Maddy Institute to provide ballot analysis

With Election Day approaching, two members of the board of directors of the Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno, will discuss the upcoming California ballot propositions on the local television stations.

Don Jackson, a Fresno lawyer and close political adviser to the late Sen. Ken Maddy, and Diana Dooley, general counsel and vice president of Childrens Hospital Central California, will be discussing Propositions 73-80 on the November ballot. The Maddy Institute also was involved with a televised debate between Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante on Oct. 28.

The broadcast schedule is as follows:

Thursday, November 3:  Jackson and Dooley will be guests on “Valley Press” with Jim Tucker on the PBS affiliate, KVPT, Channel 18, from 7:30-8 p.m. to provide factual analysis of each proposition on the ballot.

Sunday, November 6:  Jackson will appear on an election special from 6-7 p.m. on the FOX affiliate, KMPH, Channel 26, to provide a non-partisan analysis of the ballot propositions.

Election Day, Tuesday, November 8:  Jackson will provide election night analysis on KFSN, Channel 30 and Dooley will provide analysis on KSEE, Channel 24 from 11-11:30 p.m.

“As our region’s premier university, we take seriously our obligation to encourage the free and open debate of ideas,” said Fresno State President John D. Welty. “We hope these programs help inform the public on the important issues presented on this November’s ballot.”

Mark Keppler, executive director of the Maddy Institute, added that the mission of the Maddy Institute is to provide a non-partisan, interdisciplinary and fact-driven analysis of the issues.

 “Our goal, in short, is a more informed and involved electorate,” said Keppler.

The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established in 1999 by the California Legislature in honor of State Senator Ken Maddy, whose 28 years of public service demonstrated the successful application of personal integrity, legislative know-how and bipartisanship to the governance of the State of California.