Election 2010: June 8 ballot takes shape

One county supervisor seat, a handful of statewide initiatives and the race for two Santa Cruz County Superior Court judgeships will highlight the June 8 gubernatorial primary election for voters in Bonny Doon, Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley.
But despite the numerous races, the midyear election is likely to garner little interest, if past June elections are any indication.
Dating back to 2000, voter turnout for June elections in Santa Cruz County has been lower than for those in any other month.
In both June 2006 (a gubernatorial primary) and June 2008 (a presidential primary), voter turnout was just over 39 percent. The next lowest was in March 2002, a gubernatorial primary with a turnout of about 49 percent of registered voters.
By contrast, the November presidential election of 2008, which pitted then-Sen. Barack Obama against Sen. John McCain, had an 86.65 percent turnout.
The average voter turnout since 2000 in Santa Cruz County is 62.24 percent over 13 elections.
County supervisor
Neal Coonerty, the incumbent county supervisor for District 3, which covers part of Bonny Doon, is challenged by Douglas Deitch, who directs a nonprofit, and Cove Britton, an architect.
Judge seats
In wake of the retirement of Superior Court judges Robert Atack and Michael Barton, several hopefuls have stepped up to fill the vacancies.
John Gallagher, a litigator, mediator and arbitrator, is vying for one spot with attorney and law professor Philip Crawford and criminal prosecutor James Sibley.
Civil attorney Rebecca Connolly and attorney-at-law Steve Wright are up against each other for the other seat.
State Assembly
Assemblyman Bill Monning, D-Carmel, will be challenged by two Republicans, Linda “Ellie” Black and Kevin Moon, and Libertarian Savely Vassiliev in the race to represent the 27th Congressional District.
State Senate
State Sens. Sam Farr and Anna Eshoo each have a handful of challengers.
Farr faces Republicans Gary Richard Arnold and Jeffrey Taylor and Libertarian Mary Larkin, with other candidates also possibly in the running for the 17th Congressional District.
Eshoo, meanwhile, faces Republican Dave Chapman and Libertarian Paul Lazaga.
Other races
Running unopposed are Sean Saldavia, assessor-recorder; Mary Jo Walker, auditor-controller; Gail Pellerin, county clerk; Michael Watkins, county superintendent of schools; Bob Lee, district attorney; Phil Wowak, sheriff-coroner; and Fred Keeley, treasurer-tax collector.
Propositions
Aside from the primary election to set up November’s governor race, there are five statewide measures on the ballot: propositions 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.
Proposition 13 would put limits on property tax assessments; propositions 14, 15 and 16 are elections process-related measures; and Proposition 17 would change how automobile insurance companies would be allowed to price their coverage.