Santa
Monicans: Talking about Voting.
SUSAN CLOKE
Columnist
Voting Day is Tuesday, June 7. Santa Monicans are talking about the
upcoming California Primary Election. Really they are talking about the issues impacting us
and the world: what is the future of our health care, education, immigration,
human rights, international rights, women’s rights, worker’s rights, can we put
an end to terrorism, the place of the United States around the world, civil
rights, safety, violence of all kinds, and who is the most qualified, in all
ways, to be able to do the best job of being our president.
This column gives voice to Santa Monicans, well
known for their contributions to their neighborhoods and to the City. People supporting Clinton, Sanders
and Trump have answered the question:
“Who do want to be the next president of the United States and why? The hope is that that their answers
will help forward the discussion in Santa Monica.
Sheila Kuehl
Los
Angeles County Supervisor
I'm
so passionate about electing Hillary Clinton. I
know her, and I know her historic Presidency will make a huge difference in the
lives of women, families, working people and children.
She is vastly
experienced, compassionate, and deeply grounded in all the areas that make a
difference in American lives: from the economy to the environment, from work to
family. This is a critical presidential election and we need Hillary in
the Oval Office.
Jim Conn
Founding Minister
of the Church in Ocean Park and former Santa Monica Council Member and Mayor
I support Bernie because this is the only time in my
life I’ll ever be able to vote for a democratic socialist. I been
following Bernie since the 70’s because what he was trying do in Vermont, I was
trying to do in Santa Monica.
Cristyne
Lawson
Former Dean at California Institute of Arts
Hillary
Clinton is the only viable candidate as far as I can see. She’s the only person who has the
insight and experience to solve the problems of our Country and to represent
the US abroad. It’s not about who
you like it’s about who would be able to take on the task of the job of
President of the United States. As I see it the other two candidates are the
same person at opposite ends of a teeter-totter.
Bob
Holbrook
Former Council Member and Mayor
I
plan to vote for Hillary Clinton. Trump’s the opposite of any politician I
ever worked with. I can’t imagine
Mr. Trump as our president. Hillary
has the broadest experience. She knows
how to handle tough issues. She
has made some mistakes in her many years of political life but it’s hard to
find a politician who hasn’t made mistakes. I know I did. I
hope voters will listen to all the candidates and make their decision for the
person they think will best represent America.
Polly
Benson Brown
Past President of the Santa Monica Republic
Women’s Federation
Speaking only for myself, I’m waiting for the
Republican Convention to make my decision about the person I will support.
Jason Islas
Journalist
I support Hillary because governing is hard. One thing that I really appreciate
about her is that, although she isn’t as good as I’d like at expressing herself
in political slogans, she is very good at expressing herself in the act of
politics. I respect the fact that
she has been able to make decisions in the face of hard choices. The landscape
of America has not been open to a woman president previously. I hope we are ready now. She’s more
than ready for the most difficult job of being the President of United States.
Douglas
Brown
Engineer and owner of Brown Marine Engineers
“At first I supported Trump because he
threatened to infuse a little backbone into the Republican Party. I moved to Cruz because he seemed more
government knowledgeable. He
dropped out and so now I’m supporting
Trump again. Trump is the only one opposing Sanders, the admitted socialist
and Hillary Clinton, the closet socialist.”
Patricia
Hoffman
Co-Chair of SMRR (Santa Monicans for Renter’s
Rights)
Bernie
is my choice. I
think Bernie Sanders is taking bold positions about real issues that impact the
lives of millions of everyday Americans.
Gene
Oppenheim
Family Physician
Bernie
basically is expressing the democratic wing of the Democratic Party and the
issues the Democratic Party should have been pushing for 30 years: income
inequality, the working poor, Medicare for all health care. Finally admitting and addressing a whole
racial issue that has been ignored.
Paul
Cummins
Educator, Founder of Crossroads and New Roads
Schools
I’m
voting for Hillary Clinton.
I believe it’s time for America to have a woman president. We couldn’t find a more capable, wise and
experienced person. She’s by far
the best choice of anyone running.
I say, listen to everyone, read everything. Get your questions answered. Make your best decision and then VOTE.
What Say You?
*Note:
So many good, knowledgeable, interesting people live in Santa
Monica. If you’d like to share
your thoughts about the election please post them in the post section below
this column and/or email me at susan@smmirror.com
