Enterprise editorial
The Davis Enterprise

It's absolutely vital that Davis says yes - in a big way - to Measure W. This $120-a-year school parcel tax - which requires a two-thirds approval margin - will provide necessary ongoing funding to the programs that were saved, temporarily, in the communitywide 'Save Our Schools' fundraising drive last spring.

Our state budget cannot guarantee the level of funding Davis needs for its core school programs - music, elementary science, libraries, foreign languages, athletics and class size reduction in some secondary classes.

Strong public schools are a Davis hallmark. They also keep our property tax values high and our crime rates low. Let's keep it that way. Vote yes on Measure W.

No on Measure N

What's Measure N? we hear Davis voters ask. We're not really sure, and that's why we're recommending a no vote on this measure, which asks local citizens whether they want to switch from being a general law city to a charter city.

Proponents say it will guarantee better home rule for Davis. Critics say the charter effort is unnecessary; that it's a waste of time and money. We find ourselves with a serious lack of information about the real ramifications of this change. In Davis, where public discussions take place about even the most mundane of decisions, there's been a vacuum of community conversation on this issue. We need those talks before we're ready to consider this big change.

Yamada for Assembly

Mariko Yamada, a Davis resident, wants to move from the Yolo County Board of Supervisors to the California Assembly, as Lois Wolk and Helen Thomson have done before her. She's ready to represent the 8th Assembly District, which covers Yolo and Solano counties, and will take her passion for regional collaboration, particularly on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, to the halls of the Legislature.

A true advocate for the service needs of an aging population and people with disabilities, Yamada vows to protect them as the state addresses its ongoing budget challenges.

Wolk for state Senate

Davis residents who have observed Lois Wolk's steady rise from Davis City Council to Yolo County Board of Supervisors to the California Assembly are hardly surprised she's ready to take this next step, to represent Yolo, Solano and San Joaquin counties in the state Senate.

Davis and Yolo County have benefited from Wolk's considerable talent and dedication, which are equal to her political ambition. Voters in the 5th Senate District will be well-served by choosing Wolk as their representative.

Thompson for Congress

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, has ably represented California's sprawling 1st Congressional District for 10 years. A dove on the Iraq war and a deficit hawk, he's done laudable work on the environment, agriculture and health care. We have confidence in Thompson, and we urge his re-election.
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