Boxer, stem cell research highlight state vote

By CINDY GONZALES

Dem. Barbara Boxer has become a staple in the California Senate since 1993. Boxer held her lead throughout the election ahead of Rep. Bill Jones, Fresno State alumni.

With 3 percent of the precincts reporting Boxer had 59 percent of the vote to Jones’ 38 percent.

She is only the third California senator since 1850 to be elected to three full terms.

Boxer is a strong supporter of medical research, women’s rights, after school programs and crime prevention.

Dem. Juan Arambula is the new 31st District Assemblyman defeating Rep. Paul Betancourt with 87 percent of the precincts reporting with 59 percent of the votes.

Arambula’s top priorities will be to generate good-paying jobs for Valley families, ensure access to affordable health care and prevent deep cuts in education.

Rep. Devin Nunes will continue as Congressman for District 21. Nunes, a third generation Portuguese farmer, supports efforts to improve agricultural issues, education and health programs for children.

Two of the state’s propositions that Gov. Schwarzenegger opposed were defeated with 23 percent of the precincts reporting.

Proposition 68 didn’t pass and tribes were not authorized to build 16 new Las Vegas style casinos in urban areas. The proposition would have been exempt from paying any future increases in state and local tax.

Depending on the outcome of tribal negotiations, potential loss of state revenues may have totaled hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Proposition 70 would have given Indian gaming tribes a 99-year monopoly on gambling. Tribes contributed percentage of net gaming income to state funds could have been exchanged for expanded, exclusive tribal casino gaming.

The unknown effect on payments to the state from Indian tribes may have led to a potential increase or decrease in these payments in the tens of millions of dollars to over a hundred million dollars annually.

The controversial Stem Cell Research Proposition 71 passed with 21 percent of the precincts reporting.

The proposition will establish the “California Institute for Regenerative Medicine” to regulate the stem cell research and provide funding, through grants and loans.

Medical researchers believe the stem cell research could lead to treatments and cures for many injuries, including: cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and HIV/AIDS.