Special Elections

Re "Gov. Readies Special Election to Attack Legislature, Unions," May 17: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will hit the road again to mine the GOP faithful to raise millions for his special elections. Why will only Republicans give for the special elections; do they have something to gain? I hope the redistricting initiative passes so we'll finally be able to vote minority Republican obstructionists out of office -- the conservative anti-taxers who for 14 years blocked passage of California's budget.

Re "O.C. Supervisor Accuses Rival of Trickery," Dec. 4: Cynthia Coad has an interesting view of the "will of the people." What makes her think that the 3rd District will of the people would be to elect a nonresident or carpetbagger to represent them? Does anyone believe that Tom Coad was really living in that guest house he rented to qualify for residency? Ms. Coad has voted against the will of the people on issues such as the tobacco tax settlement, union labor contracts and El Toro.

The Station fire raging in the Angeles National Forest forced a delay in counting ballots in two special elections Tuesday in California, officials said. Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan said he took steps to carry out Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's executive order aimed at ensuring that all eligible firefighters and other emergency workers had the opportunity to vote in Tuesday's special elections in the 51st Assembly District in the Los Angeles area and the 10th Congressional District in the Bay Area.

Doomsday scenarios in the nation's capital usually focus on preservation of the presidential line of succession, but last year's terrorist strikes forced lawmakers to come to grips with the real possibility of an attack that could shut down or wipe out Congress. Many lawmakers believe that they dodged two bullets in 2001. On Sept.

Upcoming special elections to fill two state Senate seats may not provide the expected test of California's new "top two" primary system because the contests may well be settled in the first round of balloting, eliminating the potential for a first-ever runoff between two members of the same party. FOR THE RECORD: Special elections: In the Jan. 17 LATExtra section, an article about special elections in two state Senate districts contained errors in two candidates' names. The Democrat running in the 17th District is Darren W. Parker, not Darren W. Thompson.

Elaine Carver, a frustrated polling place worker, wanted to beat a drum for voters on Election Day. Only 5.2% of the 400,000 voters in the 35th state Senate District actually showed up at the polls during a special election May 9 won by Republican Ross Johnson. Because another 6.6% voted by mail the overall turnout was 11.8%, but the eerie quiet that day at precincts throughout the affluent coastal district astounded workers like Carver.

The special election is over. The griping is not. Here's one pair of complaints airing more often than "Law & Order" reruns: Why does California keep having special elections? And why are we forced to digest so many measures on the same ballot? Those are good questions -- and still relevant even with Tuesday's election mercifully in our rearview mirror. In the weeks ahead, legislative leaders will have to seek a new budget-cutting deal.

The opposition Labor Party captured a House of Commons seat from Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives in a special parliamentary election Thursday in London's Fulham district. The victor, Nicholas Raynsford, drew 16,451 votes, the Conservative candidate was second with 12,948 and the Liberal-Social Democratic Alliance entry trailed with 6,953. None of eight fringe candidates polled more than 250 votes.

Janice Hahn was officially sworn in as California's newest member of Congress on Tuesday, one week after her special election victory in the state's 36th U.S. House district. The former Los Angeles councilwoman took the oath of office in the well of the House chamber, administered by Speaker John Boehner. "Americans are counting on us now more than ever to solve their problems, and working together with courage and in good faith, I believe we can and we will," Hahn said in brief remarks to the chamber after being sworn in. Hahn also noted the death of her mother just one day before her election, saying it was the first accomplishment she would not share with her. Reps.

SACRAMENTO - Having won a coveted two-thirds supermajority in the Legislature for the first time in more than a century, California Democrats now face the temptations of one-party government - and the perils that come with it. The party's liberal allies are urging legislative leaders to aggressively exercise their newfound powers, allowing them to sidestep Republicans on tax votes and in placing measures on the statewide ballot. Among the proposals are new levies on oil companies, overturning the state's ban on same-sex marriage and overhauling Proposition 13, the landmark property-tax initiative.