A local lesson on good credentials and a tad good luck….
In a further tribute to now former FR blogger Joe Justin, I opt today for a song title.
In politics, a Free Ride is something incumbents can only hope for once in a blue moon. Even the strongest will often garner the opposition of someone usually well-meaning, yet with nary a clue about the reality of competing against an incumbent’s wheelbarrow full of name ID, funding, and popularity, not to mention societal issues like resistance to change, apathy, no-news-is-good-news, and you name it.
At the partisan level, in a majority of the gerrymandered, uncompetitive seats (like all of ’em), we only know too well how the opposition may be non-existent in the primary, but the opposing major party (and often the Libertarians) will always try to field a suicide candidate in every race for November.
At the local level, meaning especially city councils and school boards – and often extending to special districts – free rides for incumbents happen a bit more often, typically dependent on the level of controversy about their policy-making decisions.
That said, with two or three incumbents running for their "own" seats, once in a while no opponents will surface. Free Ride.
But, when an incumbent doesn’t file for re-election, it’s a whole new world. In 20 years of politics in San Diego, I can’t think of one time when an “open seat” wasn’t viewed as an opportunity by at least a few folks and often many more to slip into office without having to compete against the evil of entrenched incumbency.
I know an area poli-scholar or two who will no doubt now provide me a litany of instances proving me wrong, where some newby skated into a city council or school board seat without having to raise a dime. Ok, I’m more a hack than a scholar, but let’s put it this way…the instances are extremely rare.
Nearly unheard of, in fact. Except, apparently, in my own City of La Mesa, where I announced relatively early I was not seeking re-election to the city council…no forcing people to guess up until the last minute, so I could slide my chosen candidate in against ill-prepared and late-scrambling opposition. Heck, I let it be known in June of my “retirement,” thus allowing our democratic process (republican, more accurately) to play out, with the cards to fall where they may.
I didn’t say, however, that I would stay clear of trying to influence the outcome…it’s not like I just got road burn along with a loose turnip or two. So, I proudly endorsed Councilman Ernie Ewin, running for re-election for one of two La Mesa seats, and community leader Mark Arapostathis (let’s call him Mr. A for ease…everyone else does) for “my” seat.
Well, when the smoke cleared after the August 11 deadline for incumbents and five day extension period (due to yours truly not filing), the number of candidates returning papers and qualifying for the two seats had narrowed to…two. Incumbent Ewin and Mr. A.
To be clear, now nearly-Councilman-elect Mark Arapostathis just walked into an open city council seat unopposed, un-sullied, and with most of his money still in his wallet (short of some yahoo’s successful write-in campaign, which ain’t gonna happen). Free Ride.
Mr. A was endorsed by the County GOP two nights prior, so even Ron Nehring and Co. can chalk this up as their first big local win of the season. In the final analysis, Mark A. is a great guy with superb credentials, and he nailed down some solid endorsements including the mayor, three councilmembers, County Sup Dianne Jacob, and future Assemblyman Joel Anderson. (I would encourage my other council colleague to do likewise, now that her attempt to recruit others has failed, and since she will be working with Mark A).
Quite frankly, the other three non-incumbents who pulled papers and failed to return them may have been spooked by Mr. A’s early support and early signage, as well as the fact that he walked each of their precincts during the filing period.
That, I would say, is a lesson for us all. Good planning, early implementation, and a bit of luck sometime go a long way. In politics, Rule Numero Uno is just making sure you get on the ballot. But it’s not very often we can equate winning with just showing up.
Now that I think about it, I guess I could have had a Free Ride. Maybe I should mount a write in. Nah, just kidding, I’m elated with this outcome…and 2008 is just around the corner.
Congratulations to my good friend Ernie Ewin and to Mark Arapostathis, a gentleman I look forward to having represent me. As I ready to leave the dais in a few months, I know with confidence the city council will be in great hands.