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ELECTION WATCH - Longtime Venetian, Community Activist, Mark Ryavec offers his comprehensive assessment of the candidates for President, US Senate, House of Representatives, State & County and Judicial offices as well as ballot measures.
Venice Stakeholder’s President Mark Ryavec, a longtime community activist and former member of the Venice Neighborhood Council as well as a former candidate for LA City Council once again compiled his recommendations in the upcoming November 5th General election that includes the numerous ballot questions as well as the candidates for President, US Senate, House of Representatives, the California Assembly as well as the race for LA District Attorney and the numerous judicial posts before the voters.
Ryavec, who prefers candidates as well as ballot questions as how they will affect the neighborhood of Venice, has been compiling his voter guide for many years.
The retired bureaucrat has worked for both for the City and County of Los Angeles in numerous governmental capacities and is considered by most as knowledgeable on the issue of homelessness, crime and other quality-of-life concerns here in Venice.
His background as a researcher in the California General Assembly Office for Research, and as a Legislative Analyst for the Los Angeles City Council, and as the Chief Deputy Assessor for Los Angeles County, Ryavec has some 30 years of governmental experience as well as an MA in Urban Studies.
Below are Ryavec’s analysis of the issues and candidates before the electorate next month:
City/Local:
- Los Angeles Community College District:
No recommendations
State Assembly:
- No recommendations
(Opposed to Tina McKinnor due to lack of productivity and a special interest bill favoring billionaire Steve Ballmer.)
Congress (36th District):
- Ted Lieu
Los Angeles Measures:
- Measure DD – Establish independent redistricting commission:
Yes - Measure HH – Require financial disclosures for LA city commission members:
Yes - Measure II – Clarify status of El Pueblo Monument and other minor city operations changes:
Yes - Measure ER – Increase autonomy for city Ethics Commission:
Yes - Measure FF – Amend city charter to allow transfer between city pension plans for peace officers/firefighters:
Yes - Measure LL – Establish independent commission for redrawing school board district lines:
Yes - Measure US – $9 billion bond for school upgrades and safety measures:
Yes
(Concerns about longevity and falling school populations, but acknowledges need for safe classrooms.)
County District Attorney:
- Nathan Hochman
(Opposed to George Gascon due to public safety concerns.)
LA County Judicial Races:
- Superior Court Office No. 39 – Steve Napolitano
- Superior Court Office No. 48 – Renee Rose
- Superior Court Office No. 97 – Sharon Ransom
- Superior Court Office No. 135 – Steven Yee Mac or Georgia Huerta
- Superior Court Office No. 137 – Tracey Blout
LA County Measures:
- Measure G – Establish elected county executive officer, ethics commission, and expand board of supervisors:
Yes
(Long overdue reform for increased accountability.) - Measure A – Increase sales tax for homeless services:
No
(Criticizes continued ineffective policies for addressing homelessness.)
Federal:
- President: Kamala Harris
- Vice President: Tim Walz
- U.S. Senate: Adam Schiff (for both vacancy and regular term)
California Propositions:
- Proposition 2 – Bonds for public school and community college facilities:
Yes - Proposition 3 – Constitutional right to marriage:
Yes - Proposition 4 – Bonds for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, and climate change protection:
Yes - Proposition 5 – Allow local bonds to pass with 55% voter approval (currently 2/3rd):
No - Proposition 6 – Eliminate forced labor for prisoners:
Yes - Proposition 32 – Raise minimum wage:
No - Proposition 33 – Repeal “vacancy decontrol” for rental properties:
No - Proposition 34 – Restrict spending of prescription drug revenue by health care providers:
Yes - Proposition 35 – Make state tax on health plans permanent:
Yes - Proposition 36 – Allow felony charges for possessing certain hard drugs and for petty theft with prior convictions:
Yes
(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-one year resident of the Venice neighborhood who served as a Legislative Aide to the New Jersey General Assembly and as aide to the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders, now known as Supervisors. Antonicello also served as President of the North Arlington (NJ) Board of Education. Have a take or tip on all things Venice? Email him at [email protected].)
