AGC San Diego CONSTRUCTOR Magazine 2018 - Volume 3 2018 Volume 3 | Page 6

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Elections Count...
Protect Infrastructure Projects On November 6 th !
By Brad Barnum, AGC Executive Vice President
Voter outreach wins elections, as it only takes one
vote on either side to win or lose. That is why it
is so important for AGC and its members to be
engaged in the political process. AGC supports
investing in the region's infrastructure, but opposes
candidates and measures that make it more
difficult to build important projects and effectively
shut out contractors and apprentices.
AGC's Voter Guide, on next page, will help
you make an informed decision on some of the
candidates and issues that may affect contractors,
the construction industry, and the business
community. Here is a sampling of some of the
contested races or ballot measures:
County and City of San Diego
The future balance of power is at stake in both the
County Board of Supervisors and at San Diego
City Council. The outcome of the County’s District
4 and 5 races could set the stage for an all-out
war in 2020 for the Democrats to try to take control
of the long-time Republican-controlled County
Board. The outcome of the City’s District 2 and
6 races could mean a Democratic supermajority
come December, with the ability to override a
Mayoral veto.
We can’t let the above scenarios happen, so
please vote for Bonnie Dumanis and Jim Desmond
for County Supervisor, and Lorie Zapf and Chris
Cate San Diego City Council!
School Board Elections
We need fair and open competition in school
construction, and AGC has endorsed three
candidates who oppose Project Labor Agreements
(PLA). Vote for Mark Evilsizer for Palomar
Community College, John Olsen for Grossmont-
Cuyamaca Community College, and Andrew
Hayes for Lakeside Union School District.
Remember:
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AGCSD.ORG
School Bonds – Good and Bad
There are 11 local school bond measures on
the ballot. Eight of them represent $793 million,
and seven of those have written commitments
from their Governing Boards for fair and open
competition and no PLA’s.
However, three of the bond measures are in
school districts that have PLAs on current bond
programs. The Governing Boards are controlled by
the unions, and they have no desire to veer away
from the PLA path. Too bad all contractors won’t
be able to bid on over $4 billion in construction
projects.
Naming the eight good bond measures isn’t
necessary (just look at the Voter Guide); however,
naming the three PLA-bound measures is
appropriate – San Diego Unified School District,
Sweetwater Union High School District, and Chula
Vista Elementary School District. It’s a shame we
have to name names…please vote “NO” on these
measures.
No on Proposition 6 – Protect $5 Billion
Annually for Transportation
Make no mistake, defeating Proposition 6 is
important to the construction industry. If it passes,
the County of San Diego and its 18 cities will
lose nearly $1.5 billion over the next 10 years for
important projects, and this doesn't include funding
for Caltrans and other regional transportation
agencies. All in, the region will lose $5 billion over
the next decade, and Caltrans and SANDAG will
be unable to leverage needed federal funds.
Please join the California Professional Firefighters,
California Association of Highway Patrol, American
Society of Civil Engineers, first responders,
business, labor and local governments, and vote
“NO” on Proposition 6.
Your VOTE does make a difference! Please VOTE on November 6!