While most of the nation is commenting on the significance of the national elections, we here in California saw mostly business as usual from our voters. Two statewide Republican candidates, Governor Schwarzenegger and Insurance Commissioner-elect Steve Poizner, won their elections handily. It is, however, no surprise because their Democrat opponents did little to motivate independent voters or even the Democrat base, both failing to garner even 40% of the vote. Democrats easily won the remaining statewide positions, ensuring that Jerry Brown, John Garamendi, and Bill Lockyer will continue their decades of public service largely uninterrupted. Legislative races were largely uncompetitive, a factor of the state's admittedly broker reapportionment system. Only one legislative race out of the 100 that were open this year, that for the 34th Senate District in Orange County, is left to be decided, where Republican Lynn Daucher holds a 13 vote lead over former Assemblymember Lou Correa (D). No incumbent legislator lost his or her reelection bid.

The ballot propositions once again reinforced the common sense of California voters. All the infrastructure bonds passed, Proposition 83 (Jessica's Law regarding sex offenders) and Proposition 84 relating to water quality passed, and all other measures were defeated. Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent in California on campaigns this year.

What are your expectations from our politicians for 2007? Is California in for change, or will it be more of the same now that the elections are behind them?

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