2020 Endorsements

General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2020

All voters will receive their ballots in the mail during the week of October 5, 2020
There will be 47 Voting Centers in the County from Saturday, October 31 - Tuesday, November 3 for those who do not mail in their ballots but want to vote

CANDIDATES ENDORSED BY THE DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF VENTURA:

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 25 - Christy Smith

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 26 - Julia Brownley

CALIFORNIA SENATE DISTRICT 19 - Monique Limon

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 37 - Steve bennett

Ventura County Board Supervisor, 5th District - Carmen Ramirez

VENTURA CITY COUNCIL, 2ND DISTRICT - doug halter

VENTURA CITY COUNCIL, 3RD DISTRICT - mike johnson

VENTURA CITY COUNCIL, 7TH DISTRICT - joe schroeder

VENTURA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AREA #2 - sabrena rodriguez

VENTURA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AREA #3 - amy "yamamoto" callahan

simi valley city council, 1st district - phil loos

Ballot Measure Positions by the California Democratic Party - November 3, 2020 General Election

PROP #

SUPPORT / OPPOSE

DESCRIPTION

Support

MORE BORROWING FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH - Authorizes bonds to continue funding stem cell and other medical research:

Authorizes $5.5 billion in state general obligation bonds to fund grants from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine to educational, non-profit, and private entities for: (1) stem cell and other medical research, therapy development, and therapy delivery; (2) medical training; and (3) construction of research facilities. Dedicates $1.5 billion to fund research and therapy for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy, and other brain and central nervous system diseases and conditions. Limits bond issuance to $540 million annually. Appropriates money from General Fund to repay bond debt, but postpones repayment for first five years. Click here to read the proposed law.

Support

CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS and LOCAL COMMUNITIES FUNDING ACT of 2020 - Increases funding for public schools, community colleges, and local government services by changing tax assessment of commercial and industrial property:

Increases funding for K-12 public schools, community colleges, and local governments by requiring that commercial and industrial real property be taxed based on current market value. Exempts from this change: residential properties, agricultural properties, and owners of commercial and industrial properties with combined value of $3 million or less. Exempts small businesses from personal property tax; for other businesses, exempts $500,000 worth of personal property. Click here to read the proposed law.

Support

RETURN TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION - Repeal prohibition of preferential treatment of individuals or groups:

The California Constitution, pursuant to provisions enacted by the initiative Proposition 209 in 1996, prohibits government agencies from granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting. This measure would repeal that law. Click here to read the proposed repeal.

Support

ALLOW PAROLEES TO VOTE - Restores voting rights for parolees:

1) An elector disqualified from voting while serving a state or federal prison term shall have their right to vote restored upon the completion of their prison term; and, 2) Electors serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony or mentally incompetent shall be disqualified to vote. Click here to read the proposed law.

Support

ALLOW SOME 17-YEAR-OLDS TO VOTE:

This measure would authorize U.S. citizens who are 17 years of age, a resident of the state, and will be at least 18 years old at the time of the next general election to vote in any primary or special election that occurs immediately before the next general election. Click here to read the proposed measure.

Support

PROPERTY TAX BREAKS FOR RICH HOMEOWNERS - Property tax breaks for primarily seniors but also includes severely disabled, families, and/or wildfire or natural disaster victims:

(1) Authorizes an owner of a primary residence who is over 55 years of age, severely disabled, or a victim of a wildfire or natural disaster to transfer the taxable value of their primary residence to a replacement primary residence that is of greater value in California that is purchased or newly constructed as that person’s principal residence within 2 years of the sale of the original primary residence; and, (2) Excludes from the terms “purchase” and “change in ownership” for purposes of determining the “full cash value” of property the purchase or transfer of a family home or family farm in the case of a transfer between parents and their children, or between grandparents and their grandchildren if all the parents of those grandchildren are deceased; and, (3) Creates the California Fire Response Fund and annually deposit the amount calculated by the Director of Finance of the additional revenues and savings accrued from the implementation of this measure’s provisions to that fund; and, (4) Creates the County Revenue Protection Fund and continuously appropriate moneys in that fund for the purpose of reimbursing eligible local agencies. Click here to read the proposed resolution.

Oppose

PAROLE CHANGES - Restricts parole for non-violent offenders and authorizes felony sentences for certain offenses currently treated only as misdemeanors:

Imposes restrictions on parole program for non-violent offenders who have completed the full term for their primary offense. Expands list of offenses that disqualify an inmate from this parole program. Changes standards and requirements governing parole decisions under this program. Authorizes felony charges for specified theft crimes currently chargeable only as misdemeanors, including some theft crimes where the value is between $250 and $950. Requires persons convicted of specified misdemeanors to submit to collection of DNA samples for state database. Click here to read the proposed law.

Support

RENT CONTROL - Expands local governments' authority to enact rent control on residential property:

Amends state law to allow local governments to establish rent control on residential properties over 15 years old. Allows rent increases on rent-controlled properties of up to 15 percent over three years from previous tenant’s rent above any increase allowed by local ordinance. Exempts individuals who own no more than two homes from new rent-control policies. In accordance with California law, provides that rent-control policies may not violate landlords’ right to a fair financial return on their property. Click here to read proposed law.

Oppose

CHANGES EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION RULES FOR APP-BASED TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY DRIVERS:

Changes criteria for app-based transportation (rideshare) and delivery drivers from “employees” to “independent contractors" (i.e., Uber and Lyft drivers, etc.) Independent contractors are not entitled to certain state-law protections afforded employees—including minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation. Instead, companies with independent contractor drivers will be required to provide specified alternative benefits, including: minimum compensation and healthcare subsidies based on engaged driving time, vehicle insurance, safety training, and sexual harassment policies. Restricts local regulation of app-based drivers; criminalizes impersonation of such drivers; requires background checks. Click here to read proposed law.

Support

NEW KIDNEY DIALYSIS CLINIC RULES - Authorizes state regulation of kidney dialysis clinics and establishes minimum staffing and other requirements:

Requires at least one licensed physician on site during treatment at outpatient kidney dialysis clinics; authorizes Department of Public Health to exempt clinics from this requirement due to shortages of qualified licensed physicians if at least one nurse practitioner or physician assistant is on site. Requires clinics to report dialysis-related infection data to state and federal governments. Requires state approval for clinics to close or reduce services. Prohibits clinics from discriminating against patients based on the source of payment for care. Click here to read proposed law.

Neutral

MORE PRIVACY PROTECTION FOR CONSUMER - Amends consumer privacy laws:

(1) Permits consumers to: (a) prevent businesses from sharing personal information; (b) correct inaccurate personal information; and, (c) limit businesses’ use of “sensitive personal information" such as precise geolocation, race, ethnicity, religion, genetic data, union membership, private communications, and certain sexual orientation, health, and biometric information; (2) Changes criteria so more businesses must comply with these laws; (3) Prohibits businesses’ retention of personal information for longer than reasonably necessary, (4) Triples maximum penalties for violations concerning consumers under age 16, and (5) Creates the California Privacy Protection Agency to enforce and implement consumer privacy laws, and impose administrative fines. Click here to read proposed law.

Support

CASH BAIL OR PUBLIC SAFETY RISK BAIL - Referendum to overturn a 2018 law that replaced money bail system with a system based on public safety risk:

If this petition is signed by the required number of registered voters and timely filed, a referendum will be placed on the next statewide ballot requiring a majority of voters to approve a 2018 state law before it can take effect. The 2018 law replaces the current money bail system with a system based based on public safety or flight risk, and not the ability of the defendant to pay for bail. Click here to read proposed law.