Every Vote Counts - Including Yours!

The June 5, 2018, election is set to become one of historical importance for voters in Orange County. Two long seated members of the House of Representatives -- Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Darrell Issa (R-Vista) have made decisions not to seek re-election. This provides opportunities not seen in many years. For the first time in 25 and 17 years respectively the 39th Congressional and 49th Congressional district will not have incumbents on the ballot. This opportunity allows new candidates to come forward and offer fresh ideas to their respective Congressional districts.

In 2014, the last primary election that did not feature a presidential race, California posted its lowest voter turnout record since 1918 – just 18 percent. The 2014 election included measures that affected affordable housing and the openness of local government, two issues that we are still addressing today. The 2010 adoption of Proposition 14, the open-primary rule, states that the two candidates with the highest number of votes, regardless of party delegation, move from the primary to the November general election. If California experiences low voter turnout for the June primary election, citizens could arrive to their polling place in November surprised that their party is not represented on the ballot. To help build an informed electorate, the North Orange County Chamber of Commerce (NOCC), in partnership with the U.S. Chamber, hosted a forum in late March for those seeking election representing the 39th Congressional District. This forum featured several candidates and included questions submitted by audience members.

In addition to the hotly contested congressional races taking place, for the first time in eight years, incumbent Shawn Nelson has vacated the Fourth District Supervisor seat. This provides a unique opportunity to elect a county representative for the cities of Brea, Fullerton, La Habra, and Placentia, as well as portions of Anaheim and Buena Park.

On the same ballot, State Senator Josh Newman (29th District) is facing recall with individuals vying to replace him. Rounding out the ballot are the primary races for U.S. Senator, California Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General Orange County District Attorney, O.C. Sheriff, and more.

Furthermore, five statewide ballot measures will undoubtedly affect the way citizens conduct their daily lives. Among those, Proposition 69, if approved, would prohibit funds generated from SB 1, the excise gas tax, to be spent for services other than transportation.

Today, citizens often complain of feeling disenfranchised, unconvinced that their vote holds any weight. The June primary allows voters a voice. If turnout continues to trend downward in nonpresidential election years, it is almost certain, however, that a limited number of voters could decide the future for all.

CALCHAMBER ANNOUNCES POSITIONS ON BALLOT MEASURES

In advance of an important upcoming election, California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) has announced support of the five state wide ballot measures appearing on the June 5, 2018, ballot. Each of the measures is qualified by the vote of the state legislature.

PROPOSITION 68

CALIFORNIA DROUGHT, WATER, PARKS, CLIMATE COASTALPROTECTION, AND OUTDOOR ACCESS FOR ALL ACT OF 2018.

SB 5 (de León; Chapter 852, Statutes of 2017), a $4 billion bond measure. The CalChamber Board voted to support the measure because it will provide funds for: groundwater cleanups that improve water quality; flood protection and repair; clean drinking water projects; and parks in urban and disadvantaged communities.

PROPOSITION 69

MOTOR VEHICLE FEES AND TAXES:RESTRICTION ON EXPENDITURES: APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT.

ACA 5 (Frazier; D-Discovery Bay; Resolution Chapter 30, Statutes of 2017), a constitutional amendment to restrict use of diesel sales tax revenues and the new transportation improvement fee to transportation purposes. The CalChamber Board voted to endorse this measure to add protections for the new transportation revenues approved under CalChamber-supported SB 1 (Beall; D-San Jose;Chapter 5, Statutes of 2017), which enacted the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

PROPOSITION 70

GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION RESERVE FUND.

ACA 1 (Mayes; R-Yucca Valley; Resolution Chapter 105, Statutes of 2017), a constitutional amendment requiring revenues from the cap-and-trade auctions to be deposited into the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Reserve Fund. It also requires one-time legislative super majority approval of the cap-and-trade expenditure plan before the funds can be returned to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Reserve Fund to be appropriated. The CalChamber Board voted to support this measure because it will encourage bipartisan support for a cap-and-trade expenditure plan and allow for a process to negotiate expenditures that furthers the goals of the Legislature as a whole.

PROPOSITION 71

BALLOT MEASURES: EFFECTIVE DATE.

ACA 17 (Mullin; D-South San Francisco; Resolution Chapter 190,Statutes of 2017) provides that an initiative statute, referendum, or constitutional amendment or revision shall take effect on the fifth day after the Secretary of State files the statement of vote, unless the measure provides a later operative date that is after this effective date. The CalChamber Board voted to support the measure because allowing initiatives and referenda to go into effect before the vote has been certified by the Secretary of State can create confusion and even the erroneous implementation of new law.

PROPOSITION 72

PROPERTY TAX: NEW CONSTRUCTION EXCLUSION:RAIN WATER CAPTURE SYSTEM.

SCA 9 (Glazer; D-Contra Costa; Resolution Chapter 1, Statutes of 2018) will exclude rain water capture systems from the definition of “newly constructed” for property tax reassessment purposes.California is in a state of flux between heavy precipitation and drought.The CalChamber Board voted to support Proposition 72 because rainwater recapture systems are an effective means of conserving water that should be encouraged.