The editorial board of The Sacramento Bee believes that an informed electorate is the bedrock of a sturdy democracy. Endorsements are one of many sources of information that voters can use in making their decisions. Here are our recommendations for the November 6, 2012 election.

PRESIDENT
Barack Obama (D)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
District 3: John Garamendi (D)
District 7: Ami Bera (D)

BALLOT INITIATIVES
Prop. 30 - Yes
Tax increase supported by Gov. Jerry Brown would avoid deep cuts to public schools, community colleges and universities.

Prop. 31 - No
Well-intended but flawed mishmash of reforms that could make it harder to fix state's budget and governance problems.

Prop. 32 - No
Power play to limit campaign influence of labor unions without commensurate check on political contributions by corporations.

Prop. 33 - No
Yet another attempt by insurance billionaire George Joseph to change auto insurance law to benefit his company, Mercury General Corp.

Prop. 34 - Yes
Ends the fiction of California's costly death penalty and replaces it with life imprisonment without possibility of parole.

Prop. 35 - No
Poorly crafted initiative intended to crack down on human trafficking could complicate police efforts and face constitutional challenges.

Prop. 36 - Yes
Would modify state's "three-strikes" law to limit excessive and unjustified punishments and ensure it is applied equally.

Prop. 37 - No
Initiative to require labeling of foods produced with genetically modified organisms is laden with problematic provisions. Could add to lawsuits faced by food processors.
It could result in a litigation nightmare for food manufacturers.

Prop. 38 - No
Tax initiative by civil rights attorney Molly Munger would increase spending for public schools, but could negate Gov. Brown's Prop. 30, thereby adding to the state's budget challenges.

Prop. 39 - Yes
Initiative would end system that lets out-of-state corporation choose their method of taxation. Projected $1 billion revenue increase would go to general fund and energy efficiency projects.

Prop. 40 - Yes
Vote "yes" on this referendum to leave in place state Senate districts drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission.

LEGISLATURE

Assembly District 1
Rick Bosetti (R)

Assembly District 6
Beth Gaines (R)

Assembly District 8
Peter Tateishi (R)

Assembly District 11
Mike Hudson (R)

LOCAL OFFICES

Sacramento City Council
District 2: Rob Kerth
District 4: Steve Hansen

Sacramento City Unified school board
Area 3: Mark Ambrose
Area 7: Patrick Kennedy

Sacramento Municipal Utility District board
Ward 5: Michael Picker

Citrus Heights City Council
Jeff Slowey and Sue Frost

El Dorado County Supervisor
3rd District: Brian Veerkamp

El Dorado County Superior Court Judge
Warren C. Stracener

Elk Grove Mayor
Gary Davis

Elk Grove Unified school board
Susan Parvis, Jake Rambo and Al Rowlett

Lincoln City Council
Allen Cuenca, Paul Joiner and David Kawas

Los Rios Community College board
Area 3: Terry Cochran
Area 7: Kay Albiani

Natomas Unified school board
Scott Dosick, Vina Guzman and Bruce Roberts

Rancho Cordova City Council
Dave Sander, Robert McGarvey, Donald Terry

Rocklin City Council
Ken Broadway, Dave Butler and Greg Janda

Roseville City Council
Carol Garcia, Bonnie Gore and Pauline Roccucci

San Juan Unified school board
Pam Costa, Saul Hernandez and Mike McKibbin

West Sacramento City Council
Bill Kristoff and Oscar Villegas

Washington Unified school board
Alicia Cruz, Mary Leland and Katie Villegas

LOCAL MEASURES

Sacramento Measure M - No
Proposed city charter commission is unneeded and costly.

Sacramento Measure T - Yes
Would end outdated ban on mandatory yard waste containers.

Sacramento Measure U - No
City hasn't done enough to reduce costs to justify this half-cent sales tax increase.

Sacramento City Unified schools

Measure Q - Yes
A $346 million bond issue for classroom and lab upgrades, other projects.

Measure R - Yes
A $68 million bond issue to fix playgrounds, ball fields and other upgrades.

Citrus Heights

Measure K - Yes
A 1.75 percent utility tax increase to improve streets, policing.

Davis city schools

Measure E - Yes
An additional $242 parcel tax on Davis residents, but only if voters reject Proposition 30.

San Juan school district

Measure N - Yes
A $350 million bond issue for new classrooms and other school improvements.

Folsom Cordova Unified schools

Measure P - Yes
$68 million bond, primarily for Cordova High.

Yolo County

Measure H - Yes
Would save $180,000 yearly by allowing supervisors to appoint a finance director, eliminating an elected position.

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