Created page with "==='''{{BP|BC2013#October|October 30, 2013}}'''=== '''Edited by''' ''[mailto:jamie.applegate@lucyburns.org Jamie Applegate]'' ''' {{Ballot box weekly logo2}} Welcome to the fo..."
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==='''{{BP|BC2013#October|October 30, 2013}}'''===
'''Edited by''' ''[mailto:jamie.applegate@lucyburns.org Jamie Applegate]'' '''
{{Ballot box weekly logo2}}
Welcome to the fourth edition of our new publication, ''Ballot Box Weekly,'' a compilation of election coverage from across the various pages on Ballotpedia and [[Main_Page|Judgepedia]]. Our weekly series will be published on Wednesday afternoons and cover a range of election news from our projects, including candidate filing deadlines, primaries and elections. The report focuses specifically on the projects covered by the staff of Ballotpedia and Judgepedia: {{BP|Portal:State Executive Officials|state executives}}, {{BP|Portal:State Legislatures|state legislatures}}, {{BP|Portal:School boards and school board elections|school boards}}, [[State courts]], {{BP|Portal:Congress|Congress}} and {{BP|Portal:Ballot measures|state and local ballot measures}}. We'll be bringing you an assortment of elections coverage each week from up and down the ballot. This report is generated by the non-profit, non-partisan {{BP|Lucy Burns Institute}}, the organization that sponsors Ballotpedia and Judgepedia.
This week's ''Ballot Box Weekly'' features a look at a special state legislative election in South Carolina as well as a preview of the many elections taking place on November 5. Read about this and more in this week's report.
{|class="wikitable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="1" align="right" style="background:none" style="width:355px;"
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! colspan="4" align="center" style="background-color:#008000; color: white;" | This Week in Elections
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| width="250px"|'''States with Elections''':
| align="center" | 1
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| '''States with filing deadlines:'''
| align="center" | 0
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|colspan="2" | <sup>**South Carolina held a special election for a seat in its state legislature. </sup>
|}
==What happened at the polls?==
This week, South Carolina held a special election for a vacant seat in its {{BP|South Carolina House of Representatives|House of Representatives}}.<ref name="footnote">These figures refer only to the elections that are covered by Ballotpedia and Judgepedia staff. They may not be comprehensive. If you would like to send details about an election not covered, [mailto:editor@ballotpedia.org contact us]</ref>
===South Carolina House of Representatives District 93===
Voters in South Carolina turned out on Tuesday to fill a seat in their state legislature. The election for the open seat came about due to the resignation of Rep. {{BP|Harry Ott, Jr.}} to work as the executive director of the state’s Farm Service Agency. It pit Ott’s son {{BP|Russell L. Ott}} against Republican {{BP|Charles H. Stoudemire Jr.}} Ott came out the winner and will serve out the remaining year of his father’s term.
According to unofficial results from the South Carolina State Election Commission, Ott received 1,898 votes. He received approximately 68 percent of the total votes. In contrast, his opponent Stoudemire received approximately 32 percent of the vote with 894 votes. <ref>[http://www.scvotes.org/2013/10/29/state_house_of_representatives_district_93_special_election ''scvotes.org'', "State House of Representatives District 93 Special Election," accessed July 31, 2013]</ref> Stoudemire had previously run against {{BP|Harry Ott, Jr.}} in 2010 for the same seat and had been defeated. During that election, Ott received 66.08% of the vote while Stoudemire received 33.89% of the vote.<ref>[http://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/19077/40477/en/summary.html South Carolina general election results]</ref>.
Issues such as education, jobs and farming became key focus points throughout the election. Stoudemire said he was running for the seat to bring new jobs and advancements to the district and argued that there had been a lack of growth in recent years.
