Editor's note:  After posting a story on an early election "lead" based on information posted by the San Diego Registrar on the 50th Congressional District race, we received a full list of purported "early results" from all San Diego races that casts serious doubt on its authenticity. It included a July '76 date and results in other races that seemed impossible, such as Senator Feinstein with less than 2% of the vote, Bonnie Dumanis in first place in the Mayoral race (polls have showed her trialing other leading candidates), and obscure candidates leading well-known and well-financed contenders in several other prominent races.

Barry Jantz at San Diego Rostra advised ECM that some Republican candidates also viewed the results and were contacting him with questions. The Registrar's office later confirmed with Jantz that the "results" were in fact a test mistakenly posted online, he said.The Registrar has now taken down the site.

By E.A. Barrera

May 23, 2012 (San Diego) -- Steve Danon has been active in Republican politics since his days as College Republican president at San Diego State University. He has worked for Republicans ranging from Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Ron Roberts to Congressman Brian Bilbray.

He is one of a new generation of youthful conservative leaders emerging in San Diego that include Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher and City Councilman Kevin Faulconer (both of whom have endorsed Danon).

By Miriam Raftery

May 17, 2012 (San Diego) – With Nathan Fletcher leaving the Assembly to run for Mayor, the race is on till fill the open seat.  Democrat  Ruben “R. J.” Hernandez is among four candidates seeking to represent the newly redistricted 77th, which include inland communities such as Tierrasanta, Scripps Ranch, Poway, and Rancho Bernardo and as well as areas as far west as Del Mar Heights. 

View a map of the new district: http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/voters/Eng/maps/AssemblySDCountyMap.jpg

 “I’m pro-labor AND pro-business,” Hernandez states on his website.  “Right now, we need jobs."

May 14, 2012 (El Cajon) –How can you help “take back the media” and help get messages on campaigns or other issues out to the public?  Two experienced media insiders, who are also political activists, will share their techniques at the East County Democratic Club on Wednesday, May 17.

May 9, 2012 (San Diego) – It’s not often that labor groups and the conservative San Diego Taxpayers Association's former president agree on much of anything.  But both are opposed to Proposition A on the June ballot for San Diego residents. 

Now the State’s top financial officer, Controller John Chiang, has sent a letter to San Diego voters warning that if voters ban Project Labor Agreements by passing Prop A, San Diego will automatically lose massive state funding.

“Last year alone, San Diego received $158 million in construction projects, but this funding would be completely eliminated under Prop A,” Chiang warned.

He is running for the third District Supervisorial seat currently held by 20-year incumbent Pam Slater-Price. Slater-Price decided not to seek reelection for what would have been a fifth term, thus breaking up a board of five members who have served together for 17 years.Roberts’ main opponent is Congressman Brian Bilbray’s Chief of Staff Steve Danon.

By Miriam Raftery

May 7, 2012 (San Diego) – In the hotly contested 52^nd Congressional district race, Democrat Lori Saldaña has recently circulated a video  in which her rival, Democrat Scott Peters,  tells a KUSI reporter that he would support cuts to entitlements such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Today,  in an interview with ECM, Peters sought to set the record straight.   He now says by “cuts” he meant cuts to reduce cost of services to seniors-- not cuts in benefits. 

Both Peters and Saldaña have pledged to strengthen these programs--in sharp contrast to incumbent Congressman Brian Bilbray, who has voted to slash funds and benefits and move toward privatization.