of support.

In other news, Tuesday night also saw the first class I'm teaching at the University of La Verne. Polling the group to find out what sources they get their news from, one erudite student shouted -- "Your blog!"

I'm seeing a bright future for that one.

Voters OK user tax, bond measures
By Caroline An and Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writers
Article Launched: 02/06/2008 10:50:22 PM PST

PASADENA -- Anxiety over the economy didn't stop voters from agreeing to be taxed in Pasadena and giving generously to schools in San Gabriel.

After all the votes were counted early Wednesday morning, Pasadena's utility user tax was passed by a comfortable margin, with 58 percent of 30,860 voters supporting it.

"We all recognize that the Internet is a new technology that is changing the face of today's world and avoiding taxation of this new technology is a good policy," said Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard. "Pasadena simply wants to maintain a tax on telephone services that has been in place for 40 years."

"Just when I think I'm out, they keep pulling me back in."

Because I missed losing half of the most frenetic day in the newsroom ... and because Producer Stuart Johnson made with the puppy-dog eyes, I joined the fine people of KPAS to appear on the new City Beat with the inimitable likes of Tami DeVine, Barry Gordon and Steve Madison of District 6.

Topics included Pasadena Heritage's bid to designate the Central and Lower Arroyo a protected cultural landscape, the YAC and -- as much as I wished otherwise -- Measure D.

City Beat airs on cable channel 55 and streams throughout the week.

Chamber pres Paul Little indicates the "Internet tax" argument from Measure D opponent Martin Truitt was very convincing. Just not as intended:

"Many Pasadena retailers see imposition of a tax on Internet-based purchases as a leveling of the retail playing field, since online sales transactions as a rule are not taxed but local sales are subject to state and local levies. A book seller in Pasadena, for example, is at a market disadvantage compared to Amazon which can sell the same item yet charge 8.5% less because the online transaction is not subject to California or Los Angeles County sales taxes. Likewise, a local music store may feel that taxing downloads is akin to imposing the same tax burden on Internet transactions that their customers currently pay for cds purchased over the counter."

"The decision to subject Internet sales to taxation is one that will be made by the Federal government, not local jurisdictions, regardless of passage of Measure D."

He does think Martin is incredible though, as per the full release which follows:

PASADENA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR EXTENTION OF UTILITY USER TAX

Board votes to support Pasadena's Measure D citing confidence in
City government and support for existing levels of service

PASADENA, CA – Bill Podley, Chair of the Board of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association, today announced that the business organization's Board of Directors voted overwhelmingly to endorse passage of Pasadena's Measure D, the extension of the city's Utility User Tax. "After hearing presentations from both the supporters and opponents of Measure D, our Board wanted to voice its support for continuation of the Utility User Tax," Mr. Podley said in announcing the decision. "The Board feels confident in the leadership of the City. We also have serious concerns about potential impacts on the quality of life in our city should the measure fail at the polls in February."

Measure D will continue the existing Utility User Tax in the City of Pasadena at the current tax rate. Passage of Measure D will ensure the City of Pasadena continues to collect approximately $10 million per year in General Fund revenues that result from the telephone portion of the tax. City leaders have repeatedly asserted that the tax is only an extension of the existing levies and won't extend into other areas, such as Internet use or downloads. Measure D is on the ballot for the February 5, 2008, primary election. "The prosperity of our business community is always at risk from competition and economic forces outside our control," Mr. Podley said. "Our board is very concerned that the services that may be impacted should the City be forced to absorb the loss of $10 million in General Fund revenue. That shortfall could significantly impact the business climate in Pasadena."

In December, the Chamber Board had a presentation from city staff on the history, collection and uses of the Utility User Tax. Mayor Bill Bogaard and Councilman Sid Tyler (District 7) also attended the meeting to ask the Chamber to publicly support passage of Measure D. In January, Martin Truitt spoke to the Chamber's Executive Committee and presented the opposition case that the tax will be extended to Internet use. Mr. Truitt also explained that opponents feel the City has more than enough money in reserves to cover any loss that would result for not being able to collect the UUT.

"It ultimately came down to credibility," said Paul Little, CEO and President of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. "Mayor Bogaard and Sid Tyler made a convincing case that the City relies on UUT revenues to ensure delivery of many of the services those in our city -- businesses and residents alike -- expect to maintain the quality of life and competitive business environment in Pasadena. We were also impressed that the proponents didn't present a 'doom and gloom' scenario of unsafe streets and fewer firefighters, but honestly told us budget decisions should Measure D fail will likely protect safety initiatives already in place in our city."