“If you look at District 93 over a span of time, our unemployment has gone up, poverty level has gone up. … We’re not advancing and I don’t see anyone coming up with programs to help us advance,” Stoudemire told the The Times and Democrat newspaper of Orangeburg, South Carolina.<ref>[http://thetandd.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/education-jobs-focus-in-house-race/article_3ca6b6ee-3940-11e3-9f5c-0019bb2963f4.html ''The Times and Democrat'', "Education, Jobs Focus in House 93 Race," October 20, 2013]</ref>
Both candidates also addressed the state of education in South Carolina and the state of farmers as a concern.
Ott will join a Democratic minority in both the House and Senate.<br>
{|class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
! colspan="4" align="center" style="background-color:#008000; color:white"|'''Election Coverage across Ballotpedia/Judgepedia -- October 28-November 1, 2013'''
|-
! Race
! Date
! Number of Seats Up for Election
|-
| {{BP|South Carolina state legislative special elections, 2013|South Carolina House of Representatives District 93 General Election}}||text align="center"| October 29, 2013 || text align="center"| 1
|}
====Upcoming Candidate Filing Deadlines====
There were no filing deadlines this week and are none in the next week.<ref name="footnote"/>
==Looking ahead: upcoming elections==
Next Tuesday is the general election date for most 2013 elections. Despite being the busiest election day of 2013, it will still be a light election compared to most even year November election days. Elections will be taking place across the country for ballot measures, state legislatures, courts, school boards and Congress. Here are a few {{BP|November 5, 2013 election results|races to watch.}}
* November 5: A local ballot measure election in Cincinnati, Ohio could add to the increasing calls for pension reform across the country. The {{BP|Cincinnati Pension Reform Charter Amendment Initiative, Issue 4 (November 2013)|Cincinnati Pension Reform Charter Amendment Initiative}} seeks to change the city's public pension plan for new hires from a {{BP|Defined Benefit Plan}} to a {{BP|Defined Contribution Plan}}. If it appears on the ballot and is approved by voters, the amendment would also implement contribution caps for the city and make cost of living adjustments compatible with actual increases in the consumer price index, with a cap at 3% annually. Several other rules are also potentially established by the amendment, such as a stipulation that no city employee can simultaneously earn income from a city or government job and receive retirement benefits.
{|class="wikitable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="1" align="right" style="background:none" style="width:355px;"
|-
! colspan="1" align="center" style="background-color:#008000; color: white;" | Quote of the Week
|-
| <blockquote>
"We label if a juice is from concentrate or not. We label whether or not an ingredient is artificial or not. Even though the artificial vanilla is molecularly identical to the natural vanilla, we have a right to know it's artificial."<br>
--David Bronner, a supporter of the passage of the {{BP|Washington Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Measure, Initiative 522 (2013)|Washington Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Measure}} which would require that foods which contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to be labeled as such.<ref>[http://mynorthwest.com/11/2381897/The-fight-over-I522-Do-we-really-need-GMO-food-labels ''My Northwest.com,'' "The fight over I-522: Do we really need GMO food labels?," accessed October 30, 2013]</ref>
</blockquote>
|}
* November 5: The {{BP|Academy School District 20, Colorado|Academy School District}} in Colorado is holding elections for three of five seats on its school board. It is the {{BP|Largest school districts in the United States by enrollment|11th-largest school district}} in Colorado, serving 23,973 students in 37 schools.<ref>[https://edx.cde.state.co.us/SchoolView/DataCenter/reports.jspx?_afrLoop=10792729647199874&_afrWindowMode=0&_adf.ctrl-state=epe4pkigg_9 ''Colorado Department of Education,'' "SchoolView Data Center," accessed August 7, 2013]</ref> Candidates are elected at-large for four-year terms. There are four total candidates for the three seats. Incumbents {{BP|Linda Van Matre}} and {{BP|Catherine Bullock}} are running for re-election against challengers {{BP|Shannon Mendes}}, {{BP|Larry Norman Borland}} and {{BP|Andrea Van Nort}}.<ref name=candidates>[http://car.elpasoco.com/Election/Documents/2013CoordinatedSampleBallot.pdf ''El Paso County, Colorado,'' "Official Sample Ballot for 2013 Coordinated Election," accessed October 2, 2013]</ref>
==Highlighted profile==
{{BP|File:Barbara O'Brien.jpg|thumb|120px|left|{{BP|Denver County 1 School District, Colorado|Denver Board of Education}} candidate {{BP|Barbara O'Brien}}}}
{{BP|Barbara O'Brien}} is a candidate for an at-large seat on the {{BP|Denver County 1 School District, Colorado|Denver Board of Education.}} She is running for election to the board against challengers {{BP|Michael Kiley}} and {{BP|Joan Poston}} on November 5, 2013.
