Social Work Voter Guide to the 2016 General Election
November 8, 2016
Candidate Endorsements are made by the CalPACE Committee and are based on the candidate's commitment
to the NASW Code of Ethics and official delegate assembly positions in Social Work Speaks. CalPACE
evaluates candidates by sending out questionnaires and evaluating incumbent vote records.
Senate District 03
Senate District 05
Senate District 07
Senate District 09
Senate District 11
Senate District 13
Senate District 15
Senate District 17
Senate District 19
Senate District 21
Senate District 25
Senate District 27
Senate District 29
Senate District 31
Senate District 33
Senate District 35
Senate District 39
Assembly District 02
Assembly District 04
Assembly District 05
Assembly District 07
Assembly District 08
Assembly District 09
Assembly District 10
Assembly District 11
Assembly District 13
Assembly District 14
Assembly District 15
Assembly District 16
Assembly District 17
Assembly District 18
Assembly District 19
Assembly District 20
Assembly District 21
Assembly District 22
Assembly District 24
Assembly District 25
Assembly District 27
Assembly District 28
Assembly District 29
Mariko Yamada, MSW
Cathleen Galgiani
Steve Glazer
N. Skinner/S. Swanson
J. Kim/S. Wiener
Jerry Hill
Jim Beall
Bill Monning
Hannah-Beth Jackson
Johnathon Ervin
Anthony Portantino
Henry Stern
Josh Newman
Richard Roth
Ricardo Lara
S. Bradford/W. Furutani
Toni Atkins
Jim Wood
Cecilia Aguilar-Curry
Robert Carabas
Kevin McCarty
Ken Cooley
Jim Cooper
Marc Levine
Jim Frazier
Susan Eggman, PhD, MSW
Mae Torlakson
Tony Thurmond, MSW
Cheryl Cook-Kallio
David Chiu
Rob Bonta
Phil Ting
Bill Quirk
Adam Gray
Kevin Mullin
M. Berman/V. Veenker
Kansen Chu
A . Kaira/ M. Nguyen
Evan Low
Mark Stone
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30
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35
37
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39
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42
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51
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Karina C e r v a n t e z Alejo
Joaquin Arambula
Rudy Salas
Dawn Ortiz-Legg
Monique Limon
Christy Smith
R. Bocanegra/P. Lopez
Abigail Medina
Chris Holden
Greg Rodriguez
L. Friedman/A. Kassakhian
Jacqui Irwin
Matt Dababneh
Adrin Nazarian
Cheryl Brown
Blanca Rubio
Ed Chau
Richard Bloom
Jimmy Gomez
Freddie Rodriguez
Miguel Santiago
Sebastian Ridley-Thomas
Eduardo Garcia
Ian Calderon
Cristina Garcia
Reggie Jones-Sawyer
Sabrina Cervantez
Jose Medina
Autumn Burke
Anthony Rendon
Mike Gipson
Sharon Quirk-Silva
Al Muratsuchi
Tom Daly
Patrick O’Donnell
Rocky Chavez
Melinda Vasquez
Todd Gloria
Shirley Weber
Lorena Gonzalez
Local Races
W. Sac. City Council
Sutter Co. Supervisor
Martha Guerrero, MSW
Grace Espinola
San Joaquin Supervisor
Washington School Board
Gustavo Medina, MSW
Jackie Wong, MSW
NASW-CA only takes positions on initiatives where there is a clear nexus to social work
State Initiative Position Chart
Proposition 52 – State Fees on Hospitals
Support
Proposition 55 – Upper Income Tax
Support
Proposition 56 – Tobacco Tax
Support
Proposition 57 – Criminal Sentences
Support
Proposition 58 – Bilingual Education
Support
Proposition 59 – Citizen’s United
Support
Proposition 60 – Adult Films
Oppose
Proposition 61 – Prescription Drugs
No Position
Proposition 62 – Death Penalty Repeal
Support
Proposition 63 – Gun Laws
Support
Proposition 64 – Marijuana Legalization
No Position
Proposition 66 – Death Penalty Reform
Oppose
Prop 52 - SUPPORT: State Fees on Hospitals
Extends indefinitely an existing fee on hospitals in order to continue drawing down matching federal funds to
finance Medi-Cal, care for uninsured patients, and children’s health coverage. This measure makes it more
difficult for the Legislature to divert these funds elsewhere. As social workers, we believe these funds are
crucial as they finance healthcare for vulnerable communities.
Prop 55 - SUPPORT: Upper Income Tax Brackets Extension
Extends the personal income tax bracket increase on individual incomes over $250,000 per year for another
12 years. This extension also applies to joint filers that make over $500,000, and to heads of households
making over $340,000 per year. The majority of the proceeds are slated for education with a possible boost to
healthcare in certain years. We support this because it provides crucial funding for important state programs.
