Ten (yes, 10) state-wide propositions will be on the General Election ballot. If you haven’t had time to learn about these Props, you may want to attend this meeting or subsequent forums coming up next week.

League of Women Voters (LWV) of Greater Tucson meeting
September 25, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Program on Propositions on the General Election ballot (pro and con panelists)
Eckstrom/Columbus Branch Library, 4350 E. 22nd. (SE corner of Columbus)
For more info contact Maxine Goodman at maxinegoodman17@yahoo.com or 520-370-1429.

The LWVAZ Voter Guide will be printed and available at the meeting. Please plan to take some home for your neighbors and friends.

Prop 106 Health Care Service
Prop 107 Preferential Treatment/Discrimination
Prop 109 Hunting and Fishing
Prop 110 State Trust Lands; Exchanges
Prop 111 Lieutenant Governor
Prop 112 Initiative Petitions; Filing deadline
Prop 113 Secret Ballot for Union Elections
Prop 203 AZ Medical Marijuana Act (Citizen initiative)
Prop 301 “Growing Smarter”; Fund Sweep
Prop 302 “First Things First”; Repeal

Explanations of each of the 10 propositions (courtesy of Ward 6 Councilmember Steve Kozachik’s newsletter):

“Prop 106 – A law or rule shall not compel any person, employer or health care
provider to participate in any health care system. A person or employer may pay
directly for lawful health care services and shall not be required to pay penalties
for paying directly for such services.

Prop 107 – This State shall not grant preferential treatment to, or discriminate
against any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or
national origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public
contracting. This does not prohibit bona fide qualifications based on sex that are
reasonably necessary to the normal operation of public employment, education
or contracting.

Prop 109 – The citizens of this State have a right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife
lawfully. No law shall be enacted and no rule shall be adopted that
unreasonably restricts hunting, fishing and harvesting wildlife or the use of
traditional means and methods. Lawful public hunting and fishing shall be a
preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.

Prop 110 – Public lands shall not be sold or leased, except to the highest and best
bidder at a public auction. No sale or contract for the sale of any timber or other
natural product of such lands shall be made, save at the place, and after the notice for
sales and leases of the lands themselves. Nothing shall prevent leasing of such lands
for grazing or agricultural purposes for 10 years, mineral purposes for 20 years or
exploration and production of oil, gas and other hydrocarbons for 20 years. Also,
it allows for land swaps, an issue that could have implications related to encroachment concerns in the areas
surrounding Davis-Monthan AFB, among other areas.

Prop 111 – The executive department shall consist of the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, State Treasurer, Attorney General and Superintendent of Public Instruction
(changes the title of Secretary of State to Lieutenant Governor.) Terms are limited to 2
consecutive, and in the General Election, candidate for Governor from each party runs
on a ticket with the candidate for Lieutenant Governor from that same party who has
survived his/her primary contest.

Prop 112 – Preserves the right of the people to propose laws and amendments to the
constitution at the polls, independently of the legislature through initiative and
referendum. Once enacted by a majority of the voters, neither the Governor (by veto)
nor the Legislature (by repeal) may reject that majority vote. Amending either the
initiative or referendum passed at the polls may only be to further the intent of the
voters, and may only be accomplished by 3/4 vote of each house.

Prop 113 – The right to vote by secret ballot for employee representation shall be
guaranteed where local, State or Federal law permits or requires elections,
designations or authorizations for employee representation.

Prop 203 – Allows for the dispensing of 2.5 ounces per week of marijuana to people
deemed to need it on a medical basis. Permits local jurisdictions to establish zoning
controls on the location and operation of dispensaries. Sets criteria for who may prescribe
the drug and who may receive it, and places conditions on when and under what
circumstances it may be used. Allows for home grown pot where dispensaries are not
located in close proximity to the residence of the patient.

Prop 301 – On the effective date of passage of this proposition, the balance of the
monies in the Land Conservation Fund reverts to the State general fund.

Prop 302 – The Arizona early childhood development and health board terminates on
12/1/2010 and monies levied and collected pursuant to that fund shall revert to the State general fund and shall be appropriated for health and human services for children.”

One of the important proposed measures is Prop.111 creating a Lieutenant Governor who would run together with the Governor on the same ticket in the General Election. This would eliminate the recent situation when a Democratic Governor (i.e. Janet Napolitano) leaves office to a Republican Secretary of State (i.e. Jan Brewer). This type of Governor/Lt. Governor team (from the same party) works well back home in Hawaii.

So attend this LWV educational meeting to hear the pro & con side of each ballot proposition, and vote wisely on November 2nd.