O'Brien previously served as {{BP|Lieutenant Governor}} to Colorado {{BP|Governor of Colorado|Governor}} {{BP|Bill Ritter}} from 2007 to 2011 and has received endorsements for her school board campaign from notable legislators including {{BP|Jared Polis|Colorado Congressmen Jared Polis}} and {{BP|Ed Perlmutter}}. She has also received endorsements from former Colorado governors {{BP|Bill Ritter}} and Roy Romer as well as former first ladies Jeannie Ritter and Bea Romer.<ref>[http://barbaraobrien.com/about-barbara/endorsements/ ''Barbara O'Brien for Denver Public Schools,'' "Endorsements," Accessed October 29, 2013]</ref>
O'Brien has also raised a reported $173,324 in campaign contributions during the course of her campaigning. <ref>[http://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/CandidateDetail.aspx?Type=CA&SeqID=26916 ''Colorado TRACER,'' "Candidate and Candidate Committee Detail," Accessed October 29, 2013]</ref>
Several issues are at stake in the election, including the potential implementation of {{BP|Colorado Tax Increase for Education, Amendment 66 (2013)|Amendment 66}}, a constitutional amendment that increases income taxes to support public education. Voters will decide whether the ballot measure passes on November 5 as well. O’Brien has come out in support of the issue along with all but one of the other candidates for the four seats open on the board.<ref>[http://www.ednewscolorado.org/tag/dps-election-2013 ''EdNews Colorado,'' "DPS Election 2013," Accessed October 30, 2013]</ref>
School reform is also an issue in this election. Several reforms have been implemented by Superintendent Tom Boasberg since his appointment in 2009, including increasing the district's emphasis on charter schools and closing poor-performing facilities. Opponents of Boasberg's reforms cite a persistent achievement gap between affluent and low-income student populations.<ref>[http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23983278/tom-boasberg-denver-school-leader-election-results ''Denver Post,'' "Tom Boasberg, Denver school leader, has a lot riding on board election results," August 30, 2013]</ref>
The direction of the seven-member board could change significantly based on the results of this election. Three current members of the board are not seeking re-election. The [http://denverclassroom.org/ Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA)] has endorsed at-large candidate {{BP|Michael Kiley}}, District 2 candidate {{BP|Rosario C. de Baca}}, District 3 candidate {{BP|Meg Schomp}} and {{BP|Roger Kilgore}} in District 4. These candidates want to slow down or halt development of charter schools in the district. [http://www.dfer.org/branches/co/ Democrats for Education Reform], a non-profit organization supporting Boasberg's reforms, has endorsed O'Brien as well as District 2 candidate {{BP|Rosemary Rodriguez}}, {{BP|Mike Johnson}} in District 3 and District 4 incumbent {{BP|Landri Taylor}}.<ref>[http://www.ednewscolorado.org/brief_text/dps-board-endorsements-mount-up ''EdNews Colorado,'' "DPS board endorsements mount up," September 16, 2013]</ref>
==Elections scoreboard==
There was one general election this week. <ref name="footnote"/>
{|class="wikitable"
! colspan="8" style="background-color:#008000; color: white;" | '''Elections Scoreboard -- Breaking Down the Ballot Box'''
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:grey;" | General Election Results Analysis
|-
| Total races||1
|-
| Incumbents running||0
|-
| Total uncontested races||0
|-
| % seats won by Democratic candidate ||100%**
|-
| % seats won by Republican candidate ||0%
|-
| % seats won by Independents || 0%
|-
|colspan="4"|<small>**''{{BP|Russell L. Ott}} won a seat in the {{BP|South Carolina House of Representatives}}''</small>
|}
==Election highlights==
It's always election season somewhere. Here are some snippets of election news across the various Lucy Burns Institute project areas.
