Local Republican and Democrat leaders say they see Malibu’s lack of voter participation as a major negative. Statewide, three-quarters of all voters didn’t bother to show up. Turnout in Malibu was even lighter. Only 18 percent made it to the polls.
By Paul M. J. Suchecki / Special to The Malibu Times
If Malibu’s June 6 primary votes had carried across the state, California would be spending six hundred million dollars more on libraries and literacy programs through passage of Proposition 81 and Republican moderate Abel Maldonado, co-chair of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2003 campaign, would be the candidate for state controller instead of Moorpark’s conservative Tony Strickland, a self-described anti-tax champion. With these major exceptions, Malibu’s choices lined up with the rest of the voters statewide, varying more by degree than result.
In the bitterly contested Democratic gubernatorial contest, State Treasurer Phil Angelides took a genuine majority over State Controller Steve Westly with 53 percent of the vote in Malibu, not the statewide 48 percent plurality that secured Angelides the nomination. Angelides is a Harvard educated liberal with the strong support of the state Democratic Party, unions, United States senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein, and U. S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Despite Angelides’ background as a developer, he was endorsed by the Sierra Club, along with rival Westly. Malibu Democratic Club President Ralph Erickson said Westly’s TV commercial accusing Angelides of dumping sludge in Lake Tahoe might have backfired with Malibu voters.
“It was unfortunately that Westly went as far as he did. The response was quick and highlighted the falsity of the ad,” he said.
In the Republican primary, Bill Chambers came in second in Malibu, not third as he did statewide behind sitting governor Schwarzenegger. The governor’s Malibu primary vote total was consistent with the rest of the state at 90 percent plus. Lorraine Stalberg, co-program chair of Malibu Republican Women, Federated, said she expects Schwarzenegger to be “a shoo-in.”
“Look whom he’s running against,” she said.
Stalberg predicts that the divisive primary campaign will tarnish Angelides: “The Republicans won’t have this factor, which is an advantage.”
Erickson predicts that “people are going to respect Angelides more as the campaign moves along. When are we going to see the real Schwarzenegger? We’ve seen him play at least five different roles since he got in. Angelides will grow in stature and win.”
In a nonpartisan vote, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky won their races in Malibu with the same overwhelming majorities seen across the rest of the county.
In an election marked by musical office chairs, primary voters seemed to support the dance. Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante was nominated for insurance commissioner. Attorney General Bill Lockyer ran unopposed for treasurer. Two state senators ran for the Democratic secretary of state nomination. Deborah Bowen of Marina del Rey beat Deborah Ortiz of Sacramento with a wider margin in Malibu than across the rest of the state. She’ll take on incumbent Republican Bruce McPherson who was unopposed.
Being a neighbor didn’t help Rocky Delgadillo. Despite the fact that he is well known to Malibu as the city attorney of Los Angeles, in the attorney general’s race, former Governor Jerry Brown got deeper support for his return to statewide politics with 82 percent of the Malibu votes cast versus 63 percent in the rest of California. Brown will take on law and order State Sen. Chuck Poochigian (R- Fresno), who won his party’s nomination unopposed.
Both Stalberg and Erickson said they see Malibu’s lack of voter participation as a major negative. Statewide, three-quarters of all voters didn’t bother to show up. Turnout in Malibu was even lighter. Only 18 percent made it to the polls.
Stalberg said: “A fish doesn’t pay attention to water. We don’t think about freedom. We take it for granted, although it’s bought so dearly. It really is important to vote.”
Erickson said he blames the low turnout, in part, on the negative primary campaign but said the fault rests primarily with voter apathy and ignorance.
As Malibu Democratic Club president he said he does his best to boost participation: “Voting puts you in the picture.”
The general election will take place Nov. 7.