Mirador2 News 5/28/10

Competition Heats Up for Gubernatorial PrimaryJerry Brown, Meg Whitman, and Steve Poizner lead California’s 2010 election

Iraqi Election Raises TensionDisputes over election results increase hostility between blocs elected in Iraq, further destabilizing the countryby Sophia Bollag

Disputes over the results of the March 7 Parliamentary election in Iraq threaten to spark renewed violence in the country. Although the political situation in Iraq is unstable, the Obama Administration says it still intends to withdraw American troops from Iraq on schedule by December 2011.

After the first count of the votes, the predominantly Sunni coalition led by Ayad Allawi won 91 seats and the primarily Shiite coalition led by current Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki won 89, making their blocs the two largest in the 325-member elected Parliament, though both fell short of the 163 seats needed for a majority. Maliki protested the results, which led to a partial recount that could have potentially undone the slim edge Allawi’s coalition won over Maliki’s.

The recount, however, reaffirmed Allawi’s victory.Maliki’s coalition has since allied with another

primarily Shiite group and their new bloc consists of 159 seats, still short of the 163 needed for a majority. This further heightens tensions between Sunnis and Shiites in the country, as Sunnis feel underrepresented in the new Parliament.

According to the New York Times, “Mr. Allawi has

warned that the overturning of his apparent victory could lead to violence.”

Because the bloc which wins the most seats in

Parliament chooses the next Prime Minister, the merging of the two Shiite groups is especially significant.

The potential disqualification of nine of the winning candidates in Allawi’s bloc because of alleged ties to the former Baath Party, which was loyal to Saddam Hussein, was overruled earlier this month, resolving some of the uncertainty after the elections. Tensions remain high despite this development, however.

Recent sectarian violence in Iraq has made the unstable political situation in the country even more dangerous.

Former Teacher Sentenced to Two Years in State Prison

by Caroline Cook and Jeremy Unger

Eight months after he was arrested, former Miramonte English teacher Mark Litton was sentenced on Tuesday, May 18. Litton was arrested by Walnut Creek police at Miramonte High School, on Friday September 10. He was charged with committing unlawful sexual intercourse, sexual penetration of a person under the age of 18, and oral copulation with a minor.

Litton pled no contest to the charges. He was convicted of the four felonies under: Penal Code sections 261.5, 288a(b)(1), and Penal Code 289 (h).

Litton was sentenced to two years in State Prison and was awarded 490 days credit against the two-year sentence. Therefore, he will not be required to serve the entire two-year sentence and will be released sometime next year. In addition, he was ordered to pay restitution to the victim and court costs.

According to the Contra Costa Superior Court records, the judge in the case did not require Litton to register as a sex offender.

The Acalanes Union High School District terminated Litton’s employment as a result of his no contest plea, a measure required by state law, district officials said last Friday. Litton had previously been on unpaid leave with his teaching credentials revoked until the trial had finished.

Litton taught English at Miramonte High School for just over four years and had previously taught at Northgate High School.

Photo: Q. Zein/MCT Campus

Supporters of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki stage a protest, Sunday, March 21, 2010, in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf, to demand a recount of ballots in the March 7 parliamentary election.

by Lauren Dahlberg-Seeth

On Nov. 2, the 2010 California Gubernatorial Election will be held to replace current Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger with the next governor of our state. Although candidates from a variety of parties have been campaigning throughout California, the leaders of this election remain Democrat Jerry Brown, and Republicans Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner.

Brown, the current California Attorney General, has a lengthy political background. In 1974, Brown was elected governor of California and served for two terms. His record also includes titles such as Secretary of State, Mayor of Oakland, and candidate in the 1980 presidential election primaries. Brown also challenged Proposition 209, limiting affirmative action, and Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage, in the California Supreme Court. According to SurveyUSA, Brown has 66 percent of the democratic voter support. No other democratic candidates have more than six percent.

Whitman, on the other hand, has a more business-related past. From 1998 to 2008, Whitman was President and Chief Executive Officer of eBay. Fortune Magazine has repeatedly ranked Whitman one of the top five most powerful women in business, and Harvard Business Review named Whitman the eighth best performing CEO of the past decade. SurveyUSA shows that Whitman has 39 percent the republican voter support.

Another 37 percent of the republican voters support Steve Poizner, the current State Insurance Commissioner. Before he was elected to his current position in 2006, Poizner had been founding and running technology companies in Silicon Valley for over 20 years. Poizner also volunteered at San Jose’s Mount Pleasant High School for a year, teaching 12th grade American Government.

Each of these leading candidates has a different plan to help repair our state. Brown promises voters that, if elected, there would be no smoke and mirrors during his

term.“No more puffy slogans and platitudes,” said Brown in

a video on his website. “I’ve seen our government from every angle, when it works and when it doesn’t work, and it’s no secret that Sacramento isn’t working today.”

Brown plans to downsize the government in Sacramento

in order to bring authority back to cities, counties, and schools. Other main goals include creating jobs, protecting the environment, and fighting political corruption. If elected, Brown also pledges that there will be no new taxes

unless the citizens of California vote in favor of them. Whitman, on the other hand, has a different approach

towards the restoration of our state. “My approach starts with focus,” said Whitman in a

debate at Costa Mesa’s Orange County Performing Arts Center. “I’m a big believer in doing three things at 100 percent as opposed to 10 things at 10 percent.”

Whitman’s three-part plan includes creating jobs, cutting government spending, and fixing the K-12 education system. Other priorities include protecting the environment, increasing public safety, and securing borders to stop illegal immigration. Whitman also promises voters that, if elected, she won’t add new taxes. She is not in favor of same-sex marriage.

Although he is republican as well, Poizner disagrees with Whitman on certain points. Unlike Whitman, Poizner supports the Arizona Immigration Law, as well as the use of nuclear power.

“Most politicians don’t have the guts to talk about illegal immigration,” said Poizner in an interview with CBS. “The fact that I’m talking about it in such strong language gets people’s attention.”

The “Poizner Plan” for California includes cutting taxes, reducing state spending, and simplifying business requirements to encourage small businesses. Poizner promises voters that, if elected, he will cut income, sales, and business taxes by 10 percent. Other priorities include creating jobs, strengthening education, and cracking down on immigration.

While each candidate has a different plan for California, they are all dedicated to making a change. If elected, Brown, Whitman, and Poizner all promise to use their four-year term to tackle California’s main issues, from education and the environment, to immigration and the economy. Although some candidates have different priorities, they all have the restoration of California in mind. The primary elections on June 8, 2010 will be open to all registered voters.

The 2010 Gubernatorial candidates Brown, Whitman, and Poizner compete for California’s votes.

Photo: D. Griswold/MCT Campus

Mark Litton pleas no contest to four felonies