=State legislatures=
Several states are holding {{BP|State legislative elections, 2013|state legislative elections}} next week on November 5 including regular elections in New Jersey and Virginia and {{BP|State legislative special elections, 2013|special elections in eight states.}}
States holding special elections on November 5 include:
*{{BP|Georgia state legislative special elections, 2013|Georgia}}
*{{BP|Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2013|Massachusetts}}
*{{BP|Michigan state legislative special elections, 2013|Michigan}}
*{{BP|Mississippi state legislative special elections, 2013|Mississippi}}
*{{BP|New Hampshire state legislative special elections, 2013|New Hampshire}}
*{{BP|New York state legislative special elections, 2013|New York}}
*{{BP|Texas state legislative special elections, 2013|Texas}}
*{{BP|Washington state legislative special elections, 2013|Washington}}
In total, 220 seats of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats are up for election in the {{BP|state legislative elections, 2013|November 5, 2013 state legislative elections}}. A total of 93% of incumbents are running for re-election. Of those, {{BP|2013 state legislative elections analyzed using a Competitiveness Index|15 faced a primary challenger}} and one quarter of incumbents faced no challenge at any level of the 2013 election. There are several races to watch.
===New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly===
Several seats are up for election in both the {{BP|New Jersey State Senate}} and {{BP|New Jersey General Assembly}}. {{BP|New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013|Seats in Districts 1-40}} of the Senate are up for election. There are no candidates running unopposed in the November 5 general election and who would thus, barring unforeseen circumstances, be guaranteed re-election in November. However, in two districts the major party candidate is opposed by only a third party candidate. In District 20: Incumbent Democrat {{BP|Raymond Lesniak}} is opposed by Independent {{BP|Pal Drejaj}} and in District 25 Incumbent Republican {{BP|Anthony Bucco}} is opposed by Independent {{BP|Maureen Castriotta}}. In the primary election, held on June 4, 2013, seven incumbents faced competition and all seven incumbents defeated their primary challengers.
Heading into the November 5 election, the Democratic Party holds the majority in the New Jersey State Senate.
In the General Assembly, Districts 1-40 are {{BP|New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2013|up for election.}} There are no candidates running unopposed in the November 5 general election. In District 25, the major party candidates are opposed by only third party challengers. Incumbents also did well in the June 4 primary. Eleven incumbents faced competition and alll eleven of those incumbents defeated their primary challengers.
Heading into the November 5 election, the Democratic Party holds the majority in the New Jersey General Assembly.
===Washington State Senate===
Washington will be holding {{BP|Washington state legislative special elections, 2013|three special elections}} for its state senate. Seats are vacant in Districts 7,8 and 26. The race for District 26 in particular has garnered attention due to the large amounts of money being spent as a part of it. As of October 19, more than $2.3 million has been spent on this race, making it the most expensive state legislative campaign in Washington history. The candidates themselves reported spending nearly $1.2 million while outside spending as accounted for another $1.2 million. It has also drawn interest because the Republican-led coalition currently holds a one-vote majority in the chamber and a Republican win would increase that lead.
