The Truman Show?… Former Steve Peace aide Art Castaneres and lobbyist Adrian Kwiatkowski have started a new group, the Truman Association, ostensibly as the "centrist-left" alternative to the GOP-leaning San Diego Lincoln Club. I guess these folks are fed up with the local Democratic Party being a monthly debating society, with no real power. More on this development and the ramifications later…but with apparent ties to Howard Wayne and Padres owner John Moores, the group could have some clout locally. Matt Potter has the story here in the SD Reader.
Unsealing Aguirre… Speaking of the Reader, Don Bauder pens an excellent piece for the alternative tabloid this past week on the intrigue and machinations behind getting SD City Attorney Mike Aguirre’s 1989 divorce records unsealed. Bauder, formerly a columnist for the SDUT, has no problem asking the embarrassing question of his former employer, "Do U-T Lawyers Read the Paper?"
Focus on Escondido… The North County Times this morning notes Escondido’s November muni elections, noting that Ron Newman will not seek a second term on the city council. In a top-two-vote-getter scenario, this puts Marie Waldron in the catbird seat for re-election. With the only credible name to surface against Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler that of a councilmember who lost his seat, she may be in a separate catbird seat. Read it here.
Other NCTimes Stories… Jon may note some on the main page, but here’s a hodgepodge:
Busby stays upbeat about fall election – What else can she do? Hah.
Bilbray positions himself for November election – He’s in Congress. I think he already positioned himself.
Lawmaker-turned-lobbyist at center of `earmarking’ probe – Cunningham fallout extends via Rep. Jerry Lewis to former Congressman Bill Lowery. An AP story, but Lowery was a SD representative.
East County Times Stories… Uhh, there is no East County Times. This does beg a question, however. Why does the East County Californian do VERY LITTLE reporting like that found in the NCTimes above? This is an open invitation to the paper to answer the question.
SD CityBeat Roundup… News from the very left publication, which often has some nuggets all the same:
Editorial: Fare thee well – SD Councilman Jim Madaffer gets his staffing house in order, and the CityBeat tells him, "Shame on you."
Because I said so: Friends or foes? – Tony Phillips pens a funny piece, trying to get SD Councilman Scott Peters, City Attorney Mike Aguirre, and even Mayor Jerry Sanders to join him for burgers and tater tots at Nunu’s.