Ballots may be cast until 8 p.m. Tuesday

By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter

Benicians who are registered to vote but opted not to cast their ballots by mail will go to polls throughout the city Tuesday to pick the next president, fill other offices and decide 11 ballot measures.

President Barack Obama, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican nominee Mitt Romney as well as Thomas Hoefling of the American Independent Party, Jill Stein of the Green Party, Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party and Roseanne Barr of the Peace and Freedom Party.

In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from San Francisco, is opposed by Republican Elizabeth Emken, a national-level autism advocate from Danville.

For U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Mike Thompson of Napa is considered the incumbent in the new district created as voting maps were redrawn as a result of the 2010 U.S. Census; previously Benicia was represented by George Miller. Thompson is being opposed by Republican Randy Loftin, a tax and financial planning businessman from Napa.

In the state offices, state Sen. Lois Wolk, a Democrat and an incumbent in a newly drawn district that now includes Benicia, is being challenged by Frank Miranda, a Republican and retired builder who retains a partnership in his sons’ Solano County construction company.

Though Susan Bonilla is unopposed for state Assembly, her name remains on the ballot in the general election. She is a Democrat and is another incumbent in a new district that includes Benicia. Previously, Mariko Yamada represented Benicia in the Assembly.

Among the 11 propositions before voters, Benicians will help decide Prop. 30, which for seven years would place additional taxes on those earning $250,000 or more and raise the sales tax by a quarter-cent for four years to raise money for schools and for the public safety realignment program that releases state prisoners to county custody to comply with court rulings on California’s treatment of its inmates.

Prop. 31 would establish two-year budgets and set rules for expenditures and budget cuts. Prop. 32 would prohibit unions, corporations and government contractors from using payroll deducted from employees’ paychecks for political purposes.

Prop. 33 would let insurance companies set prices based on whether a driver previously carried auto insurance with any carrier, and would permit proportional discounts for those with prior coverage. Prop. 34 would replace the death penalty with life in prison without chance of parole.

Prop. 35 would raise penalties for convictions of human trafficking, making them comparable to federal sentences. Prop. 36 modifies the so-called “three strikes” law so those whose third felony conviction isn’t for a serious or violent crime may be sentenced to shorter prison times.

Prop. 37 would require new labeling of certain food products made of plants or animals with modified genetic material. Prop. 38 would increase taxes for 12 years, and the money would fund kindergarten through 12th grade and early childhood programs; some of the money also would repay state debt.

Prop. 39 would require multi-state businesses to pay income taxes based on a percentage of their sales in California, and for five years that money would be used for clean and efficient energy projects. Prop. 40 gives voters the chance to approve the new state Senate districts drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission after the latest census. Some Californians challenged the legality of the Senate maps, but the opposition faded after a California Supreme Court ruling that has kept the lines in place for 2012.

Benicians will decide whether Solano Community College should be allowed to issue a $348 million bond to retrofit its buildings and equipment as well as to make education affordable to more students, in particular to the disabled and veterans.

Rosemary Thurston, incumbent and president of the college’s Governing Board, is seeking re-election to the board. She is challenged by Mike Wright, a retired supermarket manager and community resources supervisor. This seat represents Benicia on the panel.

Benicians who haven’t mailed in their vote-by-mail ballots have been asked by officials in Solano County’s Registrar of Voters Office to take those ballots Tuesday to their polling place or other drop-off site, such as the city clerk’s office at City Hall, 250 East L St., or the Solano County Administration Building, 675 Texas St., Fairfield.

Precinct numbers are printed on each voter registration card, and poll sites are available through the Registrar of Voters website.

According to information provided by the Registrar of Voters, consolidated precincts 21005 and 21015, as well as 21010 and 21045, are at Benicia Senior Center, 187 East L St.

Precinct 21020, 21030 and 21065 voters will to the California National Guard Armory, 711 Hillcrest Ave.

Precincts 21035 and 21060 are at Gateway Church, 1315 Military West.

Precinct 21040, 21050 and 21055 are at Benicia Lutheran Church, 201 Raymond Drive.

Several consolidated precincts vote at Benicia First Baptist Church, 1055 Southampton Road: 21070, 21075, 21080, 21110, 21085, 21120, 21115, 21095, 21117 and 21125.

Precincts 21090 and 21100 are Club Pacifica, 1300 Southampton Road.

Precincts 21105 and 21130 are Matthew Turner Elementary School, 540 Rose Drive.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Anyone in line before polls close at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

Those with questions may visit the Solano County Registrar of Voters website, or call 707-784-6675 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Residents can see the registrar’s posting of unofficial results at www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/. Election information also will be posted on the Secretary of State Debra Bowen’s Twitter account, @CASOS, and on Bowen’s website, http://vote.sos.ca.gov/.