'''{{BP|Washington State Senate|Washington State Senate District 7}}'''
:<u>'''August 6 GOP primary:'''</u>
:*{{BP|Mike Brunson}}
:*{{BP|Brian Dansel}} {{approved}}
:*{{BP|John Smith (Washington)|John Smith}} {{approved}}
:<u>'''November 5 Special election candidates:'''</u>
: {{BP|Brian Dansel}}
: {{BP|John Smith (Washington)|John Smith}}
'''{{BP|Washington State Senate|Washington State Senate District 8}}'''
:<u>'''August 6 GOP primary:'''</u>
:*{{BP|Phillip R. Lemley}} {{approved}}
:*{{BP|Sharon Brown (Washington)|Sharon Brown}} {{approved}}
:*{{BP|Tony Benegas}}
:<u>'''November 5 Special election candidates:'''</u>
: *{{BP|Phillip R. Lemley}}
: *{{BP|Sharon Brown (Washington)|Sharon Brown}}
'''{{BP|Washington State Senate|Washington State Senate District 26}}'''
:<u>'''November 5 Special election candidates:'''</u>
:*{{BP|Nathan Schlicher}}
:*{{BP|Jan Angel}}
=School boards=
While no school board elections were held this week, next week is an important one for school boards across the country. <ref name="footnote"/>
===November 5th Elections===
201 school board general elections are {{BP|List of school board elections in 2013|being held}} across the country on November 5.<ref name="footnote"/> States electing school board members include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington. {{BP|Financial policies, education standards at stake in November school board elections|Major issues}} include financial policies and changing education standards, including the implementation of new federal Common Core standards in some states.
The number of seats up in different states include:
* California: 114 seats
* Colorado: 51 seats
*Connecticut: 35 seats
* Massachusetts: 40 seats
* Ohio: 54 seats
* Pennsylvania: 60 seats
* Texas: 32 seats
* Virginia: 28 seats
* Washington: 78 seats
There are several {{BP|Financial policies, education standards at stake in November school board elections|races to watch}} next week.
===Colorado===
Voters in 16 school districts among {{BP|Colorado school districts|Colorado's largest districts by enrollment}} will cast ballots for 51 seats on November 5. Several school districts are facing issues that will play an important role in the election.
{{BP|Douglas County School District elections (2013)|Douglas County School District}} has attracted national attention with a debate over pay-for-performance policies for teachers and the involvement of outside groups. A slate of candidates opposing the board's reform policies will face off against four candidates who support the current board.
The {{BP|Adams 12 Five Star Schools elections (2013)|Adams 12 Five Star School Board}} election is set against a federal investigation into financial wrongdoing by district officials involving millions of dollars.<ref>[http://kdvr.com/2013/03/27/caught-on-tape-school-officials-laughing-as-they-talked-about-hiding-millions-of-dollars/ ''Fox 31 Denver'', “Caught on tape: School officials laughing as they talked about hiding millions of dollars” March 27, 2013]</ref>
===Texas===
Ten of the top enrollment districts in {{BP|Texas}}, including its largest, {{BP|Houston Independent School District, Texas|Houston Independent School District}}, will hold elections on November 5, 2013 for 28 seats. There are 44 candidates running for election, 24 of whom are incumbents.
Candidates in Houston ISD, the seventh-largest district in the United States, and {{BP|Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, Texas|Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District}}, the third-largest district in Texas have faced several issues. The candidates have face the obstacle of agreeing on the best means of using scarce district resources to meet the various needs of many students. Houston ISD is struggling with deep budget cuts in public education imposed in 2011 and adjusting to a narrowly approved tax rate increase.<ref>[http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=56553 Charles Kuffner, ''Off the Kuff,'' "Demagnetized," published October 19, 2013]</ref> The increase aims to help fund pay raises, as well as the district's Apollo reform program, which allows for specially hired tutors and longer school days.<ref>[http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/education/article/In-close-vote-HISD-approves-3-cent-tax-rate-4886818.php Ericka Mellon, ''The Houston Chronicle,'' "In close vote, HISD approves 3-cent tax rate increase," published October 11, 2013]</ref> Longtime incumbent Lawrence Marshall of Houston's District 9, is not seeking re-election and is currently under FBI criminal investigation for allegedly taking vendor money.<ref>[http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Longtime-HISD-trustee-opts-not-to-seek-re-election-4762819.php Ericka Mellon, ''The Houston Chronicle,'' "Longtime HISD trustee opts not to seek re-election," published August 27, 2013]</ref>
=State executive officials=
Both Virginia and New Jersey will {{BP|State executive officials 2013 election preview|be holding elections}} for state executive officials next week.