Speaking of Bill at the Bowl, it will be interesting to hear how the citizenry is (subtly) reminded to vote YES on Measure D during tonight's State of the City address.

In a true "Web first," the Yes on Measure D campaign site announced support Monday from the Pasadena Unified School District before the Board of Education had even voted on a resolution reportedly authored by board member Ed Honowitz. Ed is a member of the ACT political machine, which holds its share of influence on both the board and council.

Measure D's campaign was being managed by political consultant Fred Register, one of ACT's founders and the mayor's campaign manager.

Fred is Pasadena's antidote to Measure D opponent-in-chief Martin Truitt. They both roll their eyes at the arch-rival characterizations, but it's not the first time they've gone head-to-head.

But it could be the first such match with such a large financial disparity: Martin and CRaG-meister Wayne Lusvardi have next-to-nothing in their coffers.

Which made for a collective "Huh?" when Wayne turned down the potential free-publicity of his Doo-Dah spot, as chronicled in the paper and spilled over into a psychedelic diatribe from one detractor of the event's (de)merits here a few days ago.

Speaking of Molly R. Okeon, here she is soaking up some sun and some mayor at the Wednesday event in the Central Arroyo. I'd been looking forward to a nice plein air assignment, but was preoccupied with chronicling the depths of suffering.

Wayne Lusvardi's Measure D opposin' Citizens for Responsible Government is now online.

It's got Youtubes, arguments and scanned documents with embedded comments which inexplicably pop-up the word "martin" <.<

The left-leanin' folks at ACT are hosting a mock Iowa Caucus at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Mijares on Pasadena Avenue. Sierra Madre City Councilman John Buchanan moderates the affair, which will consist of the corner-mongering and peer-to-peer campaigning unfamiliar to us Coastals. It's an ACT-only event, but they're accepting new members on the spot.

A staff writer at our sister paper picks up where Saturday's story left off:

Measure S phone tax could tap Internet usage
By Kerry Cavanaugh, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 12/10/2007 11:10:20 PM PST

Despite assurances that a telephone-users tax on the February ballot is simply aimed at modernizing how Los Angeles taxes communications systems, wording in the measure opens the door to also taxing Internet access.

Federal law currently prohibits taxes on Internet access and e-mail - but that law sunsets in 2014, and some watchdogs said Monday that if the broadly written Measure S telephone tax passes it could allow the city to tax Internet access without additional voter approval.

"How do you say you're not taxing the Internet when the statute specifically says it's covering DSL, Voice-Over-Internet protocol, text messaging, instant messaging and PCS?" said Walter Moore, who is writing the opposition to the measure for the Feb. 5 ballot. You don't need a law degree to realize this is a tax on the Internet and wireless and all that."

Truth takes many forms and guises. So does legal language.

Since the city's own attorney cleared up any confusion about what Measure D's scope on Friday, members of the City Council are straining to contrast legislative "intent" and legislative "outcome," a distinction that might convince Immanuel Kant.

And I don't think they were happy with Michael Colantuono's rather clear explanation -- he wrote a ballot measure that could be applied to the Internet, if the council chose to do so at a future date when the current federal moratorium expired.

By the time other's got around to doing what one reader described as "re-reporting" the news, the spin had taken hold.

Measure D back in spotlight
Lawyers: Proposal would allow Internet tax
By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 12/08/2007 12:07:03 AM PST

PASADENA - Approving Measure D would allow City Hall to enact an Internet-access tax at a future time without a vote of the people, according to the legal team that wrote the ballot measure.

Seeking to challenge "misleading" ballot statements filed by Measure D opponents, the law firm of Colantuono & Levin filed a motion in court Friday arguing the City Council-endorsed ballot measure would "allow," not "force," a tax on Internet access.

"Our basic point is Measure D authorizes an Internet tax, but it doesn't require it," Colantuono said in a telephone interview.

The measure is designed that way, he said, because technological strides might render telephone use unrecognizable in time.

Wayne Lusvardi says Colantuono and Levin, the law firm responsible for Pasadena's Measure D, has notified him they are suing to remove certain items in the Rebuttal to the Argument FOR Measure D that Wayne submitted last week.

