"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.”

Today is last day to request mail-in ballot

By Mary E. Paulet

By Miriam Raftery
 

October 24, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – A rash of sign-stealing and defacement has marred the campaign trail in East County communities including Santee, Lakeside, El Cajon. The latest targets are large signs criticizing gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman.

Vandals in Santee cut the name “Meg” out of numerous 4 x 8 foot signs that read: “What’s Meg Hiding? $200 million to buy election; didn’t vote for 28 years; caters to the rich and corporations. What’s her REAL agenda?” ECM photographer Dennis Richardson spotted at least four of the damaged signs this afternoon--and noticed several others had gone missing completely.

"It is a public good, and that’s why to starve it is crazy. We should invest more, not less.” -- Jerry Brown, on higher education funding

By Tanya Huang
Photos by David J. Olender

October 21, 2010 (San Diego) — Gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown addressed a crowd of hundreds at San Diego State University on Thursday afternoon—his only stop in San Diego—about the importance of funding higher education while criticizing his opponent, Meg Whitman for excessively spending on her campaign.  See full video of Brown's speech at SDSU or scroll down for details.

By Miriam Raftery

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Ron Logan and Miriam Raftery

September 14, 2010 (El Cajon) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will host a debate among the three ballot-qualified Congressonal candidates in the 52nd Congressional District. Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-Alpine) will square off against challengers Ray Lutz, a Democratic community activist and businessman, and Libertarian Michael Benoit, a small business owner.

The event will take place Friday, October 15th at 7 p.m. in the Communication Arts Theater at Cuyamaca College, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in El Cajon.