by Donna Tisdale

Dear Voters,

November 2, 2010 (Lakeside) -- I'm Mark Hanson and I’m running in the 77th Assembly District to represent you as a fellow East County resident. I’ve spent my entire life serving the public – and hope to continue doing so in Sacramento.

I will fight for stronger fire protection for our region. As a Cedar Fire survivor, I know how important it is to have fire warning and protection. My nonprofit, Heartland Coalition, raised money to help fire victims rebuild their lives. Heartland also founded the Viejas Wildfire & Emergency Alerts and East County Magazine to help keep people in East County protected and informed.

As a former educator twice named teacher of the year, I’ve taught at our local colleges and also served as an administrator of the Grossmont Union High School District back when it was among the best school districts in the state. I will work hard to restore our public schools to their former high achievement levels for our children.

Are hookah lounges good for our youth?

By Debra Gilly

By Bob Yarris, Board Emeritus
Grossmont Healthcare District

October 20, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- Having served 16 years on the Grossmont Healthcare District Board of Directors, I would strongly encourage East County voters on Nov. 2 to cast their very important vote for Gloria Chadwick, RN and Michael Long MD.

By Dan McMillan, Ratepayer and Director Padre Dam Municipal Water District

October 13, 2010 (Santee)--Referencing recent articles and discussions about water district general manager’s salaries, I would like to comment that some water districts are keenly aware of the present economic conditions faced by their ratepayers and are taking steps to correct some of the economic issues. In 2010, the Board of Padre Dam MWD lowered the compensation of their management team by over 6% and the General Manager, Doug Wilson’s compensation by 5.5% to $190,740 per year.

October 9, 2010 (Alpine) - The ACLU has filed a lawsuit to protect Chris Neucomb's right to run for Alpine School Board. He was appointed to fill a vacancy and is running for re-election. A retired naval officer, now a federal employee, he is barred by the Hatch Act from partisan political activities. California school board elections are nonpartisan, and Neucomb is campaigning in a nonpartisan manner. Yet the U.S. Office of Special Counsel has warned it may find him in violation and declared that “a nonpartisan election could become partisan” if any candidate in the race seeks or advertises a political party's endorsement.

If found in violation, Neucomb could be forced to withdraw from the race, resign his federal position, or face enforcement action. He is asking a federal court to protect his First Amendment right, and asked that we publish his open letter to voters.

By Joel A. Harrison

October 1, 2010 (San Diego) -- I recently paid SDG&E $1,599 for a job my plumber would have charged between $400 and $500 to do. The job involved relocating my gas meter approximately nine feet from its location under my bedroom window.

I decided to replace the window with a door and steps as an emergency exit, but couldn’t do this as long as the gas meter was in the way. SDG&E told me that its current safety code prohibits gas meters from being under windows, but my home was “grandfathered” in -- and they were under no obligation to move the meter.

By Tracy Emblem

September 14, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- President Obama recently proposed that Congress enact legislation that would provide an estimated $200 billion in tax breaks for businesses that invest in new plants and equipment, a $100 billion extension of the business tax credit for research and development, and $50 billion over the next decade to improve roads, rails and other infrastructure, to create jobs in America. However, CNN Money wisely reports, "the tax breaks might actually cost some jobs if a business buys technology from overseas that improves productivity rather than hiring more U.S. workers."

By Art Neill, New Media Rights

September 6, 2010 (San Diego) -- Though we live in the land of Time-Warner, Cox, and AT&T, the looming Comcast-NBC merger has real consequences for the future of media in San Diego and the United States.

The merger gives Comcast, owner of a pipe for information and communication (aka the internet), an unprecedented interest in the information passing through the pipe. Congress must closely scrutinize the proposed Comcast-NBC merger, because the decision will impact the health of independent and public media, like the East County Magazine, for years to come.

By Russell Buckley

August 25, 2010 (La Mesa) -- The President of the Board of Directors of the Helix Water District opened last Wednesday's rate increase hearing by saying it was imperative that the Board do the right thing. I hoped that meant to hold off on the proposed increase until excess pension costs were reduced. Unfortunately, that was not to be the outcome of the vote.

By Mitchell Dubick

August 24, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- There is suffering among the people in Gaza. How that suffering compares to the misery of other groups around the world, who is causing this suffering, and what should be done to alleviate it are all subjects of much debate. However, it is the duty of caring and responsible people on all sides to address these issues.

“Senate Democrats are proposing a fair and practical budget that includes an intelligent tax reform proposal and more local control of services… Our Republican colleagues seem to view even more cuts to schools, public safety and women and children’s services as a virtuous end in itself. They are not – cuts hurt Californians and the economy.”

By Senator Christine Kehoe
 

By Francine Busby and Tracy Emblem

August 18, 2010 (San Diego) -- As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of Social Security, we are reminded of the profound transformation that Social Security has left on our society. Since its enactment in 1935, Social Security has provided a critical national safety net that Americans have come to value.

Prior to enacting Social Security, the concept of retirement and “the golden years” did not exist. The elderly either worked until they died, lived with family or were relegated to live in “poor houses” and “poor farms.”

By Patrick Riggs