Tuesday, June 3, is the California gubernatorial primary election. If you hadn’t heard, it’s in large part because the marque state races involve lesser known Republicans running in primaries, all for the chance to fight a decidedly uphill November battle against incumbent Gov. Jerry Brown and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. In San Diego’s highest profile race, the primary will only confirm that the already joined fight between Rep. Scott Peters and former Councilmember Carl DeMaio will continue through November.
There are important issues to be decided on the June ballot, so the Politically Aware preview will focus on the races and issues that can or will be decided in June. If you haven’t registered to vote, it’s regrettably too late. If you are tired of the mailers and phone calls, they stop when you turn in your ballot.
One quick disclaimer. I am aware that primaries, particularly locally, are technically non-partisan. I don’t buy it any more than the parties do.
LGBT priority races
San Diego Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk
Since Mayor Sanders came out for marriage equality in 2007, moving openly against the LGBT community has become almost unheard of in San Diego politics. So it was something of a shock when County Clerk Ernest Dronenburg Jr. filed one of the last court challenges against overturning Proposition 8. He withdrew it too late to avoid the spotlight being put on the power of an otherwise obscure office. Local activists started to work against Dronenburg, but needed a candidate who could comprehend and do the job.
Enter Susan Guinn, a member of Equality California’s board of directors, whose resume is eerily perfect for a job few understand. She is a lawyer and business woman who has helped the County recover money and protected businesses and families from inappropriate taxes, fees and exploitation. As a volunteer, she has worked to engage children in building healthy communities and a healthy planet.
Guinn might not be the progressive firebrand some would want, but the job is to implement policies fairly, not make them. Guinn will do that. If you’ve never voted for this office before, it’s well worth a trip down the ballot to replace one of the last men to challenge marriage equality with one of our own.
Yes on Props. B and C
There are really only two questions you need to ask yourself about passing Propositions B and C, which would allow the Barrio Logan Community Plan to take effect. Do you think children should have the chance to grow up healthy? Do you think neighborhoods should be able to determine what’s best for themselves?
Children in Barrio Logan visit the emergency room for asthma three times more frequently than the County average. Sick kids miss school, their parents miss work and businesses lose productivity. They also lose out on the next generation of well trained workers, because kids who miss school have a harder time graduating. The economic costs are huge. Yes on B and C will try to put some space between families and businesses, and give these kids a chance to stay healthy and stay in school.
As to the alleged job losses, they are at best a projection, likely a fabrication and quite possibly less damaging than the economic costs of sick children. Wherever the truth lies, shouldn’t it be up to the people of Barrio Logan to weigh potential economic repercussions against the right of their children to breathe? Shouldn’t we respect that decision, particularly when a majority of the City Council agrees?
Picture yourself in the ER with a child asking “Why can’t I breath?” If you could look him in the eye and say “because otherwise we might lose jobs,” feel free to vote no. Otherwise, it’s Yes on B and Yes on C. It will keep kids healthy. It shows Barrio Logan the same respect for neighborhood autonomy that we demanded with initiatives like Harvey Milk Street and the Pride Flag. And it tells industry that they can’t keep buying reprieves from legislation they don’t like.
The best of the rest
Governor of California
Incumbent Democrat Jerry Brown could probably win in the primary if he could. Unfortunately for Gov. Brown and his 59 percent approval rating, only San Diego City and County primaries can be won with a majority in the primary. Barring a disaster, Brown will get to trounce the competition twice this year.
Lieutenant Governor of California
The incumbent is Democrat Gavin Newsom. When Newsom kicked off the gay marriage battle in 2004 by allowing weddings in San Francisco, most wrote his political obituary. The few who predicted he would become a progressive hero figured it would take 20 years. Instead, he is a shoe in for re-election as lieutenant governor and 2024 could be his race to succeed President Hillary Clinton.
Attorney General of California
The only thing that could have prevented the re-election of Democratic incumbent Kamala Harris was a run for higher office. Sadly, there wasn’t a place for her star to rise to this year, so she’ll spend a few more years as attorney general.
U.S. Representatives
San Diego has five Congressional Districts, numbered 49-53. If you don’t live in the 52nd, where Peters and DeMaio are already going at it, you may not even know there is a race. Representatives Darrell Issa (49th), Duncan Hunter (50th), Juan Vargas (51st), and Susan Davis (53rd) appear to be cruising to re-election as usual and odds are that Peters and DeMaio will be duking it out until November, when this race becomes the progressive priority.
California State Senate and Assembly
All of our local assemblymembers are up for election, as are even numbered Senate seats. None of the incumbents seem to be in jeopardy. Not much more to say except one more “Congratulations” to Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins!
Mayor of San Diego
For the first time in two years, we won’t be electing a new mayor. Mayor Faulconer will be with us until at least 2016, when he will have to decide whether to run for a second term or consider a run at Sen. Barbara Boxer’s seat.
San Diego City Council
Even numbered districts are on the ballot this year. Incumbent councilmembers rarely lose in San Diego, and Myrtle Cole (District 4) and David Alvarez (District 8) seem poised to continue that trend with little high profile opposition. That’s enough to keep Democrats in the majority, but to override vetoes, they need a win in District 2 or 6.
There aren’t many unique election scenarios left in politics, but District 2 may present one. The District most recently elected a Republican, is currently represented by a Democrat and in the primary is an open seat for which an incumbent Republican is running. Got that? Let me clarify. The current Councilmember is Ed Harris, who was selected to succeed Kevin Faulconer when he became mayor. One of the terms of that appointment is that he can’t run for election, so the seat is technically open, but District 6 Councilmember Lorie Zapf is running in District 2 due to changes from redistricting. Her main opponent is Sarah Boot, a federal prosecutor who has won the endorsement of the San Diego Democratic Party.
Zapf won’t have the typical incumbent advantage in a new district, but her name recognition and a more conservative primary electorate make her the favorite. With two other candidates in the race, Zapf might be held under 50 percent giving Boot a shot at a more friendly November electorate.
Zapf’s departure leaves District 6 a truly open seat, which has enticed a five candidate free for all. Chris Cate has the Republican Party endorsement and Carol Kim has the Democratic Party nod. Former School Board Member Mitz Lee brings name recognition and experience in elected office. Cate is probably the only candidate with a shot at a clear majority in June. If Kim or Lee can force a run-off, they should have a chance in a moderate district with a large number of Asian Pacific Islander voters, some of whom feel they were on the short end of redistricting.
San Diego County
District 4 Supervisor Ron Roberts is running unopposed in his last election before he is termed out. District 5 Supervisor Bill Horn has drawn an opponent in fellow Republican and Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood. Horn has plenty of enemies, but it’s doubtful there are enough for Wood’s personal appeal to overcome his fundraising deficit.
District Attorney
Incumbent Bonnie Dumanis still appears to be the favorite, but her path isn’t as easy as in previous re-elections. Her usual bipartisan coalition has been fractured by her conservative endorsements including Dronenburg, and various investigations have sparked some difficult questions. Attorney Bob Brewer has gotten media attention by painting Dumanis as too political, but it’s difficult to tell how much progress he’s making with voters. With some progressive attorneys and Democratic leaders still backing her, Dumanis is still the favorite, and could win in the primary. If the race goes to November, much could depend on how she answers the tough questions.