===Virginia===
Virginia will be holding elections for the offices of {{BP|Attorney General of Virginia}} and {{BP|Governor of Virginia}}. {{BP|Virginia gubernatorial election, 2013|Virginia’s gubernatorial race}} has garnered a large amount of news attention.
Incumbent {{BP|Republican}} {{BP|Bob McDonnell}} is term limited from running for re-election in 2013 as Virginia's strict term limits mean that Virginia governors cannot serve two consecutive terms.
{{BP|Republican}} {{BP|Ken Cuccinelli}} entered the gubernatorial race rather than seek another term as {{BP|Virginia Attorney General}} and will face {{BP|Democratic}} opponent {{BP|Terry McAuliffe}} and Libertarian {{BP|Robert Sarvis}} on November 5, 2013.<ref>[http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2013/04/robert-sarvis-receives-libertarian-party-of-virginia-nomination-for-governor-in-2013/ ''Independent Political Report,'' "Robert Sarvis Receives Libertarian Party of Virginia Nomination for Governor in 2013," accessed October 30, 2013]</ref>
While many of the early {{BP|Virginia_gubernatorial_election,_2013#Polls|election polls}} through April projected Cuccinelli to lead in the general election, McAuliffe is leading in several polls including a 52% to 42% lead from a Politico poll published October 5–6, 2013.{{BP|Robert Sarvis}} has been polling around 10%. <ref>[http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/politico-poll-government-shutdown-backlash-terry-mcauliffe-ken-cuccinelli-virginia-governor-election-97953.html
‘'Politico.com'' "Politico Poll," accessed October 30, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/10/28/poll_libertarian_candidate_hurting_dem_in_virginia_gop_still_losing.html‘'Slate'' "Poll: Libertarian Candidate Hurting Dem in Virginia, GOP Still Losing," accessed October 30, 2013]</ref>
Cuccinelli’s former position of {{BP|Attorney General of Virginia}} is also up for election. Democrat {{BP|Mark Herring}} will be squaring off against Republican {{BP|Mark Obenshain}} for the position. Polls indicate that the race may be a close one. While a Christopher Newport poll ending October 6, 2013 shows Herring up 45% to 42%, a Roanoke University poll, ending the day before on October 5, 2013, has Obenshain leading the race 38% to 35%, with 26% of undecided voters compared to Newport poll's 14%.<ref>[http://cnu.edu/cpp/pdf/oct%208%202013%20report.pdf,' "Christopher Newport Poll," accessed October 30, 2013]</ref> <ref>[http://roanoke.edu/News_and_Events/News_Archive/RC_Poll_Oct_8_2013.htm,"Roanoke University poll," accessed October 30, 2013]</ref>
===New Jersey===
In New Jersey, voters {{BP|New Jersey gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2013|will vote}} for a {{BP|New Jersey Governor|Governor}} and {{BP| New Jersey Lieutenant Governor| Lieutenant Governor}} on November 5. Incumbent Governor {{BP|Chris Christie}} (R) and incumbent Lt. Governor {{BP|Kim Guadagno}} are running for their second term. In addition, this year's elections will only be the second lieutenant gubernatorial election in New Jersey's history, as well as the second time Christie and Guadagno will have shared the Republican ticket. Christie and Guadagno will face Democratic opponents {{BP|Barbara Buono}} for Governor and{{BP| Milly Silva}} for Lieutenant Governor. Christie is expected to win in a landslide election.
=State courts=
Courts across the country will see new and old faces voted for on November 5. Elections will be held in [[New York judicial elections, 2013|New York]], [[Ohio judicial elections, 2013|Ohio]], [[Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2013|Pennsylvania]], and [[Washington judicial elections, 2013|Washington]].
