By Miriam Raftery

December 8, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—The public’s right to know what’s on the agenda for local government boards is now fully restored--thanks to a provision tucked within the fine print of Proposition 30, the tax measure to aid schools passed by voters in November.  

Back in July, the cash-strapped California Legislature suspended a section of the Brown Act that required local government boards to post agendas at least 72 hours before a meeting.  Because the law required the state to reimburse local governments for such costs, the state simply eliminated citizens’ right to know what actions government bodies had scheduled.

“Since the election, the Brown Act mandate is fully back in force and agencies can no longer claim reimbursement for mandated costs.  That's a side effect of the passage of Prop 30,” Terry Francke, general counsel at Californians Aware (CALAWARE) told ECM.

“We’re going to see that every community has power.” – Bob Filner

By Miriam Raftery

December 4, 2012 (San Diego) – From day one in his administration, Bob Filner has made clear that it won’t be business as usual for the city’s powerbrokers. To emphasize that point, he hosted not one, but a series of inaugural parties including celebrations in disadvantaged neighborhoods.  One such festive event took place last night at the Jacob Center in the Euclid area of east San Diego.

“We’re going to see that every community has power, “ Mayor  Filner, wearing a Hawaiian lei, told an enthusiastic and ethnically diverse crowd. He pledged to include faces from the Latino, African-American and Asian communities working in his mayoral office and city bureaucracy through appointments to the boards and commissions that “do the work of the city.”

November 28, 2012 (San Diego)--Congresswoman Susan Davis announced a lottery for tickets to the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 21, 2013. Davis will randomly select inauguration tickets for constituents of the new 53rd Congressional District.

“Some lucky constituents will have a chance to be a part of history!” said Davis. “During inaugurations, Americans come together to celebrate our enduring democracy. Holding a lottery gives everyone who wants a ticket a fair chance.”

By Nadin Abbott

As the vote counting countinues, the margins in two hotly contested East County races have narrowed, while just three votes separate candidates in another local race. 

Two high profile contests, however, are now resolved.

By Miriam Raftery

November 13, 2012 (San Diego) – In Colorado and Washington, voters decided it's high time to legalize recreational marijuana use. But locally, voters in Lemon Grove, Imperial Beach and Solana Beach defeated initiatives that would have allowed medical marijuana dispensaries.

Labor scored a win in Escondido, where a charter city ballot proposition was defeated by a 47.29% to 42.71% margin. Meanwhile in In Santee, a bastion of conservatism, voters approved raising transient occupancy taxes for hotel guests and campers from 6% to 10%, a move expected to generate $239,000 in revenues.  

By Bill Weaver

November 10, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Leaders in the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College are speaking out to thank voters for passing Prop V, a $398 million bond measure that passed by about 56.5 percent. 

“We’re pleased that voters understand the critical facilities and technology upgrades needed to better educate and train our students in today’s ultra-competitive world,” said Governing Board President Bill Garrett. 

Prop V will fund upgrades, repairs and renovations  to classrooms, roads, labs and infrastructure, including helping to meet the needs of our region's many veterans.

By Buck Shott

November 9, 2012 (San Diego) –Some of the biggest winners and losers in this election weren’t candidates—though they’ll clearly be feeling the impacts of the election outcomes.

So who in town needs crying towels, and who should be popping champagne?  From our region’s not-so-influential media mogul to techie geeks who proved social media can help defeat special interests, here are our picks for the biggest post-election winners and losers:

By Nadin Abbott

November 9, 2012 (San Diego)—Democratic Congresswoman Susan Davis has won reelection, beating Republican challenger Nick Popaditch by a solid 60.42% to 39.58% margin.  With redistricting, Davis now represents areas as far east as El Cajon. 

For Popaditch, a  military veteran, this was his second defeat at the polls; in 2010 he ran unsuccessfully against Congressman Bob Filner.

By Miriam Raftery

November 7, 2012 (Sacramento )- For California Democrats, the biggest plum of yesterday’s election is the sweeping victory of state legislative candidates that has given the Democratic Party a two-thirds "supermajority" in both the Assembly and State Senate.  

A two-thirds majority means that Democrats can now pass tax increases without a single Republican vote. It also means that the Legislature has the power to override a veto by Governor Brown.

Governor Brown today called for "the prudence of Joseph,” a Biblical reference to planning for years of both prosperity and famine. "We have to make sure over the next few years that we pay our bills, we invest in the right programs, but we don't go on any spending binges," the Governor said in a press conference at the state capitol.

By Bill Weaver

November 8, 2012 (San Diego) –Tuition at 23 California State University campuses—including San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos locally, will rescind a $249-per-semestser tuition fee hike that had taken effect in the fall term. Fees will now revert back to $5,472, the same rate as last year.

“We are hopeful that the passage of Proposition 30 will be the beginning of the state’s reinvestment in higher education,” CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed said in a statement issued yesterday.

By Mayan Avitable

November 8, 2012 (San Diego) -- The most watched proposition by many who are involved in education was California's Proposition 30. This proposition was highly promoted by Governor Jerry Brown as a solution to school funding in the time of budget cutting. During the evening, the proposition changed from passing to not passing as the vote counts came in. Ultimately, the measure passed 53.9% to 46.1%, increasing taxes on earnings over $250,000 for seven years and sales taxes by ¼ cent for four years, to fund schools. In addition, it guarantees public safety realignment funding. School districts had prepared for spending reductions in case the proposition didn't pass.

By Bill Weaver

November 7, 2012 (La Mesa) — Incumbents Emma Turner, Psy.D. was re-elected, as was William "Bill" Baber, a local attorney, to the La Mesa-Spring Valley School Board. Both are Republicans and both have shown support for public education in their district.

By Nadin Abbott

November 8, 2012 (San Diego)-- The Democratic Party was expected to lose control of the Senate back in the Summer. Yet, they were able to maintain control, and this was due to a few important victories. 

Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin became the first openly gay woman to be elected to the Senate. Her victory over Republican Tommy Thomson helped the Democrats maintain control. John Tester, a moderate Democrat from Montana, won re-election as well.

By Miriam Raftery

November 7, 2012 (San Diego) – By a slim margin, Democrat Dave Roberts is ahead of Republican Steve Danon with 100% of precincts counted, though provisional ballots remain.  Roberts would replace Republican Supervisor Pam-Slater Price, who is retiring and made a cross-party endorsement of Roberts.

“Tuesday's election is historic in two ways,” a press release from Roberts’ campaign said this morning.”It is the first time in 17 years there has been a new person elected to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and Dave Roberts will be the first Democrat elected as County Supervisor in 19 years. The last Democrat to serve on the Board of Supervisors was Leon Williams who served until 1994.”

November 7, 2012 (El Cajon )—In one of the few victories for local conservatives thus far in the November 2012 elecitons, Councilmembers Tony Ambrose and Bill Wells have won reelection to the El Cajon City Council with 18.25% and 16.26% of the vote in the 8-person field. Councilman Bob McClellan is the likely victor in the third seat, with a narrow edge over challenger Ben Kalasho, 14.95% to 13.95%.