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Election Results: Everybody Got Something
Published Saturday, November 14, 1998

For Nevada County voters, the November elections had something for everybody. No one person or party will be totally happy -- or totally dismayed, for that matter.
 
As one local candidate reminded me, the process is more important than the officeholder. And even if your candidate didn’t win or your proposition didn’t pass, we’re all supposed to be friends the next day.
 
So let’s take a lightning-fast look at the election highlights.
 
National Elections. I think the Republicans did very well in the mid-term election, but they don’t call me for my opinions. They are whining about losses because they thought they’d have more gains.
 
It’s kind of a shame, but Newt Gingrich is stepping down as Speaker of the House. I guess Republicans are mad at him. Maybe everyone’s distressed at his failed strategy to discredit Clinton in the last weekend of the campaign (was that $10 million in TV spots in three days?).
 
I bet the real insult to the GOP is that Jesse “The Body” Ventura is now governor of Minnesota. Maybe Republicans should worry. Maybe old-style Democrats should worry, too.
 
Senator. Barbara Boxer again? Although Nevada County voted overwhelmingly for Fong, I voted for Boxer. She’s not sensible or honest about gun control, but I can live comfortably with her other positions.
 
Congressional Representative. Wally Herger again? Is this the best the Republicans can do? Granted, Congressional District 2 is safely Republican (for the present), but couldn’t you nominate someone with a pulse?
 
Governor. As usual, Nevada County did its best to keep the state executive branch Republican. However, the Democrats swept the offices, and I think that’s a very healthy change for California. My father, a conservative Republican, is in despair. His only hope is that Davis will ruin us so badly we’ll promptly return a Republican to office.
 
As a bonus, Dan Lungren not only isn’t governor, but he’s no longer Attorney General. Maybe this will result in correct enforcement of Proposition 215 (marijuana), fewer property seizures, and less bad advice to Nevada County District Attorney, Mike Ferguson.

Assembly. Sam Aanestad, local dentist, makes good. Bifurcations to bills, root canals to resolutions, it’s the old dentist-to-legislator story. He’s local, and so is presumably interested in our issues, an interest we didn’t much see from Bernie Richter. Of course, it was unlikely that Gruendl, the Democrat, was going to show strongly in this largely Republican assembly district. Best of luck, Sam!
 
The initiatives. For the most part, I thought Californians had their heads on straight. The surprises for me were a big NO to air quality improvement, and a YES on the electric utilities proposition. So, we’re not going to bribe polluters, but we’re going to pay for nuclear debacles. Amazing.
 
We also stopped the senseless slaughter of horses for human consumption, as opposed to the senseless slaughter of horses for dog food. How enlightened.
 
The tobacco tax (as it is labeled by the Secretary of State) shows that we’re always willing to tax the other guy. When there’s only one smoker left in California, I figure he’ll be paying about $10 million a pack for cigarettes. Serves him right, the slime.
 
Local elections. Look at the undercounts in the results! Those are people who couldn’t stomach either candidate. Bet you the losers wish they had earned those votes. They’d be winners.
 
District 4 Supervisor. The election of Izzy Martin stocks the Board of Supervisors with four progressives. Great! The operative word is “progressive,” not “liberal.” So relax, and see what happens.
 
I heartily disagree with Melinda Monaghans’s hand-wringing in last week’s Both Sides Now. She worries excessively about the Rural Quality Coalition (RQC). Not necessary. The RQC has excellent stated purposes and the right to express and press its views.  However, until the principals improve their listening skills, reasoning ability and understanding of people, they won’t be terribly effective.
 
Clerk recorder. A contest between two unqualified candidates. Somebody won.
 
Assessor. Tax cutter vs systems analyst. Somebody won.
 
Grass Valley City Council. I knew Gerard Tassone would take the first seat. He’s good, and besides, I managed his campaign. After that, it was fun to see the wannabees duke it out for the second seat.
 
Congratulations to all the candidates, especially those winners and losers who had the civility to take out “thank you” ads in the newspaper. See you next time!
 
Barry Schoenborn is a technical writer, and a ten-year resident of Nevada County. You can write to him at barry@wvswrite.com. The opinions of columnists are not necessarily those of The Union.

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