Wednesday, Sep. 03, 2008

Republican committee decides Measure S is tax party can back

Republican party leaders will set aside traditional opposition to higher taxes and throw support to Stanislaus County's Measure S, a spokesman for the transportation tax's campaign said Monday.

The Stanislaus County Republican Central Committee recognizes "meaningful changes" from Measure K, a failed road tax in 2006, said Paul Van Konynenburg, co-chairman of Yes on S. The new half-cent sales tax plan would raise an estimated $700 million over 20 years and dedicate more to neighborhood road repair than under Measure K, which would have lasted 30 years.

The Bee was unable to reach GOP Executive Committee Chairwoman Joan Clendenin or Vice Chairman Jim DeMartini, who also is a county supervisor.

"I don't think they (GOP leaders) have ever endorsed a tax of any kind," Van Konynenburg said.

County Democratic Central Committee members also back the road tax.

A League of Women Voters of Stanislaus County committee next week will urge its board to support Measure S, according to the group's Web site.

Measure S ballot arguments will be signed by well-connected community leaders, Van Konynenburg said. They include Great Valley Center President Emeritus Carol Whiteside, 5.11 clothier Dan Costa, University of California regent Odessa Johnson, Stamp Out Sprawl author Denny Jackman, Patterson Mayor Becky Campo, former Stanislaus County Sheriff Les Weidman, Newman farmer Jim Jasper, Commission on Aging chairwoman Mickey Peabody of Oakdale, longtime GOP leader Pat Shade of Turlock and DeMartini.

The campaign is gearing up now that Labor Day has passed. Separate committees in each of the county's nine cities will take locally tailored messages to the streets and phone banks, Van Konynenburg said.

"Because the campaign this time is different and expenditure plans were developed locally, it only makes sense to have local communities talk about things in their town," Van Konynenburg said.

No money for elderly transit

The League of Women Voters endorsed Measure K two years ago. Measure S generated "considerable discussion and reservations" because it contains no money set aside for elderly and disabled transit or for developing travel options that don't involve cars, the group's Web site reads.

But "the consensus was that the overall benefits of the proposal outweigh the shortcomings," the notice reads. "The county has to catch up on road maintenance, meet the demands of growth and improve transportation for economic development. The process has been a significant step in regional planning and the oversight provisions protect public interest."

League President Ellen Meyer said rules prevent her from discussing a recommendation to the full board before the board's review next week.

Dave Thomas, former president of the Stanislaus Taxpayer Association, said that group "is certainly not going to support" Measure S. Its executive committee will meet Tuesday to discuss whether to actively oppose the road tax, he said.

Circumstances bode ill for new taxes, Thomas said, noting Gov. Schwarzenegger's notion for a temporary 1-cent sales tax to plug the state budget deficit and Modesto Police Chief Roy Wasden's support for a sales tax increase benefiting public safety. Ceres voters passed a half-cent safety tax in 2007.

Hospital bonds failed last week in Oakdale, Oceanside and Monterey. And voters in November will confront bond measures benefiting the Ceres, Newman, Patterson and Stanislaus Union school districts.

On the Net: www.stancog.org; www.lwvstanislaus.org/files/2008sept.pdf

Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at gstapley@modbee.com or 578-2390.