===Pennsylvania===
Voters in Pennsylvania will be voting on two judges currently sitting on the [[Pennsylvania Supreme Court|Pennsylvania Supreme Court]] on November 5. The court is the [[court of last resort|court of last resort]] for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was established by the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly in 1722 as a successor to a Provincial Appellate Court that had been established in 1684. It is the oldest continually sitting appellate court in North America. Democrat [[Max Baer]] and Republican [[Ronald Castille]] will both be seeking [[Retention election|retention]] on November 5. Castille is the Chief Justice of the court and was first elected to the court as a Republican in a partisan election in 1993; his current term expires in December of 2013. Baer was first elected in 2003 and his term expires this year.
=Congress=
Alabama will hold a runoff election for a congressional seat next week.
===Alabama===
Alabama will be holding a {{BP|Alabama's 1st congressional district special election, 2013|Republican runoff election}} for its 1st Congressional District. The runoff, between candidates {{BP|Bradley Byrne}} and {{BP|Dean Young}} could prove competitive as controversy has surrounded both candidates. On October 10, 2013, {{BP|Bradley Byrne}} posted on his Facebook account accusing his opponent, {{BP|Dean Young}}, of attacking his daughter as part of his campaign. Young denied the accusations. <ref name="laura">[http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/10/bradley_byrne_accuses_dean_you.html ''AL.com,'' "Bradley Byrne accuses Dean Young of attacking his daughter," accessed October 15, 2013]</ref> Young also elicited controvery by asking his opponents to sign a pledge saying that if elected to {{BP|Congress}}, they will take active steps to oppose gay marriage.<ref name="stand">[http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/08/gay_marriage_feud_erupts_in_al.html ''AL.com,'' "Gay marriage feud erupts in AL-01 congressional race," accessed August 22, 2013]</ref> The pledge also supports a proposed change to the {{BP|Alabama|state's}} {{BP|Republican Party}}’s bylaws that would expel any member of the party’s steering committee who takes a public position in favor of gay marriage – or any other position counter to the party platform.<ref name="stand"/>
The district is considered heavily Republican. The Republican runoff will likely decide who represents the district.
=State and local ballots=
Several important ballot measures are up for election next week and deal with issues ranging from the labeling of genetically engineered food to educational funding.
Here are a few measures to watch. In addition to these measures New York, Maine, New Jersey, and Texas are also voting on {{BP|2013 ballot measures|state ballot measures}}. Additionally, Florida, Ohio, Arizona, Washington, and California are holding {{BP|Local ballot measure elections in 2013|local ballot measure elections}}.
===Washington Initiative 522===
{{BP|Washington Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Measure, Initiative 522 (2013)|Washington Initiative 522}} is a ballot measure aiming to require certain foods and seeds for sale to consumers that come from plants or animals which contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to be labeled as such. If these foods are not labeled correctly, a penalty of up to $1,000 per day per mislabeled item could be assessed on the violator. The stipulations in I-522 would take effect on July 1, 2015.<ref>[http://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote/onlinevotersguide/Measures?language=en&electionId=50&countyCode=xx&ismyVote=False&electionTitle=2013%20General%20Election#ososTop ''Washington Official Voter Guide 2013'', "Explanatory Statement," accessed October 21, 2013]</ref>
According to the Washington Official Voter Guide 2013, I-522 defines GMOs as foods in which there have been "changes to genetic material produced through techniques that directly insert DNA or RNA into organisms or that use cell fusion techniques to overcome natural barriers to cell multiplication or recombination."<ref>[http://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote/onlinevotersguide/Measures?language=en&electionId=50&countyCode=xx&ismyVote=False&electionTitle=2013%20General%20Election#ososTop ''Washington Official Voter Guide 2013'', "Explanatory Statement," accessed October 21, 2013]</ref>
A similar measure, {{BP|California Proposition 37, Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food (2012)|California's Proposition 37}}, was narrowly defeated on {{BP|California 2012 ballot propositions|November 6, 2012}}. {{BP|California Proposition 37, Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food (2012)#Polling information|Proposition 37}} enjoyed a 61% lead in the polls in early September of 2012; roughly $45.6 million was spent to defeat it.
