79th Assembly District

SHARP-COLLINS SURPASSES VASQUEZ IN 79TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

By Miriam Raftery
 
Photo: Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins
 
March 16, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – The 79th Assembly district race is still too close to call.  While La Mesa Councilman Colin Parent is still solidly in first place with 39.65% of the vote (21,745 votes). Educator Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins has overtaken Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez to move into second place.
 
Currently Sharp-Collins has 30.27% (16,597 votes), while Vasquez has 30.08% (16,494 votes).

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IT’S A NAIL-BITER IN 79TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

By Miriam Raftery
 
Photo: Mayor Racquel Vasquez has a slim 8-vote lead over Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins, in the battle for the second-place run-off slot
 
March 12, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – If you think your vote doesn’t matter, take a look at the latest results in the 79th Assembly District, where the top two candidates will advance to a November run-off. 

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HAYES OVERTAKES JUZA IN 75TH ASSEMBLY RACE; 79TH DISTRICT NARROWS TO SLIM 183-VOTE MARGIN IN RACE FOR RUNOFF SLOTS

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Andrew Hayes has moved into 2nd place in 75th Assembly district; LaShae Sharp-Collins has pulled within 183 votes of Racquel Vasquez in the 79th district

March 9, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Latest election results released at 5 p.m. this evening show results have flipped in the Assembly district 75—with two Republicans now in the first and second place positions poised to run-off in November, if these positions hold.

Andrew Hayes, a  Lakeside school board member and long-time aide to Senator Brian Jones and Supervisor Joel Anderson, has narrowly pulled ahead of Democrat Kevin Juza, a business consultant. Carl DeMaio, founder of Reform California and conservative talk radio host, remains in first place. Currently DeMaio has 43.21%, Hayes 18.65% and Juza 18.18%. With just 555 votes separating Hayes and Juza, however, this race is still too close to call.  Three lesser-known candidates are trailing far behind.

The race has also tightened in the 79th Assembly District, where three Democrats are vying for the two top slots to advance to the November general election.


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LASHAE SHARP-COLLINS TELLS VOTERS ABOUT HER GOALS AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR 79TH STATE ASSEMBLY RACE, IN ECM INTERVIEW

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch full interview here

February 25, 2024 (East County) –East County Magazine spoke with Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins about her campaign for the 79th State Assembly seat. She is currently the County Office of Education’s community engagement specialist and an adjunct professor at San Diego State University, as well as one of three candidate--all Democrats, vying for the Assembly seat being vacated by Dr. Akilah Weber, who is running for State Senate and has endorsed Sharp-Collins..

Before we got to questions, Sharp-Collins wanted to let our readers know that her website has real time information and resources for flood victims. Sharp-Collins family has also been impacted and she says she knows the struggles residents are going through. 

We then asked about her goals and accomplishments, as well as issues that matter to district 79.


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MAYOR RACQUEL VASQUEZ TALKS TO ECM ABOUT CAMPAIGNING FOR THE 79TH STATE ASSEMBLY RACE

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch full interview 

February 25, 2023 (East County) – Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez is running for the 79th State Assembly seat--one of three candidates, all Democrats, vying for the open seat.

ECM interviewed her to find out what her views are on the issues that matter most and what she plans to do in Sacramento if elected. 

Vasquez is no stranger to running for office. She has served for neraly two decades, including on the Lemon Grove Planning Commission and City Council before becoming Mayor. Vasquez says she has a passion for public service.


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COLIN PARENT TALKS TO ECM ABOUT HIS RUN FOR THE 79TH DISTRICT STATE ASSEMBLY SEAT

 

By Jessyka Heredia


Watch full interview here 

February 25, 2024 (East County) – La Mesa Councilmember Colin Parent is one of three candidates running for the 79th State Assembly seat that represents areas as far west as parts of North Park and as far east as El Cajon. ECM met up with Parent to discuss his qualifications and goals if elected. 

Parent grew up in East County and has served as a Councilmember in La Mesa since 2016, so he is no stranger to the district’s history and needs. This race has three candidates, all Democrats, vying for this seat currently held by Dr. Akilah Weber, who is now running for State Senate.  


