South Bay voters should back Lee, Ravel, Measure E

Tens of thousands of voters across the South Bay will be perusing their ballots during the next three days and making decisions that will have major impact on their communities.

It’s a challenging task. We fully understand, having spent the past two months interviewing dozens of candidates and reviewing the various ballot measures. Our endorsements can be found on this page and at www.mercurynews. com/endorsements.

We want to reinforce our recommendations for what we regard as the three most important decisions before South Bay voters:

State Senate, District 15

It’s never been more important to elect people who are independent, smart and willing to stand up for what’s right. The California Senate desperately needs someone who will champion ethics and transparency in politics.

Ann Ravel is that candidate. She is in a seven-person race for the open seat being vacated by termed-out Sen. Jim Beall.

Ravel may not have the financial backing of opponents Dave Cortese and Nora Campos. But Ravel is not beholden to labor, business or special-interest groups. She can’t be bought.

As Santa Clara County’s counsel from 1998-2009, Ravel won a $400 billion settlement against companies that promoted sales of lead paint despite knowing their products damaged children’s brains. Her stellar work as chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission led to President Barack Obama nominating her to the Federal Election Commission, where she continued to enforce campaign finance and ethics laws.

Ravel commands respect everywhere she goes. She is the clear choice in the District 15 race.

San Jose’s Measure E

San Jose needs to step up and do its part to solve its most pressing problem — the lack of affordable housing for today’s and tomorrow’s workers. Measure E, which has the backing of Mayor Sam Liccardo, would provide the steady stream of funding necessary to help alleviate San Jose’s housing crisis. It’s unacceptable that the workers in the city routinely spend half of their income on their mortgage or rent. And San Jose’s leaders know they have no hope of retaining the next wave of brilliant, young entrepreneurs if they can’t afford to live here.

The tax would raise an estimated $22 million-$73 million a year, depending on the state of the economy. The money would come from a permanent new property transfer tax on commercial, industrial and residential properties worth at least $2 million.

Measure E would allow San Jose to leverage county, state and federal funds. For example, it would give the city an opportunity to get the most mileage possible out of Santa Clara County’s Measure A, the $950 million bond measure passed by voters in 2016. The county already has 21 projects moving forward, and the Measure E funding would add to San Jose’s ability to produce greater results for residents.

Yes, the money flows into the city’s general fund and could be diverted for other use. But that’s hard to imagine, given the scope of the crisis.

Board of Supervisors, District 3

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors would benefit greatly by voters electing Otto Lee to replace termed-out District 3 Supervisor Dave Cortese.

Lee, a former Sunnyvale city councilman, has a strong record on public safety, financial and environmental issues. But equally important is his independence. He will put the public good before special interests.

He has a wealth of experience in public service, having served in the Navy Reserve for 28 years, finishing his career by being awarded a Bronze Star Medal for helping bring home troops from Iraq. We recommend him to voters.