Busy political year lies ahead of us

last updated: January 01, 2008 12:26:32 AM

You don't have to be a political junkie to appreciate what's ahead in 2008, a year that promises controversy and intrigue. A brief forecast:

Jan. 10 -- Gov. Schwarzenegger will release his proposed state budget -- which will include some radical spending cuts, such as the early release of 22,000 nonviolent prison inmates. The impact will trickle down to every community.

Feb. 5 -- Voters in 20-plus states, including ours, vote in their presidential primaries. Californians also will vote on several propositions, including 93, a controversial plan to modify term limits for state legislators. Stanislaus voters will consider two growth proposals -- E and L -- and Modestans will consider significant changes to the city charter.

By late February-- We should know who will replace George Britton as Modesto city manager and whether the anti-Jeff Denham recall campaign gathered enough signatures to force an election.

March 7 -- We'll have the lineup for three county supervisor seats on the June ballot. Jim DeMartini and Bill O'Brien are seeking re-election, and probably will have challengers, while Vito Chiesa and Les Weidman have announced for the seat that Tom Mayfield will be vacating.

April 8 -- Big decision day for the Stanislaus County Supervisors regarding Gerry Kamilos' West Park proposal for the Crows Landing air field. His 12 months will be up, but he probably won't know for sure whether the project will get some of the

$2 billion-plus in state transportation bond money, which is key to his short-haul rail vision. Will supervisors give him more time?

May -- Local campaigning abounds for those three county supervisor seats, possibly a judicial race or two and for the Assembly. The Berryhill confusion will begin, with Tom seeking re-election to the 25th district and brother Bill running in the 26th.

June 3 -- Election Day No. 2.

July 1 -- So do new laws really change behavior? California begins its ban on adults using hand-held cell phones while driving. Teen drivers aren't supposed to talk or text on cell phones at all -- even hands-free ones -- after this date. Will Californians -- who love to talk as much as they love to drive -- comply?

August -- Will the curtain rise at the refurbished and expanded Modesto Junior College auditorium? We certainly hope so, and that it's a sign that the Yosemite Community College District's building program is finally moving along. Next up: the parking facility at MJC East Campus and an allied health building on West Campus.

As the University of California at Merced begins its fourth year, how many freshmen and transfers will it have? Good numbers will be key to state funding.

September -- With Labor Day, yet another campaign season begins. Of course the presidential race will dominate the national headlines, but there will be several state propositions, including a hot one on health coverage, and council races in seven of Stanislaus County's nine cities. (Modesto and Ceres vote in odd-numbered years). And if civic leaders -- elected and otherwise -- can agree on a proposal, Stanislaus County could again be considering a sales tax increase to pay for road improvements.

Nov. 5 -- The third and final election of 2008.

December -- The country prepares for a new president.

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