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COLIN PARENT TO RUN FOR ASSEMBLY, AKILAH WEBER TO SEEK STATE SENATE SEAT

By Miriam Raftery

April 6, 2023 (La Mesa) Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber has announced Thursday that she will run for the 39th State Senate seat held by termed-out Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, after Supervisor Nathan Fletcher dropped out of the race amid accusations of sexual misconduct.  

Today, La Mesa City Councilman Colin Parent announced that he will run for Weber’s 79th State Assembly seat.  Since Parent’s term on the Council ends in 2024, his announcement also means La Mesans can expect to have a new face on the City Council after the 2024 elections.


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ASSEMBLYMEMBER WEBER ANNOUNCES STATE BUDGET FUNDS FOR PROJECTS IN EAST COUNTY AND SAN DIEGO

East County News Service

July 18, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Today, Assemblymember Akilah Weber, MD, held a press conference to announce success in securing $51,550,000 dollars in state funds in the budget signed by Governor Gavin Newsom for several projects in her 79th Assembly district.


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DR. AKILAH WEBER TAKES BIG LEAD, COULD AVOID RUNOFF IN SPECIAL ELECTION FOR 79TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Update April 11: Dr. Akilah Weber has won the election outright, avoiding a runoff with 52% of the votes. Only 300 ballots remain to be counted, not enough to change the outcome.

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

April 7, 2021 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa City Councilmember Dr. Akilah Weber took a big lead Tuesday night and could avoid a runoff in the special election to succeed her mother in the 79th Assembly District.

The seat is open because five-term Assemblymember Shirley Weber was appointed to succeed Alex Padilla as Secretary of State in a series of changes prompted by Sen. Kamala Harris’ election as Vice President. Padilla was appointed to succeed Harris in the Senate.

The younger Weber, a Democrat, received 52% of the vote, according to final unofficial election-night results from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.

The projected number of outstanding ballots is 9,500, according to the Registrar of Voters. If Weber’s total remains above 50%, she will be elected without a runoff. If it falls below 50%, she will face Marco Contreras, the lone Republican in the field of five candidates, in a runoff June 8.


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ASSEMBLY MEMBER SHIRLY WEBER TO HOST COMMUNITY COFFEE APRIL 20

 

April 17, 2013 (San Diego) – Residents of the 79th Assembly District are invited to a community coffee with Assembly  member Shirley Weber on Saturday, April 20 from 10-11:30 a.m. This event will be held at the Mission Valley Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway (off Friars Road) in San Diego. 

Residents will have the opportunity to learn about current legislation that she is authoring in Sacramento, ask questions and share concerns they may haveYou are welcome to bring your family, friends and neighbors. This is a free and public event.


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COLOR OF CHANGE: SAN DIEGO SENDS FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO LEGISLATURE

By Miriam Raftery

November 7, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – For Shirley Weber, PhD,  victory in the 79th Assembly District is particularly sweet.    “This is the first time an African-American has served in theLegislature in San Diego or south of Los Angeles,” Dr. Weber told ECM.  “The 79th district is only 10% African American, which says a lot about voters in this district.”

The daughter of a sharecropper, Weber found education to be the key to her future.  She earned three degrees by age 26.   “I’ve always been a strong voice for education,” said Weber, a Democrat. With over 88% of the votes counted, Weber leads her Republican challenger, Lemon Grove Councilwoman Mary England, by approximately a 60-40% margin.


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RISING STARS TO GADFLIES IN THE 79TH ASSEMBLY CONTEST

 

 
(Analysis for East County Magazine)
 
By E.A. Barrera
 
May 31, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- With only days left in the 2012 primary season, no contest reflects the nature of modern California politics better then the race in the 79th Assembly District. The new California Primary system is in place this year, forcing all candidates of any party to run in what are now quasi-municipal elections. No single party may field a candidate for the fall, and the top two vote-getters of the primary-- no matter the party--will face each other in a run-off election this November.

 


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COUNCILWOMAN/CHAMBER LEADER MARY ENGLAND ANNOUNCES RUN FOR ASSEMBLY

By Miriam Raftery

January 11, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Lemon Grove Councilwoman Mary England announced today that she will seek a seat in the state Legislature. She is running in the newly redistricted 79th Assembly District, which has no incumbent. England is also president of the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce.England said her priorities will be to encourage private sector job growth, balance the state budget without raising taxes, and reform of the state’s public pension system.


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