Prop 56 - SUPPORT: Tobacco Tax
Increases the tax on a pack of cigarettes by $2.00 as well as increases taxes on other tobacco products,
including e-cigarettes. The revenue from this tax increase will fund existing healthcare programs including:
tobacco use prevention/control programs, tobacco-related disease research and law enforcement, University
of California physician training, dental disease prevention programs, and administration. We also support this
measure as it provides important revenue for healthcare related programs, and it also encourages healthier
communities by helping to decrease smoking and tobacco use.
Prop 57 - SUPPORT: Criminal Sentences
Increases good behavior credits and opportunities for parole for felons convicted of nonviolent crimes. Also
allows judges rather than prosecutors to decide whether to treat juveniles as adults. Inmates will not be
automatically released, but those convicted of nonviolent felony crimes who have served their basic
sentences and passed screening for public safety, would be eligible for parole. Social workers believe in
second chances for those in the criminal justice system. This measure rewards inmates for good behavior
and allows people to exit prison if they are no longer a threat to society.
Prop 58 - SUPPORT: Bilingual Education (Overturn Prop 227)
Repeals Proposition 227 of 1998, which limited the use of bilingual education in our schools. This measure
preserves the requirement that students become proficient in English. Schools and communities, with the
input of parents and students, will be able to choose the English language learner model that works best for
their community. Also authorizes school districts to establish dual-language immersion programs for both
native and non-native English speakers. We support this measure because it allows the use of the latest
teaching techniques to teach English, while also preparing students to function in our global society by
encouraging proficiency in more than one language.
Prop 59 - SUPPORT: Overturn Citizens United
Requests the Legislature to use their authority to propose and ratify an amendment to the federal constitution
overturning the United States Supreme Court decision in Citizens United. The Citizens United ruling allowed
unlimited spending in political campaigns by corporations and unions. This measure specifically details that
the proposed amendment should clarify that corporations should not have the same constitutional rights as
human beings. This would ensure that the voice of the people is not drowned out by corporations.
Prop 60 - OPPOSE: Adult Films: Health Requirements
Requires the use of condoms in the filming of pornographic films. It would also require producers to pay for
vaccinations, testing, and medical examinations related to sexually transmitted infections. Producers must
also obtain a state health license and post condom requirements at film sites. Imposes financial liability on
producers, distributors, talent agents and performers, with a financial interest, for non-compliance. We oppose
this measure as it interferes with Cal-OSHA, which already enforces this requirement. It is also poorly written
and gives a state job to the author of this measure.
Prop 61 - NO POSITION: Prescription Drug Prices
Regulates drug prices by requiring state agencies to pay the same prices as the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. It applies to any case in which the state ultimately provides funding for the purchase of drugs, even if
the drugs are not purchased directly by a government agency. Does not apply to individual purchasers. We
did not give a recommendation on this measure as there could be many unintended consequences; including
raising the price of drugs for Veteran’s or making some previously available drugs unavailable. It also only
applies to 11% of drug purchases.
Prop 62 - SUPPORT: Death Penalty Repeal
Repeals the death penalty and replaces it with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole (LWOP). It
would retroactively apply to prisoners currently on death row. Also increases the portion of an inmates’ wages
that can be applied to restitution to victims. Social Work Speaks, the policy book for NASW, has a clear policy
opposing the death penalty as it is arbitrary and has been unequally applied.
Prop 63- SUPPORT: Firearms: Ammunition Sales
Prohibits possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines and sets guidelines for their disposal. Requires
individuals to pass a background check and obtain Department of Justice authorization to purchase
ammunition. Requires most ammunition sales be made through licensed ammunition vendors and reported to
the Department of Justice. Lost or stolen firearms and ammunition would be required to be reported to law
enforcement. Social Workers support the reduction of violence in our communities. Since the implementation
of strong gun laws, there has been a decrease in firearm related deaths. Specifically for California, in just two
decades, the state’s gun death rate has been cut by 56% (www.smartgunlaws.org).
Prop 64 - NO POSITION: Marijuana Legalization
Legalizes marijuana for recreational use by adults 21 or older. This measure imposes a state excise tax of
15% on retail sales of marijuana, as well as imposing various cultivation taxes. Also prohibits marketing and
advertising marijuana directly to minors. Allows for local regulation and taxation, and authorizes resentencing
and destruction of records for prior marijuana convictions. We did not take a position on this initiative because
we believe it may be premature. While we appreciate the decriminalization provisions, we are concerned that
there is currently not a standard for impaired driving while under the influence of marijuana. We prefer to allot
more time to observe the outcomes from other states that have legalized marijuana.
Prop 66 - OPPOSE: Death Penalty Reform
Speeds up the appeals process for the death penalty by putting the Supreme Court in charge of initial petitions
and establishing a time frame for death penalty review. It would require prisoners on death row to work while
in prison and pay restitution to victims' families. If this measure passes and receives more votes than Prop. 62,
this measure will prevail. We oppose this measure because we support the total abolition of the death penalty.
For more information, email [email protected]
To view the California Secretary of State’s Voter Handbook on the Initiatives, visit www.ss.ca.gov