I don't know about you, but I feel like I'm drowning in negative attack ads and newscasts declaring doom and gloom for Democrats across the nation. At this point, I just want to tune it all out until it's over.  But here's the thing: it's NOT OVER.  Not by a long shot.  I have been buoyed by, of all people, Michael Moore.  He's been sending out daily "Blue Tsunami Truths" for a couple of months now, and his latest suggests that the mostly white male-dominated media and all the GOP mouthpieces are all too happy to declare that Democrats are going down, down, down next week because they're hoping to make all of us Liberal Snowflakes want to throw up our hands with a cry of "why bother to vote when it's over?!" 

So, say this like a mantra: IT'S NOT OVER TIL IT'S OVER, AND IT AIN'T OVER YET.

This weekend will be the huge push to GET OUT THE DEMOCRATIC VOTE. Right here in Kern County, we are in the thick of it, named "the most fiercely contested political turf" in California. We CAN make a difference, right here.

It's not too late!  There are still many votes to be gained or lost!  Certainly enough to tip the scales and/or secure a victory for Democrats. As we push through this final week, based on the continuing emails I'm receiving from friends asking for my opinion and a link to the Blue Voter Guide, people are still filling out their ballots, and are still wanting help making the "right" decision.  So now is the perfect time to Canvass, Phone Bank, Text Bank, and/or Donate to campaigns and organizations that need your help in getting the message out to voters, both here and to those crucial swing states like Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, to getting ALL (even the reluctant) Democrats to VOTE!

In the sections that follow, I've included the Blue Voter Guide and my opinions on the current local races and candidates.  I have also included UPDATED volunteer opportunities and the donation information for organizations both right here and across the nation helping to Get Out The Democratic Vote.

Here is how you CAN make a difference:
First, VOTE.
Second, PLEASE pick at least one opportunity and/or at least one organization and volunteer and/or donate!  

And here's something you can print out and take with you while you canvass, or keep in front of you when you make your calls, courtesy Michael Moore:


Show the world (and ourselves) that we have learned from past mistakes - that we won't let 2016 happen again.  It is up to every single one of us.  Our Democracy is in our hands.

 

HAVE YOU RECEIVED YOUR BALLOT?
I received my vote-by-mail ballot at the end of last week! It's all filled out, thanks to the Blue Voter Guide and trusted friends/resources, so I will be dropping mine off at the official Ballot Box located at the Lake Isabella Government Center today!

If you haven't received yours, check your voter status ASAP. Thankfully, we live in California, and it's not too late to rectify the situation before voting day.  The official "last day to register to vote" is October 24. Please don't wait till the last minute and do "Same Day" voter registration at your polling place.  That means you'll be considered a "Provisional Voter", and the last votes counted.  We need as many tallied on voting day as possible. 

Ballot drop boxes will be available between October 11 and November 8.  You also have the option of dropping off your mail-in ballot on November 8 at your polling place, or taking it with you, "surrendering your ballot," and voting in person. If you do not take your mail-in ballot with you to the polling place, you will be a "Provisional Voter."

Not sure if you're registered to vote? Check your status and/or register in 2 minutes with Voterizer.org
Or go to the Secretary of State's My Voter Status Page at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.  

BLUE VOTER GUIDE
My friends Wayne Liebman at So Cal Blue and Lotti Knowles at Swing Left have shared information about a fantastic and really helpful new tool, the Blue Voter Guide.  I clicked on the link, went to the website, and used it.  It was AWESOME!

It is SO easy to use.  Once you enter your registered voter address, it shows you your candidates and statewide propositions, along with which organizations have endorsed them. You can even enter in a group (like Kern County Democratic Party) if you'd like to just follow their endorsements. I actually entered California Democratic Party and voila!  many of the bubbles were filled in automatically.
You can even print it out to use if you decide to vote in person.
Click the link below to get started.  It's Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

Here is the information and the links I got from Wayne:

BlueVoterGuide.org is a new, unique, get-out-the-vote tool made by and for the grassroots. Voters enter their address and their ballot appears—with endorsements from groups on the left aggregated to help make voting choices smarter, faster, and smoother. It’s progressive, simple, and shareable—bringing along all voters, including hesitant first-timers, to make voting easier. Seamlessly share personalized ballot choices with family, friends, and on social media. It's operational in key battleground states — AZ, CA, FL, GA, NC, NV, PA, TX, WI.
Please have a look at this intro video, which explains more: https://cutt.ly/BlueVoterGuideVideo  (This video also pops up on the home page of the Blue Voter Guide site.)

Unfortunately, the Blue Voter Guide won't have down ballot recommendations for us here in Kern County, but in addition to national and statewide offices, it does have ballot measures and state legislators, as well as showing you who appointed the California Superior Court Judges (which gives you a really good idea how their politics may lean).

