By Kevin Johnson
Mayor of Sacramento
Reflecting on yesterday’s election results, let’s start with the obvious: Nationally, the Republican victories in Congress and statehouses mean voters are demanding a period of austerity, with smaller government, lower taxes and a tightening of our federal deficit.
Republicans will have the opportunity to make good on their promises while dealing with the challenging task of shrinking the deficit while lower taxes. I wish them luck, and will be watching their progress.
In California, typically bucking the national Republican trend, it was a great Election Day for Democrats. I was gratified to see the vast majority of my endorsements ride to victory, including a clean sweep on the state-wide ticket.
Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom are the right choices for governor and lieutenant governor, along with Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Controller John Chiang and Treasurer Bill Lockyer. Kamala Harris seems poised to win Attorney General, though the race is very close. On the federal level, I was pleased to see victories by Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Doris Matsui.
State proposition outcomes were gratifying, especially the defeat of Prop. 23, which would have suspended air pollution law, and the victories of Props. 22 and 25. Those two wins are good news for Sacramento. Prop. 22 prevents the state from stealing our money and Prop. 25 allows a simple majority to pass a state budget.
Moving to the local races, I could not be more pleased by the outcome of the Sacramento City Council races. Our three new council members -- Angelique Ashby, Jay Schenirer and Darrell Fong -- represent new energy and vision for the city council.
Ashby, Schenirer and Fong reflect the best of our community: they ran for all the right reasons and bring true independence to a council that should welcome new perspectives.
I reluctantly voted against Measure B, the utility fee rollback, because I believe the city’s utility department needs a top to bottom audit and shake up. However, I felt Measure B would have put our public safety budget at risk, so I opposed the measure, which lost. Measure C, the marijuana business tax, will provide new revenue sources for our budget.
Obviously, I was disappointed by the results of the Sacramento City Unified school board race. The three reform candidates whom I supported were defeated by status quo candidates well financed by the teachers’ union.
The election results were a major victory for the teachers’ union. Their candidate also won in the race for state superintendent of schools, Tom Torlakson.
While I applaud the winners and will do everything in my power to assist the Sac City school board, make no mistake: I will also do everything in my power to hold that board accountable.
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