With the June California primary election getting closer and closer, I’ve been trying to get a reading on what like-minded people are thinking. My ballot has the names of so many good candidates, all running against each other, that I’m much more torn than usual. On one hand, no matter who wins, we’re going to elect someone who will do a good job (by which I mean they will do the job in a way I approve). On the other hand, maybe there’s a shade of difference I’m missing. History often hinges on such subtleties.

Soon I will have to mail my ballot, but I’m not ready yet. I could mark it almost blindly and be okay with it, but I’d like to think I take my voting rights a little more seriously than that. So I’m asking people, and doing wide ranging web searches, and actually reading all of the campaign mailers that come my way. I haven’t been answering the phone to electioneers, but if they leave a message, I’m willing to listen.

The best I’ve been able to do so far is eliminate a few of the contenders (like the early rounds of American Idol, I guess). One supervisorial candidate let it be known that he thought one of his opponents should drop out because some of her contributors might then give more money to candidates in other districts. How about that for arrogance? So I’m getting closer to being ready to vote, but I’m not there yet. The election is a week from next Tuesday, so it’s getting a little more urgent every day.

Often in the past I’ve been able to check out the endorsements of the candidates and issues and see who, among the people I know and respect, is in favor of what. It’s a little harder this time, because all the candidates for supervisor and all the candidates for state senate have been endorsed by various and sundry environmental groups, labor unions and progressive activists. Two people who oppose each other in one race both claim on their web sites to have the support of my Congresswoman, Lynn Woolsey. I have mixed feelings about what that might mean.