In the midst of some of the hottest San Diego area dust-ups in memory, there is so much going on I can barely decide where to start or end. A potpourri of just some of the fun…
The Primary Election Contest… If you haven’t emailed your guesses yet, it’s not too late, you have ’til 7:55 p.m. election night. I’m literally floating in entries thus far. Read last week’s Sunday column for the parameters, then shoot me your prognostications.
Fletchering the Competition… Speaking of my little contest, the first question is a throw away about the winner of the GOP nomination in 75th Assembly District (George Plescia’s termed seat). No one has submitted a wrong answer yet, although some folks are getting a little cute with entries such as "Mindy’s husband – I can’t remember his name" and the such.
As far as Mindy and Whatshisname, yesterday was apparently Fletcher Day at the FlashReport. Fellow blogger Mindy Fletcher provides her largely first-hand take on the tell-all Scott McClellan Bush-bash book. It’s well worth the read.
Also yesterday, Jon Fleischman analyzes how Nathan became a stand alone on the Republican ballot. An excerpt:
Surprisingly, when Republican voters go the polls next Tuesday they will see only one choice: Nathan Fletcher. What Nathan Fletcher did is remarkable. How did a first time candidate, without personal money to scare people away, manage to clear the field in one of the best Assembly districts in California? Especially given the ideological divides that often show up in GOP primaries – especially in San Diego — given Nathan’s strong credentials as a social and fiscal conservative leader.
Read the entire excellent piece here.
GOP Winning in the Spending Arena… VoiceofSanDiego.org has the story. The local Party is outspending the Labor Council nearly three-to-one.
SD Mayor: CityBeat Presents the Francis Dilemma… As "progressive" as SD City Beat may be, I found very compelling Dave Rolland’s take on his correspondence with Donna Frye over Steve Francis and Jerry Sanders. In the final analysis, conservatives no longer trust Francis for going all left on them. Many liberals don’t trust him, seeing his move left as about "anything it takes to win."
Francis, I think, is about to buy his way into the hearts of San Diegans as the guy who will do anything to buy his way into their hearts. If that makes sense. End result: Nowhere.
52nd Congressional Update and Some Advice… The GOP will nominate a new standard-bearer for the first time in 28 years, although there’s a good chance the name will be the same. A few days ago, Senator Tom McClintock weighed in, endorsing Duncan D. Hunter for the seat.
In the meantime, current County Board of Ed Member Bob Watkins looks like he’s making a last-minute play for the seat, whether via his own campaign or — apparently unbeknownst to him — by means of independent expenditures. I saw an independent TV ad Friday, which was mentioned in the U-T Saturday.
As well, on Friday the campaign shot a press release out that Mayor Jerry Sanders had endorsed Watkins. Considering the Watkins campaign appeared to be relatively quiet until a few days ago, well into the absentee season, it’s clear that all of this is TLTL to catch Hunter. But, interesting to watch, especially whether Watkins or Santee’s Brian Jones finishes second.
I would be remiss if not mentioning what others would be sure to point out. Sanders may be the most significant of a series of Watkins big name supporters (County Supes Greg Cox and Ron Roberts, Assemblywoman Shirley Horton, Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox, Sheriff Bill Kolender, and former State Senator Bill Morrow), but as has been the trend, a slew of which are not East County folks.
After Tuesday, the best thing the younger Hunter can do is contact each of those "downtown-leaning" folks — as well as the many local electeds supporting Jones — and ask for their support in the general. Be Congressman-like, Duncan, and statesman-like over these initial differences. Remember, most of those endorsements were from folks that knew and had worked with Watkins and Jones, whereas they did not know you. Now, they can know you…and that you care enough to reach out and want to work with them.
7th City Council Seat: Chris Reed Skewers Marti Emerald… At America’s Finest Blog, Union-Trib editorial board member Chris Reed provides some insights into the editors’ meeting with a former journalist/now politician:
The endorsement interview with perhaps the highest-profile wanna-be City Council member of all — TV consumer reporter Marti Emerald — was a 70-minute train wreck. Since the District 7 candidate knows the ways of the media, I thought she’d soar. Instead, she was thin-skinned, not particularly conversant on big city issues and eager to spin her missteps.
I’m still left slack-jawed by her simultaneous effort to depict herself as a crusader for government openness — she cited membership in a state group that I much admire — and as someone who was somehow wronged because she was taped during her meeting with a few voters. Uh, Marti, aren’t you for openness? Does your fondness for openness disappear if said openness means your controversial remarks are broadcast to the whole city?
By some reckonings, Emerald is favored to win a City Council seat Tuesday. Thin-skinned, uninformed, a spinner? She’ll fit right in.
Ouch. Read the rest of Chris’ column on some of the other editorial board meetings here.
By the way, Democrat Emerald’s candidacy has been such a train wreck, that Republican April Boling might just pull this one out of a hat.
SD City Attorney: Donnybrook Among Donnybrooks… All the trimmings on this one. What can I say, other than to link you to a series of recent delights:
You have to listen to the Jan Goldsmith Three Ring Circus radio ad, posted on Red County San Diego.
As a result of that cleverness, an anonymous poster decided to graphically depict the entertainers.
In the meantime, also at Red County, blogger Vito has photos of incumbent Mike Aguirre allegedly sneaking away from last Monday’s Mt. Soledad Memorial Services to do a little campaigning.
On Friday, Scott Lewis at Voice asks why the Union-Trib hasn’t endorsed in the attorney’s race.
"Responding" this morning, the U-T doesn’t endorse, other than to literally go after Aguirre and everyone else in the contest except Goldsmith. Heck, why not endorse?
The U-T notwithstanding, Goldsmith this past week scores endorsements from both the La Jolla Light and Rancho Bernardo News Journal, right in the heart of opponents Scott Peters’ and Brian Maienschein’s back yards. The Light says:
The City of San Diego needs to hire the best attorney it can get. Jan Goldsmith, a lawyer’s lawyer, offers the city a remarkable opportunity. He has run a law firm, led a city and served as a Superior Court Judge.
He will be able to offer high-quality legal advice to city leaders without becoming embroiled in policy battles. But much more important than that, he will be able to rebuild an ailing city attorney’s office.
That office is essentially the city’s law firm, and at the moment it is not adequate. Goldsmith will be able to attract seasoned and competent attorneys, he will mentor the young attorneys already in the office, and he will organize the office professionally.
At a time when the city badly needs the best legal representation it can get, Goldsmith is an easy choice. It’s the least we can do.
Well, that’s it for now, if that’s not enough. Have a great election Tuesday and a wonderful week.