[How I, a registered democrat, am voting for the environment in the June 6, 2006 primaries in California. I'm stuck voting at my old address at zip 90035. Here's my current voting list.]

My votes for Superior Court Judges, County of Los Angeles:
* Office 8: Alan H. Friedenthal
* Office 18: Daviann Mitchell
* Office 28: Judith L. Meyer
* Office 95: Richard Kraft
* Office 102: C. Edward Mack
* Office 120: Dzintra Janavs
* Office 122: Daniel J. Lowenthal
* Office 144: Janis Levart Barquist

What does a Superior Court Judge do?: The Court serves 9.5 million people in LA County by resolving and recording legal matters.
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I’m relying on endorsements I value for these judges.

The reasons are trifold. 1) I’ve spent way too much time investigating who I should vote into positions that should really be decided via appointment. 2) I’ve had more than considerate difficulty finding independent info about these candidates on my own. 3) I’m facing voter burnout.

Thus, my less-than-ideally-researched decisions. The decisions that I felt were too dependent on my whim have (close call) next to them. The decisions I feel strongly about are marked as (hands down).
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Office 8: Alan H. Friedenthal. Friedenthal’s endorsed by the West LA Democratic Club, West Hollywood Democratic Club, Stonewall Democratic Club, AFL-CIO, and LA Times, which says he “already performs excellent work as a Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner.”

Other candidates are Deborah Sanchez, criminal prosecutor, and Bob Henry, California Deputy Attorney-General.

Office 18: Daviann Mitchell (close call). The LA Times endorses Daviann Mitchell, assistant city attorney, saying this “gang prosecutor is the best candidate in a crowded field of six.” She also has the endorsements of National Women’s Political Caucus of LAC.

AFL-CIO endorses John C. Gutierrez, administrative law judge, as does Los Angeles County Democratic Party, Stonewall Democratic Party, and West Hollywood Democratic Club. Other candidates include Stephen M. Feldman, Richard H. Loomis, Richard A. Nixon, and David Crawford, III.

Office 28: Judith L. Meyer. Meyer’s endorsed by the AFL-CIO and the LA Times, which calls her “An outstanding candidate, she was one of only two to be evaluated as “exceptionally well qualified” by the Los Angeles County Bar Assn.”

Other candidates are Douglas W. Weitzman and S. Paul Bruguera.

Office 95: Richard Kraft (close call). A NOW chaper, New Frontier Democratic Club, West Hollywood Democratic Club, and the AFL-CIO all endorse Richard Kraft. The fact that Richard serves on the Board of Directors of Open Paths Counseling Center, which offers low income families access to bi-lingual counseling services, cinched the deal for me.

But according to the LA Times, his competitor, Susan L. Lopez-Giss, “brings more than 30 years as an innovative prosecutor and civil practitioner in the city attorney’s office.” She also has the endorsements of the National Women’s Political Caucus, Los Angeles County and the Progressive Democratic Club.

Office 102: C. Edward Mack. The Los Angeles County Democratic Party, New Frontier Democratic Club, West LA Democratic Club, and AFL-CIO endorse C. Edward Mack.

The LA Times endorses Hayden Zacky: “His prosecutorial experience, demeanor and presence make him ready to serve as a judge.” The third candidate’s George C. Montgomery.

Office 120: Dzintra Janavs. The LA Times says Dzintra Janavs, “rated “exceptionally well qualified” by the L.A. County Bar Assn., deserves another term.” However, she’s also been endorsed by the Republican Party of LAC, which makes me raise a wary eyebrow.

The other candidate’s Lynn Diane Olson, attorney.

Office 122: Daniel J. Lowenthal (hands down). The AFL-CIO and the LA Times endorse Lowenthal: “He has a breadth of experience in both civil and criminal matters in the Los Angeles city attorney’s office.”

The other candidate’s Robert Davenport; one of his top priorities is to “Reinstate the cross which was removed from the Los Angeles County seal.” Dude, most of us aren’t Catholic.

Office 144: Janis Levart Barquist. This deputy city attorney has the endorsements of the LA County Democratic Party, National Women’s Political Caucus, LA County Progressive Democratic Club, Santa Monica Democratic Club, Stonewall Democratic Club, and West Hollywood Democratic Club.

Her main competitor’s David W. Stuart, criminal prosecutor, has the LA Times endorsement — “This capable prosecutor is the best candidate in a field of seven” — though his website’s down. Other candidates are Edward J. Nison, deputy district attorney; Randolph Martin Hammock, consumer law attorney; Larry H. Layton, law school prof; Stephen H. Beecher, attorney; and Maria Rivas Hamar, divorce lawyer.

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