This past Monday we took time to pay tribute to our fellow Americans who paid the ultimate price for our freedom and our allies around the world. What began as a day to honor those killed in the American Civil War has now included all wars and conflicts about freedom on our behalf.
At first we just visited the gravesites and laid flowers and offered a prayer on their behalf but now we hold ceremonies with fancy programs while many take to beaches and family gatherings in their backyards.
However you celebrate, I hope you took the time to really thank these men and women who served our country and obligated yourself to live up to one of the things they died for and that is the right to vote. There are countries around the world engaged in violent conflicts over the right to vote while here at home we have people trying to deny and suppress that right. And if they have their way many living relatives of those who died for the right to vote will be denied that right in America.
Even in some cases those who were injured and have disabilities will be denied that right because of their present living condition of homelessness. Not having a place to call home and proper indentification is part of some states’ proposals to deny this constitutional right they died for.
It is hurtful, shameful, and embarrassing to our nation that today, some veterans have died because some people we pay to provide health care services to veterans did not give them a timely appointment to be treated. Things like this must not happen and we, the living, must rededicate our lives to right these wrongs for those who died.
Let us begin by looking to the next election and re-engage ourselves by voting. Twenty to thirty percent of our citizens voting is not a good enough tribute to show them that we appreciate what they did on our behalf.
This thing called freedom begins with the ballot box and by you electing people you think will honor those who died and will fight for the rights of those living.
I have looked at many of the candidates running for office and offer you my guide for you to consider.
Statewide
Jerry Brown–Governor
Kamala Harris–Attorney General
Betty Yee–Controller
Tom Torlakson–Superintendent of Public Education
Riverside
Mark Takano–41st Congress District
Eric Linder–60th Assembly District
Jose Medina–61st Assembly District
Kenneth Young– Superintendent of County Schools
John Tavaglione–2nd Supervisor District
Marion Ashley–5th Supervisor District
Paul Zellerbach–District Attorney
Stanley Sniff–Sheriff
San Bernardino
Pete Aguilar–31st Congress District
Norma Torres–35th Congress District
Alphonse Sanchez– 20th Senate District
Chris Holden–41st Assembly District
Cheryl Brown–47th Assembly District
Ted Alejandre–Superintendent of County Schools
Janice Rutherford–2nd Supervisor District
Gloria Negrete McLeod–4th Supervisor District
Michael Ramos–District Attorney
Clifton Harris–Sheriff
Propositions
Prop 41–Yes
Prop 42–Yes