UPDATED: See, it all comes together. All the disparate narrative threads and one-liners, like good sketch comedy, converge into something discernible. Ragnarök? Or just a lot of talk?

I've been waiting for things to gel beyond speculation for a print story about the lawsuit but yes, Rene Amy's first case? Defending Wayne Lusvardi's Citizens for Responsible Government (which he insists on pronouncing as "CRAG") in court.

Here's the city press release from Spokeslegend Ann Erdman:

LAWSUIT FILED TO CORRECT FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS
IN REBUTTAL BALLOT ARGUMENT ON LOCAL MEASURE “D”

On Dec. 7, a lawsuit will be filed on behalf of the Elections Official for the City of Pasadena to correct a misleading ballot argument that was submitted for the voter pamphlet against local Measure “D.”

Measure “D” will be considered by the voters of the City of Pasadena at a Feb. 5, 2008, election; the Measure itself is titled “Pasadena Utility Users Tax Continuation Measure.” The Measure is intended to clarify the application of the City’s Utility Users Tax on telephone services, first imposed in 1969, to new telephone technologies like wireless and voice over the internet protocol.

(More below)

Stopped by City Hall before last night's council meeting to see if the ballot statements were in re: Measure D and was told they were -- and would be shared in the morning. Came back in a few minutes later when Principal opponent Wayne Lusvardi showed up to demand they be presented because he suspected the statement in support was NOT submitted by the 5:30 p.m. deadline.

Wish I had a camera as City Clerk Jane Rodriguez came back and held them up to show proof they'd been received. Story in tomorrow's paper.

* East Pas Councilman Steve Haderlein wrote back too late Friday for me to change his title from "Strip Club Killer" to "Strip Club Assassin" for the Pleasures story.

As of January 25, residents can sleep soundly knowing the very last of Pasadena's problems have ceased to exist because no women will be taking their shirts off in a bar somewhere.

* Production problems result in Saturday's story slugged "DUMPFOLO" NOT ACTUALLY JUMPING anywhere! Yay!

* Some e-mails related to the Measure D story are posted below. I've been meaning to check Wayne Lusvardi's blog, where he's on occasion referred to me as an "ace reporter." For some reason I've never taken it as a compliment. :D

As promised, here's what I scibbled down Tuesday morning as the likely outcome of the April 17 run off election:

City Council
District 1
51% Robinson
49% Salzer

District 2
57% McAustin
43% Lomako

PUSD

Seat 2
60% Renatta Cooper
40% Mark Mastromatteo

Seat 4
51% Bill Bibbiani
49% Bob Harrison

Not too bad. But given my apparent lack of precognitive abilities, I'll stick with interviewing and reporting.

Big change in the District 1 numbers between the time I left the Convention Center, where Robin Salzer was maintaining a big lead of Jacque Robinson.

Precinct voters -- that is people who actually show up and vote -- gave Jacque the bump she needed to finish about 100 votes ahead of Robin.

Margaret McAustin, as expected, easily won the District 2 race.

Renatta Cooper, who finished with a strong lead on March 6, did equally well to take PUSD Seat 2.

Seat 4 incumbent Bill Bibbiani, the sole sitting member of the unpopular school board to ask voters for another term, was edged out by restaurant owner Bob Harrison.

And a last-minute addition: Sierra Madre's Measure V squeeked through on a (what's more narrow than a razor?) margin that could only be measured by its atomic weight.

"Semi-final" results:

City Council
District 1
Jacque Robinson 1,009 53.0
Robin Salzer 894 46.9

District 2
Margaret McAustin 1,015 61.1
Jim Lomako 646 38.8

PUSD Board of Education

Seat 2
Mark Mastromatteo 4,642 36.4
Renatta Cooper 8,099 63.5

Seat 4
Bob Harrison 6,949 53.1
William A. Bibbiani 6,115 46.8

Apparently the early returns from absentee ballots will again be delayed past 8:30 p.m., much as they were on March 6 ...

Ready your F5 (that's the refresh key) finger and keep checking here.

BUT WAIT: They just went live. Nothing at ci.pasadena.whatever so go to cityofpasadena.net:

In short:

City Council
District 1: Robin Salzer has a sizeable lead on Jacque Robinson among absentee voters.
District 2: Margaret McAustin trouncing Jim Lomako 2-to-1.

