san diego county politics

Protest Trump? Places to start this week.

Opportunities in San Marcos and San Diego to Protest Trump’s Inauguration By Doug Porter — San Diego Free Press San Diego gets it. Lots of us are unhappy with the incoming administration. There are community gatherings. There are rallies. There are protest marches. There are teach-ins. There are press conferences. There is art. There are even dance parties. People from all walks of life find are…


Issa, Hunter vote to give away federal lands

San Diego Republicans Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa joined with the House Majority in voting for a rules change would allow giveaway of federal lands to states, local governments, or tribes. Potentially, such giveaways could include national parks such as Yosemite or the Grand Canyon. It also encompasses all other public lands; here in San Diego these include Cleveland National Forest, federal recreation areas and…


Paint San Diego County election 2016 blue

A big win locally for Democrats was declared Friday by the chairwoman of the San Diego County Democratic Party, one day after the registrar of voters certified the November election. “San Diego County is no longer a Republican stronghold or even a swing county in California,” Chairwoman Francine Busby said in an email memo. “Signaling changing demographics and a shift in the political landscape, the San Diego…


Defeat the gun lobby, support these people

Are you sick and tired of gun violence and the barely contained flood of weapons on our streets? Time to drill down to the local election level to get the ball rolling against the pernicious gun lobby and people who make our streets unsafe due to the abundance of guns allowed in our society. This issue has caused us to endorse several candidates for local…


Roberts, Gaspar focus on homelessness

Both candidates in the District 3 race for the County Board of Supervisors say they’ll make it a priority to address homelessness. Supervisor Dave Roberts, the Democratic incumbent, points to the progress he’s made at the county, devoting more resources to mental health services, veterans and homelessness and to opening the Live Well crisis center in Escondido. His Republican challenger, Encinitas Mayor Kristin Gaspar, touts…


Can Duncan Hunter come out & debate?

It happens every congressional election year, like death and taxes. Like father, like son, Duncan Hunter don’t need no stinking debates. Hunter Sr. was infamous for ducking debates against contenders. Now, his son, and heir to the 60-percent Republican registered 50th Congressional District fiefdom of a seat, is following the same path in daddy’s footsteps. There’s a delicious irony to this refusal to tell voters…


Congressman Duncan Hunter’s ‘Awkward Trump-Related Hill Encounter of the day’

“What I’m done with is trying to articulate or explain or answer for what Donald Trump says. I think he’ll be a great president. I think he’ll make good decisions on the economy, on the border, on national security, but it doesn’t mean we endorse what he says. I think what he says and what he’ll do are two different things.” — Congressman Duncan Hunter speaking…


Supervisor race not as much about party as it was about the people

Sam Abed was looking forward to an easy win in the June primary to challenge incumbent Dave Roberts for the 3rd District seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. The Republican mayor of Escondido had the old guard of the party solidly behind him. He won the official endorsement of the county GOP, and counted in his camp such old-school party republican stalwarts…


Voices of North County Voters: ‘I Honestly Have No Idea About Local Elections’

The Gist: There was a competitive election for county supervisor in coastal North County, but many voters told us on Tuesday that they declined to weigh in on that race because they weren’t sure what a county supervisor does. The presidential election is driving North County voters to the polls for this primary election. Gary Dyer, a 59-year-old North County real estate investor, was so…


Follow the money: Abed, Gaspar, Roberts

The three candidates for the District 3 seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors have raised, and loaned themselves, a total of nearly $300,000 in the first four months of this year, according to financial disclosure forms filed with the county of San Diego. The contributions, received between Jan. 1 and April 23, were fairly evenly split between the three candidates – incumbent…