Tuesday/s election ballot may look small by California standards, but it/s packed with important decisions to be made, especially for Santa Barbara County voters.

We say small, because Tuesday/s vote is technically a primary, and the middle of three elections this year, but the outcome of the vote is likely to set a course into the future for county residents.

Perhaps none are more important to the county/s future than races for seats on the Board of Supervisors in the 3rd and 4th districts.

Pointer for 3rd District supervisor

The 3rd District race has special significance, because the district is the largest, geographically, in the county, and the most diverse from a philosophical perspective. The 3rd District straddles the Santa Ynez Mountain range, encompassing communities such as Isla Vista, Solvang and Vandenberg Village. When it comes to political points of view, you/d have a difficult time finding more diversity.

The 3rd District needs a facilitator, a person who can bring the dissenters and the squabblers to the same table for meaningful discussions.

In our view, that person is Victoria Pointer, who has proven she has a moderate political voice in years of service on the Buellton City Council. Of the five candidates in the 3rd District race, Pointer shows the most promise as a person who can speak clearly for the district/s disparate interests, and would provide a balanced swing vote on the board.

Sterling for 4th District supervisor

Our recommendation to voters in the 4th District is John Sterling, the former Santa Maria police chief who is making his first run for elective office.

The incumbent, Joni Gray, has served the district fairly well for the past decade, but it is, truly, time for a change. The district, which includes the Lompoc Valley, Orcutt and Guadalupe, needs a person with a fresh perspective, one who will do a better job of representing the interests of the entire district. Sterling is the right person for that job.

Beebe for Superior Court judge

The choice for county Superior Court/s judgeship is not so clear-cut. There are three very capable candidates, all with plenty of experience in the region/s judicial system.

In fact, in our earlier editorial recommendations in this race, we made the statement that voters really can/t go wrong choosing any one of the three men. But we/re going with Jed Beebe, whose depth of experience is truly impressive, and who has been actively involved in Superior Court operations for years. Beebe knows the ropes, and this would be natural step for him.

No on Prop. 98; yes on Prop. 99

Statewide, voters are confronted with competing initiatives, both of which purport to do about the same thing 7 but with vastly different real outcomes.

Propositions 98 and 99 bill themselves as a means of curbing the government/s appetite for amassing private property through the eminent-domain process, the taking of land for supposed higher purposes, and in the greater public interest.

But, as most Californians know, governments sometimes take property in order to increase revenue flow, and in the process, create an active culture of urban sprawl.

Both 98 and 99 would limit the government/s power to take private lands, but 98 has a significant catch 7 if approved by voters, and receiving more ByesC votes than 99, it would also wipe out rent-control laws passed after Jan. 1 of last year.

That is simply too high a price to pay to curb government/s enthusiasm for using its eminent-domain powers. Prop. 99 achieves approximately the same limits on eminent domain, without touching rent-control laws. Prop. 99 is the clear choice for voters.

County election officials tell us more than 60 percent of the ballots have already been cast, via the mail-in vote. That means 40 percent of those intending to vote Tuesday will still go to the polls. We hope you keep these recommendations in mind 7 for the betterment of Santa Barbara County 7 but whatever your position, please vote.

June 1, 2008