Early Primary Could Cost County $11 Million

By Ed Joyce / Reporter, KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published May 7, 2007 at 12:17 PM PDT

This story was published more than 17 years ago.

California has attracted more presidential hopefuls the past few weeks. The state has gotten more attention since shifting its presidential primary to February. But the change comes at a cost to the s

California has attracted more presidential hopefuls the past few weeks. The state has gotten more attention since shifting its presidential primary to February. But the change comes at a cost to the state's counties. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce explains.

The state's presidential primary is adding complications and expenses. California's counties have to prepare for February and the statewide primary in June.

Become a KPBS sponsor

Acting San Diego County Registrar Mischelle Townsend : The close proximity of the two primaries makes it complicated in terms of turning around 10-thousand voting units and preparing them for two close elections.

She says the presidential primary will cost the county about $11 million. Governor Schwarzenegger says the state will reimburse the counties. But there's no legal requirement mandating the state to do so.

The county is planning to use its current voting machines for the early primary. But Townsend says that could change. The Secretary of State's office is reviewing voting methods in California. Any changes could cost the county more money.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.

Ed Joyce

twitter

Ed Joyce was the environment reporter and afternoon news anchor for KPBS-FM. Before joining KPBS, he worked as an editor/columnist with Copley News Service in San Diego. Ed has an extensive background in newspaper, radio, web and TV journalism. After graduating with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington in Seattle, Ed began a career in broadcast journalism. His work has included stints in public broadcasting, commercial broadcasting and education -- working as an affiliate professor of communication and reporter at the University of Idaho and Washington State University in Pullman, Wash. During the past 20 years he has worked in radio, TV and print as a news reporter, anchor, writer, editor and producer. Along the way he has won numerous awards for general news reporting, newswriting, feature and issue reporting and breaking news reporting from The Associated Press, The Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Press Club and other organizations. During the mid-1990s, while working for Oregon Public Broadcasting, he was a frequent contributor to National Public Radio, including a feature report on the memorial service for 14 U.S. Forest Service "hotshots" who died fighting a wildfire in Colorado (the crew was based in a central Oregon town). He’s also filed reports with Marketplace, KQED’s California Report and Climate Watch and with national and regional networks throughout the United States. At KPBS, Ed continues his contributions to National Public Radio and other national and regional news organizations. He has won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and San Diego Press Club for his environmental reporting at KPBS-FM-TV and for producing and anchoring radio newscasts. In 2007 he was selected a National Press Foundation fellow for Understanding Violent Weather II program. The seminars were held at the National Weather Center in Norman, Okla. In 2008 he spoke at a UC San Diego conference on U.S. National Security as part of the school’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. Ed led a discussion with the 18 foreign government officials and academics about the political debate over climate change. In 2010, Ed was elected to a three-year term on the board of the San Diego Press Club.

See stories by Ed Joyce