Straight up, Why Me & Why Lt. Governor

By Alan S Reynolds

If you are Independent(or any 3rd Party), Republican, or a Moderate Democrat, please read this.

Lt. Governor, a race for an office that is largely ignored and most people don't care about, has the potential to make an impact this June 3rd Primary. If we vote.

For over 30 years only one party (Democrat) has won election (appointments aside) to the office of CA Lt. Governor. The greater number of registered members of that party along with an Independent/Center which tends left has created a position which we vote for with zombie like regularity. Move over and check the box next to D or R. In a state where most voters are suspicious of one party to the point where they vote "against them" as much as "for" the other party, there is a path to an alternate option.

With the Top 2 Primary, if a "mainstream, centrist oriented, Independent" made the November ballot, it would be D vs I. No longer could people vote blindly along partisan lines. Voters would have to think, not just react.

The problem? Getting an Independent into the Top 2. As we uncap our pens to faithful mark a ballot next to the requisite D or R, leaving the Republican candidate to be run over by a electorate which will likely not look past the party descriptor next to his name, the election in November has already been decided before we cast our ballots.

Lt Governor is important precisely because no one cares much, because it will not change party caucuses, because there is very minor power. It can be our place to make a statement "risk-free". There is no wasted vote. Just a chance to work towards something different. For all of us.

CA Secretary of State voters guide for reference: http://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2014/primary/pdf/en/candidate-statements.pdf