In California, an embarrassment of statewide elections

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We're on the verge of holding the first of three statewide elections in California this year, and it's beginning to look like the politicians should have left the election schedule alone. Besides adding more than $80 million in election costs for the 58 counties, the additional election will contribute to the voter fatigue that's been nipping at civic participation over the last few decades in California.Golden State voters may have some say in nominating the Republican and Democratic standard-bearers this year, but it may not be much more that it would have been if the primary had been held in March or June like in past presidential years. Even if voters get excited about California's presidential primary on Tuesday, it's doubtful that the excitement will carry over to the June primary for the rest of the state and local contests or the general election in November.I'm ready to declare the extra election in California an $80 million mistake. If Tuesday's primary isn't a boondoggle, then the June primary is. There's no way that legislators can argue persuasively that both primary elections are needed.Of course, this extra election really wasn't about the voters having their say in presidential politics. That was the cover story, but this was always about California's self-important legislators desperately trying to get extra time in office. That's what will happen if Proposition 93, the term-limits measure, passes on Tuesday.Voters must remember that as they stare down Proposition 93 in the voting booth.What an opportunity for Californians. You want to send a message to politicians? You want to take out your frustrations on a Legislature that's ducked every tough issue to come before it? Then vote a big fat "no" on Proposition 93.Now if you think they've been doing a good job, then vote "yes." If you take that opinion, I'd also suggest an adult-school civics course for a refresher on how our elected officials are supposed to be representing us.From my perch, here's all you really need to know about Proposition 93: The Sacramento Bee reported that incumbent Democratic legislators have put more than $1.4 million into the campaign to pass Proposition 93. The rest of the campaign has been funded by special interests, such as public employee unions, that have benefited under the current Legislature.We're not talking a multimillion-dollar campaign because they are interested in good public policy. The politicians are looking to prolong their careers and the special interests want to make sure that they get more taxpayer-financed goodies from friendly politicians.All that campaign money is going to television and radio advertisements trying to persuade you that Proposition 93 is a change for the good. It's not, but the politicians and their surrogates think they can trick voters into supporting it with a clever ad campaign. They are having some success.The Los Angeles Times/CNN/Politico poll released last week shows 50 percent of voters supporting Proposition 93, with 46 percent opposed.So proponents can say this election is about the presidential campaign, but it's really about prolonging the careers of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata and other termed-out legislators.But there's another problem for those who argue the extra election helps California's clout in the presidential nominating process. They must admit the compressed primary season has limited candidate appearances in the state, making the "California campaign" a tiny slice of the action.This is the most populous and diverse state in the nation, and yet the California campaign seems to be only campaign dust when compared with the attention given to Iowa, New Hampshire and other early states. That has not changed by adding another California election.The nominations in both parties still have not been decided, and those who pushed the additional California election claim that is evidence that they made a wise decision.But California still could have had its say on the presidency without adding an extra election. Remember that when you vote in three elections this year.(Jim Boren is The Fresno Bee's editorial page editor. E-mail him at jboren(at)fresnobee.com.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)