Marriage Initiative Will Go to Voters An initiative defining marriage as "between a man and a woman" in the state constitution qualified Monday for the November ballot, setting up an expensive showdown that will draw national attention. Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified the measure less than a month after the state Supreme Court overturned a state ban on gay marriage it deemed unconstitutional. California counties are set to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples beginning June 17. A coalition of conservative groups and churches see the initiative as a way to supersede the court decision by placing a gay marriage ban in the state constitution. The coalition, along with 10 other states, is seeking a legal stay that would suspend gay marriages in California until after the November election. The gay marriage initiative will appear on a crowded ballot with a hotly contested presidential contest and at least seven other statewide initiatives. The overall campaign price tag could top $30 million, according to those planning to promote and oppose the measure. Andrew Pugno at ProtectMarriage.com said his group hopes to raise $10 million to $15 million in support. Steve Smith, consultant for Equality for All, the coalition against the initiative, said his group plans to match that "dollar for dollar, and maybe more, from Oregon to Mexico, from the ocean to Nevada." "Now it goes to the voters, and we are very confident the voters of California are going to defeat this," Smith said. "Their proposal raises the prospect again that state law will be used to treat Californians differently, and we don't think voters will support that …" Voters in 2000 approved Proposition 22 to define marriage as "between a man and a woman," but it was overturned by the recent court decision. Recent polls suggest the upcoming ballot battle will be close. "We believe the initiative will have an impact on conservative turnout for the election," said Ron Prentice, member of the steering committee for proponents at ProtectMarriage.com. "Our hope is that our grass-roots work will especially bring the people of faith out to vote if for no other reason than the marriage amendment itself." He said his campaign will make the case that "traditional historic marriage has been adopted by civilizations for thousands of years because of its benefit to children, families and society." Already, proponents have spent about $1.8 million to gather signatures and push the measure for the Nov. 4 ballot, according to most recent campaign filings. The bulk of the money has come from the National Organization for Marriage California, which contributed about $700,000. Its biggest financial supporters are San Diego developer Terry Caster ($172,000), the San Diego-based hotel developer Manchester Financial Group ($125,000), and the Connecticut-based Knights of Columbus Headquarters ($250,000). The Irvine-based Fieldstead and Co., owned by conservative activist and Home Savings heir Howard Ahmanson Jr. ($400,000), and Bakersfield carrot farmer William Bolthouse ($100,000) also chipped in to the ballot effort. In 2000, both sides spent about $12 million combined fighting over Proposition 22. Bowen's certification came after county officials verified the validity of voter signatures submitted by a coalition of conservative groups and churches. The constitutional amendment needed 763,790 projected valid signatures to qualify. Bowen also certified three ballot initiatives Monday that would: • Increase penalties for certain crimes involving gangs and methamphetamine; • Create new renewable energy requirements; • Reduce sentences for nonviolent offenders. |