PROP 14, “OPEN” PRIMARY MEASURE, MAY FACE CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES
 

By Miriam Raftery

June 9, 2010 (Sacramento) – Two ballot measures heavily backed by powerful utility and insurance industry money failed to win approval from voters. By narrow margins, Proposition 16 and 17 were defeated.  A third controversial measure, which would eliminate party primary elections, won passage by voters but may face legal challenges in court. 

June 7, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) –Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8th. Find your polling place at this link: http://www2.sdcounty.ca.gov/rov/Eng/Epolling_query.asp or check the back of your sample ballot. Sign up to follow EastCountyMag at www.twitter.com if you wish to receive election night results and other breaking news bulletins.

If you missed our earlier articles on candidates for key local races, ballot initiatives, and more, scroll down for links to our major stories plus other  nonpartisan voter information sources. (As a nonprofit publication, ECM does not endorse candidates.) Because of deceptive slate mailers sent to voters, we've also provided links to official San Diego Democratic and Republican Party endorsements.  Links to East County Magazine coverage and more:

By Bob Kipper, Vietnam War veteran and owner, KIAC Insurance Agency, San Marcos

Editor’s note: Last week we ran an article titled “Prop 17 would hurt veterans and consumers, experts warn.”  The Yes on Prop 17 campaign has responded by submitting the editorial below.

June 2, 2010 (San Diego) -- I have been an insurance agent for 23 years in San Diego County. My customers include retired and active military personnel, including those stationed at Camp Pendleton, Miramar Air Station and Point Loma Naval Base. I am also a Vietnam War veteran, having served in the Air Force.

INSURANCE-BACKED INITIATIVE DECEIVES CONSUMERS, SAY PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS 

By Miriam Raftery

May 28, 2010 (San Diego) – Mercury Insurance is the sole sponsor of Proposition 17, though it hides its identity behind the deceptively name Campaign for Consumer Rights. Mercury wants to repeal portions of a law that prohibit it from charging higher rates to consumers who dropped insurance coverage for 90 days, missed a single payment, or were not previously insured (even if a teen had a perfect record driving a paren'ts car).

Yesterday, Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Mary Salas held a press conference with Votevets.org chairman Jon Soltz to warn that Prop 17 unfairly penalizes veterans who drop coverage while serving overseas or in the U.S. “Soldiers and veterans would be required to pay up to $1,000 more a year for auto insurance when they sought to restart coverage,” Salas cautions.