my vote opinions for 2024

[mellowtigger]

I still maintain the same issues as 2019, with the addition of community health policy as a new issue immediately after #1.  As a reminder, my current list of political priorities is:

1. Climate change is issue #1 globally. It will impact economics, taxation, international relations, and immigration. I still think the 2020 election was our last opportunity to successfully address climate change and avoid the worst outcomes facing our planet.
2. Community health nationally.  We still have a great need for air quality standards in buildings and all public settings.  We performed poorly (under both conservative and liberal leadership) in epidemic controls, education, and even research.
3. Wealth inequality nationally. It will impact tax policies, healthcare, education, race relations, gender pay difference, general economic stability, and local crime.
4. Political corruption nationally. We see it in gerrymandering, in political fundraising, in political favoritism (so politicians can go work in the private sector they were supposed to regulate while in office), in false testimonies and fact aversion, in the current lopsidedness of the electoral college, and in dereliction of political duty.

I feel competent at finding information about candidates for most political appointments, but never when it comes to the judicial branch.  I wish it was easier to find information.

Click to read my very (very) long ballot and my opinions on it...

I've highlighted my expected selections tomorrow in green.

candidate	party	opinion
U.S. President & Vice President
Donald J. Trump and JD Vance	REPUBLICAN	The platform says nothing about my issues, yet it would make all of them worse.
Kamala D. Harris and Tim Walz	DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR	As current VP, Harris inherits some blame/credit for the current President's actions, whose policies she cannot think of anything important to change. Biden shut down Keystone XL pipeline, a very important win.  Biden also did okay for green energy priorities.  Biden declared COVID over, however, and told everyone to get back into the office.  Awful.  Harris's platform doesn't mention item #2 at all. (COVID? The infection that finally made Biden drop out? What COVID?)  It does mention item #1 at the next-to-last point on the "Issues" main group.  She does address parts of item #3 and #4, but... as last time, I just don't trust her actions to match her soapbox speech.  Harris gets very low priority for my vote.
Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat	LIBERTARIAN PARTY	The platform promotes another limited-fuel resource (nuclear) over all other options, and it doesn't mention item #1 or #2 at all.  No vote from me.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Nicole Shanahan	WE THE PEOPLE	Irrelevant, since RFKJr already dropped out of the race to endorse Trump.
Jill Stein and Samson Kpadenou	GREEN PARTY	The platform directly addresses #1 and #3.  The longer version of the healthcare statement addresses #2 in great detail, from Covid-19 deaths, the need to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and even Long COVID!  Finally!  I'm no fan of Jill Stein, although she campaigned here in Minneapolis, where I saw her at a public event just a few blocks from my current house back in 2016, which I appreciate.  I expect to vote Green this election.
Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia	SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION	Their platform page is limited only to being anti-capitalist.  I'm greatly in agreement, yes, but there are multiple existential crises that need addressing.  If you can't even name them, then I have little reason to vote for you.
Rachele Fruit and Dennis Richter	SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY	Same as above.  I'm all for taking down capitalism, but I expect you to name the existential crises while you do it.
Cornel West and Melina Abdullah	JUSTICE FOR ALL	Their platform addresses items #3 and #4 heavily, #1 sparingly, and #2... with a tiny blurb.  Not terrible, but not the same priorities as I have.  They are low on my vote priority, but above Harris/Walz.
Shiva Ayyadurai and Crystal Ellis	INDEPENDENT	Is there even a platform?  I like his 4-minute YouTube video about throwing the moneylenders out of the temple.  Bonus points for attacking both Democrats and Republicans as plutocracy enablers.  But... no, very low on my vote priority.
U.S. Senator
Rebecca Whiting	LIBERTARIAN PARTY	Bonus points for mentioning oligarchy and for semi-correctly using the word fascism (linking it specifically to corporatism).  I see no mention of my items #1 and #2, though, so very low on my priority.  It seems I have to decide whether to write in my own name (I might) or choose Whiting.
Amy Klobuchar	DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR	A webpage that says... basically nothing???  A sitting senator and recent presidential nominee can muster no more organization than that? No, thanks.
Joyce Lynne Lacey	INDEPENDENCE-ALLIANCE	I see no mention of my items #1 and #2 again, so no.
Royce White	REPUBLICAN	No mention of any of my points?  No.
U.S. Representative District 5
Dalia Al-Aqidi	REPUBLICAN	No mention at all of my items #1 (except to promote "energy security"?) and the rest.
