Pre- 6/5/12 Elections: Voter Information

Purpose
1.  To provide a convenient way for voters to review pertinent information on the upcoming elections and refer back to it, as needed.
2.  To highlight the City's urgent need for a modest sales tax increase -- at generally trivial cost to taxpayers, for huge payoffs. 

A CORRESPONDINGLY HIGH VOTER TURNOUT 

WILL BE NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT 

TO GET THAT JOB DONE.

3.  To also highlight the more controversial East Contra Costa Fire Protection District request for a parcel tax to maintain services -- and the arguments, pro and con.

Overview
I. The Voter Information Section -- Tries to provide easy and efficient means for finding the answers to any questions.  And to serve, perhaps, as a useful memory-aid to stimulate the formulation of questions.

II.  Local Measures Section -- Tries to call factors to your attention, which "should" have an important bearing on your decision-making, as to your vote, and on whether you intend to vote at all.

I.  GENERAL VOTER INFORMATION

a.  REGISTER TO VOTE -- Deadline, May 21 for June 5 Election

b.  VOTING LOCATIONS IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
c.  VOTE BY MAIL  (Apply by May 29 )
-- Hint: Mark those calendars

GENERAL

CALIFORNIA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION -- OFFICIAL VOTER GUIDE
Primary Election Calendar 

California Election Dates and Deadlines

CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE -- Debra Brown

June 5, 2012 Presidential Primary Election

California Elections and Voter Information

Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA [Public Education]

Voting In The Primary Election

Contra Costa County Voter Information

Directory of All Contests

State Propositions

County Contests

MISCELLANEOUS -- PARTISAN?

Ballots Are in the Mail for June 5 California Election -- HispanicBusiness.Com
The Parties Fear California’s New Open Primary

II.  LOCAL MEASURES HIGHLIGHTED

1.  "Measure P" -- Transaction & Use Tax,  
City of Pittsburg 

(Majority Approval Required)

To provide funding that stays in Pittsburg and cannot be seized by the State, to be used for Public Safety, gang prevention, job creation programs for local residents, to keep the Senior Center open, to maintain other City services, shall the City of Pittsburg enact a temporary, half-cent sales tax for five years, reduced to one-quarter cent for five years, then the increase be terminated, altogether, with citizens' oversight, mandatory audits and consistent community reporting?

Background Information

a.  Independent Analysis of Measure "P" -- prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.

b.  THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, dated 1/3/12

c.  Report to the City's former Redevelopment Agency, "Basic Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports, For the Year Ended June 30, 2011" (concerning the City's overall direction). Financial data on pages 5 and 6 are of special interest (This PDF report can take up to 60 seconds to load, lots of photos, please be patient -- it's well worth the wait)

2. "Measure S" -- Parcel Tax
East Contra Costa Fire Protection District 

(2/3 Approval Required)

To preserve existing emergency services, add paramedic services and prevent further layoffs of up to one half of existing firefighters and the closure of up to 3 additional fire stations, shall an ordinance be adopted to enact a parcel tax of $197 per year on each parcel of real property within the District, with an annual cost of living adjustment not to exceed 3% and terminating on June 30, 2023?

Background Information

a.  Independent Analysis of Measure "S" -- prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.  It includes arguments for and against the measure -- with exchange of rebuttals.

b.  It is noted that the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association opposes approval of this measure.

Tags:  "Voting," "Elections"