PUSD
Seat 2: Renatta Cooper is way ahead of Mark Mastromatteo
Seat 4: Bill Bibbiani is a slivery 99 votes ahead of Bob Harrison.

District 1
Jacque Robinson 356 42.3
Robin Salzer 485 57.6

District 2
Margaret McAustin 466 62.2
Jim Lomako 283 37.7

PUSD Board of Education
Mark Mastromatteo 2,643 38.9
Renatta Cooper 4,134 61.0

Bob Harrison 3,409 49.2
William A. Bibbiani 3,508 50.7

Seven months of campaigning will end in a few hours with the winners and losers on the Pasadena City Council and PUSD school board decided.

Any guesses how the votes will come down?

I've committed my predictions to hard copy, I'll own up to how far off I was after final results are in.

Just under four hours remain to vote.

I took this picture this morning outside a Sierra Madre polling location.

Except this one's totally sweet.

We've got:

Bob v. Bib fighting for the character of the PUSD school board, during which time both (Bob) Harrison and (Bill) Bibbiani have jockeyed to be perceived the bigger "outsider" to the often-unpopular elected body.

Unequivocally outside, and if you listen to the whisper campaigns, "angry" Jim Lomako is up against establishment-oriented Margaret McAustin to represent central Pasadena's District 2.

In Sierra Madre, where residents are on the brink of reverting to pre-Social Contract barbarism, there's a ballot measure that would strip City Hall of its authority to make some development decisions and put them into the hands of residents.

But the race everyone is watching: Robin v. Robinson, the contest to represent Northwest Pasadena on the City Council.

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, sensitive to my aversion to early mornings, waited until Wednesday afternoon to call and follow up on our terse election-night conversation.

He asked if I'd heard from his defeated challenger, Aaron Proctor, who had famously accused Bill of being "170 years old."

Demonstrating the personal generosity that is part of why he can be mayor as long as he damn well pleases, Bill said he hoped to speak with Aaron about his future.

"He's certainly a nice person, and he wanted to get his feet wet in active politics," Bill says. "I said I’d want to be in touch if he’s interested in discussing opportunities" for Aaron to get involved in the city.

As much delight I take in giving the mayor a hard time - That's classy.

City Clerk Jane Rodriguez says she's trying to sort through 1,400 provisional and absentee ballots. Some could be redundant, but all have to be certified -- a process Jane expects to have concluded by Monday afternoon.

She suggests it might be done sooner, if only ... people would stop calling her. Which reminds of me of something I forgot to ask her ...

Realistically, the only impact those votes could have would be on Board of Education, with a slight chance of tipping Renatta Cooper into an outright win of Seat 2.

City Council
Mayor
Aaron D. Proctor 1,338 11.1
Bill Bogaard 10,700 88.8

District 1
Mark A. Leon 231 12.8
Raphael Henderson 335 18.6
Jacque Robinson 516 28.7
Michelle Richardson-Bailey 92 5.1
Robin Salzer 512 28.5
Gordon P. Treweek 109 6.0

District 2
Stacy Lewis 487 27.4
Jim Lomako 510 28.7
Margaret McAustin 775 43.7

District 4
Gene Masuda 1,366 47.4
Steve Haderlein 1,512 52.5

District 6
Steve Madison 2,303 83.2
Kimberley Brown 465 16.7

Measure C
Yes 9,562 80.2
No 2,351 19.7

PUSD Board of Education

Seat 2
George Loew 3,513 24.6
Mark Mastromatteo 3,674 25.7
Renatta Cooper 7,083 49.6

Seat 4
George Lewis 720 4.9
Bob Harrison 5,238 35.9
William A. Bibbiani 6,783 46.5
Milena Albert 1,831 12.5

Seat 6
Roberta H. Martinez 6,881 48.3
Tom Selinske 7,357 51.6

It's 9:21 9:27 p.m. and the absentee-ballot returns (expected at 8:30 p.m.) have yet to be posted.

I called some council members to ask them what was up.

"Every candidate is on edge, everyone's anxious, everyone's sitting at their computer hitting refresh," District 4 incumbent Steve Haderlein says.

Yeah. My furious and frenetic mouse-clicking doesn't seem to be helping.

UPDATE: AND THEY'RE UP!