November 3, 2010 (Sacramento) – After declining to concede last night despite multiple TV networks declaring Senator Barbara Boxer the winner, U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina called Boxer today to concede defeat and offer congratulations.

East County Mayors win reelection; new faces join councils in Lemon Grove and Santee

By Lola Sherman and Miriam Raftery

Photos by Mary Paulet and Miriam Raftery

November 2, 2010 (San Diego) -- Not too much changed on the county's political landscape in Tuesday's election. Incumbents and candidates with a great deal of name recognition, be they Republican or Democrat, fared well.

East County News Service
November 3, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – At daybreak, Democrat Kamala Harris has regained a narrow lead over Republican Steve Cooley in the California attorney general race.

Cooley declared victory last night, but canceled a press conference today after learning that overnight, Harris took the lead at 46.1% to 45.6%. Fewer than 38,000 votes separate the two candidates and thousands of provisional and late absentee ballots remain uncounted.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Dennis Richardson

November 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – This election night provided both political parties in California with victories as well as defeats. Nationally, Republicans are projected to regain a majority in the House of Representatives, picking up 60 seats—including some won be Tea Party-backed candidates. Democrats retained control in the Senate by a slim margin. "

But in California, Democrats swept the slate, winning all statewide offices except attorney general. Former Governor Jerry Brown soundly defeated former E-Bay CEO Meg Whitman 52.8% to 42.4% to regain his former job, despite Whitman spending $163 million—the highest amount ever spent on a political race in California.

November 2, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Magazine will tweet election results live from Golden Hall after polls close tonight, and also post detailed stories online a bit later. 

If you wish to receive live election results on top local races, go to www.Twitter.com and sign up to follow EastCountyMag. It's free! Note:  This is a separate Twitter account from our ViejasAlerts account, which is used only to "tweet" emergencies. 

As nonpartisan media, ECM does not endorse candidates.  Instead we provide info from a broad variety of sources--so you can make an informed decision.

November 1, 2010 (Alpine) - The Alpine Community Network has compiled links to articles about Alpine School Board candidates. Below is the Network's helpful information for Alpine voters.

"California faces a crisis. It is mistakenly called a “budget crisis.” It is actually a democracy crisis." -- By Professor George Lakoff

November 1, 2010 (Sacramento) -- California is the only minority rule state in America. Both houses of the California legislature are in control of a minority on all economic issues - and almost all issues are about what is in the budget. Only 34 percent of only one House of the Legislature can control legislation by saying no, creating gridlock, and blocking the will of the majority that represents the overwhelming majority of Californians.

That is why budgets have not been on time, and why they are doing less and less for the state.

October 31, 2010 (Lakeside) – Nine people are running for seven seats on the Lakeside Planning Group, an advisory board to the County on local planning issues. Six are incumbents (Julie Bugbee, Chad Ennis, Emad Bakeer, Thomas Medvitz, Anton Botter, and Glenn Inverso). Three are challengers: retired Lakeside Fire Chief Mark Baker, East County Community Action Coalition co-founder Laura Cyphert, and Jeffrey Brust, a construction contractor.

By Mary Paulet

October 30, 2010 (La Mesa) – Helix Water District’s Board of Directors has faced challenges amid an era of water shortages caused by drought and court decisions limiting our region’s water supplies from Northern California. Water rate hikes, budget cuts and development of new water sources for our region are all key issues the Board must contend with in the future.

By Miriam Raftery and Mary Paulet

October 28, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District faces huge challenges--challenges that the winners of races for two open school board seats will have to face. 

October 28, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) – Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce invites the public to a “Pancakes & Politics” breakfast on October 29th from 7:30-9 a.m. at Press Box Sport Lounge & Restaurant, 2990 Jamacha Road in the Rancho San Diego area of El Cajon.

Congressman Duncan Hunter and his opponent, Ray Lutz, are both confirmed.  So are many other candidates, from state Assembly to fire board.  

October 27, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Carly Fiorina, the Republican candidate for Senate in California, is in the hospital due to an infection resulting from reconstructive surgery in July. Her chief of staff, Deborah Bowker, assured that Fiorina, who underwent a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation last year for breast cancer, has been free of cancer since October 2009 and “is anxious to get back on the campaign trail later this week.”