So, here it is, by popular demand, HOW I AM VOTING.  Please know, that I am in no way telling anyone how to vote.  This is just what I did, and why I did it. You are welcome to vote your own conscience.

STATE/NATIONAL CANDIDATES
For statewide and nationwide candidate races, I am voting Democrat down the line. 
This is not the Primary, so it's pretty simple: I VOTED BLUE.

JUDGES
I voted based on who appointed them.  You may not agree with my method, but after seeing what SCOTUS has done,  the damage Trump-appointed judges are doing around the country, and how the majority of the GOP's worm has turned, I do not trust any judge appointed by a Republican Governor.

Judge Martin Jenkins was appointed by Gov. Newsom - YES
Judge Joshua Groban was appointed by Gov. Brown - YES
Judge Goodwin Liu was appointed by Gov. Brown - YES
Judge Patricia Guerrero was appointed by Gov. Newsom - YES

Judge Bert Levy was appointed by Pete Wilson - NO
Judge Brad Hill was appointed by Arnold Schwarzenegger - NO
Judge Jennifer Detjen was appointed by Arnold Schwarzenegger - NO

STATEWIDE MEASURES
As for Measures, you can see in the Blue Voter Guide which measures the California Democrat Party, and in many/most cases, the Kern County Democratic Party, have endorsed, or not.  Most, like Measure 1, 28, 29, and 31 are clearly YES votes, at least for me.  Just so you know, CADEM has endorsed a YES vote on all except Measure 27, which is a clear NO vote.  But for me, 26 and 30 are a bit trickier.

Prop 26: Currently, sports betting is illegal in California, so anyone living in California who wants to place a sports wager does so remotely, sending the money out of state.  So the Tribal Gaming Casinos and race tracks want to allow sports betting at their facilities.  Since a percentage of those revenues will go to the State's fund, that could help our budget.  The Tribal Gaming Casinos say that illegal sports betting is happening, and their ability to regulate it will stop, not encourage, underage gambling.  The people trying to stop this measure are mostly the out-of-state facilities that are currently reaping big rewards from California gamblers.  CADEM and Kern County Democrats support the measure, so I'll vote YES, but if you're against bringing sports betting to California, you're free to vote your conscience. 
NOTE: The advertising for Measures 27 and 26 have gotten very muddled, and many are confused about which measure is which (I know I was until very recently), so they will probably both be defeated.

Prop 30: This one is really deceptive.  On the surface, it appears that the measure wants to take money from super wealthy and fund environmental zero-emission incentives.  It has been endorsed by CADEM and other prominent Democratic agencies.  However, I joined the CADEM Environmental Caucus this year, and there was recently a very spirited debate about who REALLY reaps the rewards of this measure, and it looks to be a way to get the government to fund California's mandatory transfer of fleet vehicles to those with zero emissions for companies like Lyft.

Here's what Gov. Newsom had to say about advising a NO Vote: https://twitter.com/VoteNoProp30/status/1573373795599093762
The LA Times also printed a rundown of the Pro's and Con's of Prop 30.  This is in the California section and is independent of the Times editorial board's recommendation. 
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/proposition-30-has-voters-deciding-on-a-tax-for-zero-emission-vehicles-what-you-need-to-know/ar-AA12HQ4m

I am following the advice of the CTA, and CADEM Environmental Caucus members Sara Roos and Cynthia Hart and voting NO. 
This is what Cynthia had to say:   
I am going with the California Teachers Association's recommendation and voting "No".  I would think a lot more kindly of a tax on high income Californians if the money were going into the General Fund where it would benefit the schools and other priorities as the State's needs may change.  I'm a retired governmental accountant and maybe that's why I am always a bit uneasy about ballot box budgeting in any form.

LOCAL MEASURES & CANDIDATES

MEASURE K
The big County measure on the ballot that directly affects all of us who live in unincorporated areas, is Measure K.  I have written about Measure K in previous emails, and I attended the County's dog and pony show at the Kernville Chamber of Commerce last month.  Measure K raises our Sales Tax by 1%, which will bring us to 8.5%, in line with Bakersfield after they passed an almost identical Measure N last year.  I wish I could see another way forward to bringing back things like our Rio Bravo Hotshot crew, or our Courthouse, or getting our Sheriff's subdivision properly staffed, or simple staffed hours in our County Building for things like Veterans and Seniors, but Kern County has decided this is IT.  So if we don't vote for this, we will simply not get those things back, and in all likelihood, it will only get worse.  The community advisory board that is written into passage of this measure is our way of ensuring checks and balances, and I am going to try really hard to get on it.  In the mean time, I am voting YES on MEASURE K.

