How Venice Voted: He’s Not Our Governor – Venice Rejects
Schwarzenegger
By Jim
Smith
There were six candidates in the Nov. 7
election who had some relationship to Venice. While Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger never actually lived here, he did work out at Gold’s Gym on
Pacific, and owns property in Venice. Newly elected Secretary of State Debra
Bowen lives in Venice, although she claims to live in Marina del Rey (as do
other south-of-Washington residents).
Two State Assembly candidates, Karl Abrams and
Peter Thottam, also live in Venice, as do two Congressional candidates,
incumbent Jane Harman and me.
Apparently,
Venetians don’t feel much kinship with Gov. Arnold who was soundly
trounced by Phil Angelides, 64% to 26%. At the same time, Schwarzenegger won
statewide with 56% of the vote.
Oxford
Triangle resident Debra Bowen, who was once the lawyer for the Venice Town
Council, eked out a statewide victory by three percentage points over incumbent
Bruce McPherson. But in Venice she finished 65 percentage points ahead of her
main opponent.
It was a year in which the
desire of voters to change Congress seemed to benefit Democrats no matter what
office they sought (except for hapless Phil Angelides).
This trend worked against underfunded
third-party candidates. Green candidate for Governor, Peter Camejo, received
only five percent in Venice, less votes than there are Green registrants.
Together, Karl Abrams (Peace & Freedom) and Peter Thottam (Green) racked up
10 percent of the Assembly vote in Venice. I got 8 percent running against Jane
Harman, the richest member of Congress, and took solace in beating the
Republican in nine Venice precincts. My best showing - 13% - was in the Canals,
of all places!
It may sound like sour grapes,
but I have to say the election was far from fair or democratic. When one
candidate is allowed to spend in excess of a million dollars and is given
massive amounts of free media time, the outcome is not in doubt. Of course, most
third-party candidates don’t expect to win, but they do expect a fair
hearing in the media and from voters.
Posted: Mon - January 1, 2007 at 03:13 PM