Big-money issues highlight June 6 ballot

If you want to get to the heart of issues facing voters in the June 6 primary election, simply follow the money - a $490.8 million bond measure proposed for the Foothill-De Anza Community College District and a half-cent sales tax increase under the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors’ Measure A that could bring in more than $8 billion over 30 years.

Meanwhile, two statewide initiatives on the June 6 ballot involve funding for libraries and preschools. Proposition 81 asks voters to allow the state to sell $600 million in bonds to provide grants to construct and renovate library facilities. Proposition 82 would tax individuals with annual incomes exceeding $400,000 and couples making more than $800,000 to fund a preschool program for all 4-year-olds.

Races of potential interest include a four-person runoff for the office of county district attorney. Marc Buller, Jim Shore, Karyn Sinunu and Dolores Carr are vying for a four-year term in the office long held by George Kennedy.

The Town Crier offers pro and con arguments for June 6 ballot items and weighs in on the race for county district attorney on Pages 6 and 7. We give our recommendations for Measures A and C in the comment section on Page 8.