November 25, 1998

No surprises. Gray, Cruz and Michela beat Dan, Tim and Bill in Pacifica

It's no surprise the next governor of California got 9656 votes in Pacifica to the Republican candidate's 3064. Pacifica is a Democratic city. Even so, a 72 percent to 23 percent difference is worth crowing about, if you are a Democrat, and I am. These are official, final results. Pacifica's turnout was over two-thirds of the registered, better than the county average, but not as good as Atherton (72.44 percent) or Hillsborough (70.92 percent). Portola Valley, with 76.06 percent, did best of all. Rich folk vote. Shouldn't we all?

Our new Lieutenant Governor, Cruz Bustamante, got almost 1300 votes less than Gray Davis. Oddly, Republican Tim Leslie did not benefit. He got about 250 votes less than Dan Lungren. The minor parties picked up 909 more votes for Lt. Gov. in Pacifica than for Governor. Green Sara Amir, whoever she is, got 659 votes to Green Dan Hamburg's 218. For Secretary of State, Michela Alioto swamped Bill Jones in Pacifica, 60 percent to 28 percent.

It's no wonder a San Mateo County Supervisor, Ruben Barrales, has quit politics. He ran for state Controller and lost in Pacifica, in his home county, 66 percent to 22 percent. Though he was touted as a rising Hispanic hope for the Republican party, he did badly in Hispanic East Palo Alto, but he got majorities in thoroughly non-Hispanic Hillsborough, Atherton, Portola Valley and Woodside.

Very likely he could have remained a Supervisor until term limits kicked in, but it would appear he's reached his limits in the political hierarchy.

While Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush was re-elected statewide, he has few friends in Pacifica. Diane Martinez, whom I have met, and who would have made a great Insurance Commissioner, won in Pacifica 58 percent to 26 percent. Too bad Pacifica's wisdom doesn't work statewide. More than 98 percent of Pacifica voters were interested in the U.S. Senate race, and almost 68 percent voted for Barbara Boxer to almost 27 percent for Matt Fong. I find it gratifying Fong's ethnic background seems to have been neither a big help nor a big hindrance. Perhaps Pacificans, and Californians in general are beyond racial politics. I'll drink a nice Hetch Hetchy toast to that.

Jackie Speier, as expected, was sent to the state Senate with over three-quarters of the vote. Her opponent got less than one vote in every five. Sacrificial lambs have done better in old pagan rituals. Prop. 5, Indian gambling, won as expected in Pacifica, 63 percent to 33 percent. We also voted (Prop. 6) to stop any California horses from being sold to Frenchmen for dinner, so California dogs and cats will continue to munch on pony parts instead.

Props 8 and 9 went down in Pacifica roughly two to one. Prop. 10 passed about 49 percent to 45.5 percent, better than the statewide squeaker. The election had a few flaws. They all do. But no Democrat, and few Pacificans have any right to complain. Now's the time to show what we Democrats can do.

Paul Azevedo has seen Democrats win and Democrats lose elections. Generally, he prefers them to win. The Pacifica Democrats, of which he is a past President, will be 50 years old in 1999.