If I-522 is passed, it will be the first measure of its type in the country.<ref>[http://www.kansascity.com/2013/10/17/4558314/will-washington-state-break-us.html ''Kansas City Business'', "Will Washington state break U.S. logjam on labeling GMO food?" October 17, 2013]</ref>
===Colorado Amendment 66===
Amendment 66, if approved, will increase the state's income tax to raise the amount spent on funding public school districts by about 16.6% from $5.5 billion under the current law to a little over $6.4 billion. When the increases in charter school funding are added, this amounts to a $950 million increase.<ref>[http://education.i2i.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Initiative-22-Formula-District-Compare.pdf Legislative Council, School District Impacts of SB 213 vs. Hypothetical $915 Million Revenue Increase with Current Formula]</ref> Amendment 66 will also allow for the implementation of the new Public School Finance Act {{BP|Colorado Senate Bill 13-213, Public School Finance Act (2013)|Senate Bill 213}}. The new tax and education funding formulas found in SB 13-213 will go into effect in the 2015-16 fiscal year. Currently the state-wide per-pupil funding is $6,652 and is projected to rise to $7,426 under SB 13-213.<ref>[http://www.ednewscolorado.org/news/see-how-your-districts-funding-would-change-under-sb-13-213 ''EdNews Colorado'', "See how your district’s funding would change under SB 13-213", September 29, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/topic/senate-bill-213/ ''The Spot (blog)'', "Colorado Senate debates Mike Johnston’s bill to overhaul school finance," April 1, 2013]</ref><ref name="DPost">[http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_23174359?source=commented- ''Denver Post'', "Colorado school finance revamp next takes tax increase to voters," May 5, 2013]</ref> {{BP|Colorado Commits to Kids}} is sponsoring the initiative.<ref name=CCTK>[http://coloradocommits.com/ Colorado Commits to Kids website]</ref>
These increases amount to an 8% increase for income tax on those making less than $75,000 per year and a 26.6% increase for income tax any taxable income over $75,000 per year. There is also a clause in {{BP|Colorado Tax Increase for Education, Amendment 66 (2013)#Constitutional changes|the language of Amendment 66}} which allows the General Assembly to “annually adjust the income thresholds for the income tax increment for inflation.” The language also “requires that at least 43 percent of state income, sales and excise tax revenue ... be set aside annually to pay for public education.”<ref name=Steam>[http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2013/oct/24/no-amendment-66-reform-about-more-dollars/ ''Steamboat Today'', "No on Amendment 66: Reform is about more than dollars," October 24, 2013]</ref>
The measure has attracted controversy. The {{BP|Colorado Education Association}} (CEA), although big supporters of Amendment 66, {{BP|Colorado Tax Increase for Education, Amendment 66 (2013)#Colorado Education Association|may sue to eliminate parts of Senate Bill 191, which would be funded by Amendment 66}}. Teacher unions, especially the CEA, are opposed to SB 191 because it establishes new standards for teachers and principals and restricts teacher tenure, allowing tenure to be removed after two consecutive "low-performance" years.
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==See also==
*{{BP|Ballot Box Weekly}}
*{{BP|November 5, 2013 election results}}
*{{BP|The Tuesday Count: Ballotpedia announces 5 most important 2013 ballot measures}}
==External links==
*[http://thetandd.com/business/farm-bureau-lobbyist-and-now-house-candidate-ott-says-key/article_a1763348-216b-11e3-8af4-0019bb2963f4.html ''Farm Bureau lobbyist and now House candidate, Ott says key farming issues must be prioritized", September 23, 2013]
==References==
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[[Category:Ballot Box Weekly]]
[[Category:October 2013]]
[[Category:2013 judicial news]]