By Kevin Ueda
Special to the Daily Press

CITYWIDE — It’s time to shape Santa Monica’s future.

Santa Monica residents will vote today in the statewide primary election determining two propositions and nine statewide positions, including governor. On ballots for the county level, there are 28 candidates seeking judge seats; two candidates seek the county assessor position; five candidates for the county sheriff position; four candidates for the District 1 county supervisor position and three candidates for the District 3 county supervisor position.

In the 41st Assembly District race, there are five Democratic candidates, two Republican candidates and one Libertarian. Of the eight candidates, six call Santa Monica home.

Of the candidates whose funds are listed on the California Secretary of State Web site, Julia Brownley, a member of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, received the most contributions, at $196,992 as of May 20, ; however, former Calabasas mayor and current Calabasas councilman Barry Groveman spent the most on his campaign, at $547,657, according to the California Secretary of State Web site.

Nonpartisan voters who want to vote for an Assembly candidate must request a party ballot at the polls, according to Ileen Shea, spokesperson for the county registrar-recorder office. Ballots sent out to nonpartisan voters do not have partisan candidates because each party records whom a nonpartisan may vote for at polls.

In addition to Santa Monica, the 41st District consists of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Encino, Hidden Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Port Hueneme, Oak Park, Tarzana, Topanga, Woodland Hills and parts of Oxnard and Westlake Village.

The two propositions on the ballot are Proposition 81 and Proposition 82.

Proposition 81, the Public Library Bond Act, seeks to provide a bond of no more than $600 million toward the construction and renovation of public libraries. This will cost the state about $1.2 billion over 30 years to pay off principal costs and interest, according to SmartVoter.org.

Fans of Proposition 81 argue that new libraries fight illteracy, create partnerships between schools and libraries and provide “safe havens” for children, according to SmartVoter.org. Those against Proposition 81, however, argue that a “no” vote forces politicians to pay for libraries with money that is cut from welfare for illegal aliens.

Proposition 82 purports to create a free, voluntary, half-day public preschool for all 4-year-old children, and would impose a new tax on high-income taxpayers, according to SmartVoter.org The proposal is to tax individuals who earn make more than $400,000 a year and couples that earn $800,000 at a rate of 1.7 percent.

Fans of Proposition 82 argue that the proposal will prepare children to learn, encourage parental involvement, expand teacher training and provides independent audits and criminal penalties for misuse of funds, according to a summary on SmartVoter. Critics of Proposition 82 argue that K-12 education is a bigger priority than preschool enrollment.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Voter information is available online or by phone. For a polling place and sample ballot, Los Angeles County voters may go online to www.lavote.net/locator/ or call 1-800-815-2666. More information on candidates and propositions is available at smartvoter.org/2006/06/06/ca/la.

For information on the candidates, voters can visit the secretary of state Web site at www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_cand.htm.