After having reviewed my ballot and consulted some more sources/friends, here's how it stacks up (for me):
I am voting YES on all the local measures, including MEASURE J and MEASURE E. 

Measure J requires a two, four-year term limit for Board of Supervisors. I understand those who feel term limits won't amount to a whole hill of beans, but I am in favor because here in Kern County, once someone lands on the Board, it's like they are crowned with a golden Incumbent, and regardless of how they perform (or don't), it's almost impossible to get them off.  I think that having the term limits, especially as the County tips more Blue, will even the playing field.  Remember, the BoS decides how the voting district maps play out as well!

Measure E is a Bond measure to give more money to the High Schools.  I'm always in favor of giving more resources to schools, so it's a yes for me.
 

KERN HIGH BOARD OF TRUSTEES AREA 1
As for School Board Trustee, you have probably seen a TON of those giant lawn signs asking us in the KRV to vote for Derek Tisinger for Kern High Board of Trustees for Area 1.  Well, I'm NOT.  I'm voting for Cynthia Brakeman, and here's why...  My dear friend and trusted source, Cathee Romley, sent me this email:

As you are aware, school boards are a hot topic these days.  From those wanting to burn books, putting mandated prayer in public schools, and not just any prayer, but evangelical prayer that promotes anti science, anti-women’s rights, a non safe environment for LGBT youth, just to name a few issues. 
In the Kern High School District 1, there are two candidates running.  Both are registered Republicans.  The first is a candidate, an election denier, that supports all the things that I have mentioned above. The second candidate is my friend Cynthia Brakeman, a former teacher and a woman who has served the Kern High School District as a trustee, well and honorably.    
In these times, it is critical that we put the needs of the students, the parents and the teachers in the  forefront of the decisions we make.  Our schools must be safe for everyone and provide a quality education for all students.  Our community, our state and our country deserves no less and it is up to us to make that happen.
My husband and I will be voting for Mrs. Brakeman again and I am asking that you do the same. 
Sincerely,
Cathee Romley

KERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT TRUSTEE AREA 2
I did a little digging, because I thought, Scrivner, hm, could she be... yes, she is Zack Scrivner's wife, and good friends with Kevin McCarthy, so absolutely not.
Whether or not Jennifer Slayton is a Republican, I liked some of the comments she has made, including what I found in Ridgecrest's The Daily Independent.  So I voted for Jennifer Slayton.

KERN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE AREA 3
Mary Little, as I discovered when I did a little digging, was a vocal Anti-Masker and Anti-Vaxxer, and spoke out against recommendations from both Governor Newsom and Mary Barlow. 
KCSOS Trustee says she's being silenced for opposing COVID-19 mandates - Bakersfield Californian
And she's supposed to represent me on the Board of Education?  NOPE.  I voted for Dena Murphy.

KERNVILLE UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
We seem to get nothing but right wing ultra religious types running for School Board up here. I really wish one of my teacher (or retired teacher) friends would run!  MAJOR HINT!  I'm not loving any of these choices, but I voted for Incumbents Wendy Russ and Diane Moss, and on the recommendation from a teacher friend, Charity Quinn. We are allowed to vote for up to 3. However, after I posted this last week, another teacher friend recommended Scott Wells, and another said absolutely NO to the idea of Charity Quinn. I can certainly understand if you want to just vote for two, or leave the whole thing blank.

KERN VALLEY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT BOARD
We are allowed to vote for up to 2 candidates, because there are 2 vacancies on the board.  I know that Ross Elliott has done an outstanding job during his current tenure, and I personally know and can vouch for John Seals.  Not a fan of the ultra conservative politics of Gene Parks Sr or Jr, so I voted for Ross Elliott and John Seals.

THE BOTTOM LINE
I think I've covered everything that came on my personal ballot.  I'm sorry if you live in a different district and I didn't help you with yours.  If you are unsure about a measure or a candidate, I strongly encourage everyone to do the same thing I did, which is:
(A) look at who endorses them (or doesn't).  Those organizations have already done the research.  If you trust the organization, trust their endorsement.  This is especially easy to do if you use the Blue Voter Guide.  
(B) GTS ("Google That S*&!").  I found the information on Mary Little by entering her name and position into the search engine.  
(C) Ask trusted friends.  With the local School Board, I solicited the insider info from teachers I know and trust.  I also texted back and forth with and/or called some other friends who I thought may be more "in the know" than I am on some things.

Whether or not you decide to leave some spaces blank (as I did with Vince Fong), the most important thing is always to VOTE! 
VOTE BLUE. VOTE GREEN. VOTE EDUCATION. VOTE LGBTQ+. VOTE HEALTHCARE. VOTE EQUALITY. VOTE ROE. 
VOTE like your Life and Democracy depends on it.  Because it DOES, Dammit.  It does now, more than ever.