Ilhan Omar	DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR	Omar has a history of voting for things I approve, and she's a member of the Progressive Caucus.  She still has lingering family issues that I'm not keen about, but yes, she has my vote.
State Representative District 59A
Fue Lee	DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR	Meh.  He's okay, but I wish there was a Green candidate to vote for.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1
YES/NO	yes	I will vote YES, otherwise lottery profits may not make it to the environment and natural resources trust fund.
School Board Member At Large (SSD #1)
Shayla Owodunni	n/a	There's a decent review here, and I'm willing to give Owodunni a try.
Kim Ellison	n/a	No.  I've said repeatedly that I do not vote for political family dynasties for any reason.  We're doing democracy wrong, if it comes to that.
School Board Member At Large (SSD #1)
Sharon El-Amin	n/a	This interview is okay.  I don't know anything else, so I'll vote for El-Amin.
SCHOOL DISTRICT QUESTION 1 (SSD #1)
YES/NO	yes	Complicated.  A funding source will expire, so I'm willing to replace it, but why exactly is the new one so much more costly?  This article explains.  I will vote YES for this tax increase.
Chief Justice - Supreme Court
Natalie E. Hudson	n/a	The portfolio webpage talks about integrity of the process, which is good, but is it just grandstanding?  There's little substance here.  She was promoted by Walz to this position, and I'm willing to give Hudson a chance with my vote.
Stephen A Emery	n/a	The portfolio webpage directly addresses my issue #3, which is a nice change of pace, and it even goes a long way toward my issue #4.  Nothing about #1 and #2 though.  This review urges caution, however, so I won't vote for Emery.
Associate Justice - Supreme Court 5
Anne McKeig	n/a	Her webpage describes an interesting history, but not much about policy or worldview.  I'm willing to give McKeig a continued role with my vote.
Associate Justice - Supreme Court 6
Karl Procaccini	n/a	Another super-vague webpage, but he was appointed by Walz.  Considering the alternative, I'll give Procaccini a continue role with my vote.
Matthew R. Hanson	n/a	His webpage seems to diss the "COVID-19 lockdowns"?  No vote from me.
Judge - Court of Appeals 2
Jon Schmidt	n/a	Another vague webpage, but he was appointed by Walz.  He helped the Public Defender program, so yes I'll vote for Schmidt.
Judge - Court of Appeals 3
Sarah Wheelock	n/a	Not much online, but she was appointed by Walz.  I'm willing to give Wheelock a continuing role with my vote.
Judge - Court of Appeals 4
Tracy Smith	n/a	The website is broken, so I'm inclined not to vote for her, but this page mentions Smith getting a useful consumer protection case, so... okay, I'll vote for Smith.
Judge - Court of Appeals 6
Renee L. Worke	n/a	Complicated.  She overturned a conviction for a murder that happened here in north Minneapolis.  There was a witness to the crime, but she overturned the conviction because the defendant's own testimony was acquired illegally (apparently).  Yes, defendants should have their rights vigorously protected, but was the accused killer's own testimony essential to the conviction when you have a witness and a video recording?  I'm of divided opinion.  I'll skip making any vote.
Judge - Court of Appeals 8
Keala Christian Ede	n/a	Broken webpage, which I dislike, but Ede worked as a public defender, so yes I am voting for Ede.
Judge - Court of Appeals 12
Jonathan R. Woolsey	n/a	Lots of words on the webpage, but not much substance.
Diane B. Bratvold	n/a	More generic blabbing on the webpage, but this review favors Bratvold.
Judge - Court of Appeals 14
Elise Larson	n/a	note: So many elected officials making no effort to be easily available online? I stopped trying to investigate, and I'll just not make choices in these races.
Judge - 4th District Court 2
Francis Magill	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 3
Thomas J. Conley	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 6
Sydnee N. Woods	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 10
Jean E. Burdorf	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 11
Lisa K. Janzen	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 12
Michael E. Burns	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 13
Melissa Houghtaling	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 15
John L. Lucas	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 17
Shereen Askalani	n/a	She was a committee member on the Ann Bancroft Foundation in St. Paul. Yes, I'm basing my entire endorsement on that one qualification.
Judge - 4th District Court 22
Amber Brennan	n/a	" (back to skipping a vote)
Judge - 4th District Court 24
Christopher Leckrone	n/a	Nice ideas, and I'd vote for Leckrone if Frank wasn't the other candidate.
Matthew Frank	n/a	Former prosecutor of Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd.  Yes, hold power accountable, please.
Judge - 4th District Court 33
Sarah E. Hudleston	n/a	" (back to skipping a vote)
Judge - 4th District Court 40
Jamie L. Anderson	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 44
Lois Conroy	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 48
Mark J. Kappelhoff	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 49
Nelson Peralta	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 56
Charlene Hatcher	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 58
Christian Sande	n/a	"
Judge - 4th District Court 59
Patrick D. Robben	n/a	"