East County News Service

Four candidates are running for two seats on the Helix Water District Board.  We invited all four to be interviewed on our radio show and two of them responded. In our radio interviews, we asked candidates their views on the drought, creating new regional water supplies, the tiered rate structure, budget priorities, the future of Lake Jennings, and transparency, among other issues.

You can listen to their interviews here:

Kathleen Hedberg interview: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Steven Rotsart interview:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Hedberg is an incumbent and civil engineer who is running as a ratepayers’ advocate. She voted against rate hikes passed by the board majority.  Her opponent is Maria Mariscal, who has worked for the County Water Authority. 

Rotsart says he’s running because rates are too high, having nearly tripled in the past nine years. He He believes his experience in nonprofits will help him bring financial accountability to the board. He is running against incumbent Deana Verbeke, whose website says she is a voice of ratepayers but who voted consistently to raise rates despite objections from the vast majority of ratepayers who submitted public comments.

Updated October 22, 2014 - CAL FIRE Chief Tony Meacham, head of the County Fire Authority, has written to dispute statements made by two candidates in this race, which he says are "factually false."  You can read details of the Chief's statements here. 

By Nadin Abbott

October 18, 2014 (San Diego)--In 2012, the San Miguel Fire Board voted for CAL FIRE to take over firefighting operations. The board voted unanimously for the five-year contract because the agency was deep in a hole economically and had already closed a fire station. Those in favor argued that this decision would allow the board to continue operations, recover financially, reopen the closed station and keep service at comparable levels. But critics including at least one challenger running for the board have sharply criticized the deal with Cal-Fire,  citing loss of local control and potential delays in response times, also faulting other board actions.

East County Magazine e-mailed questions to all candidates, including inquiries about the CAL FIRE arrangement and a letter the district received from the State Comptroller raising questions over the board’s finances.

The six candidates include two incumbents (Chris Winter and Rick Augustine) seeking reelection and four challengers. Three of the challengers are running together as a slate (Theresa McKenna, Jim Ek, and Mike Vacio). The other challenger is Cindy Croucher. Bios for incumbents Winter and Augustine are available on the San Miguel Fire district website. 

Three candidates, challengers Theresa McKenna and Jim Ek, along with incumbent Chris Winter, have responded.  Below are the questions, and their answers, posted in full in the order received.

Hear our interview with La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid, originally broadcast on KNSJ radio:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

By Miriam Raftery

October 16, 2014 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid has been serving the city for the past 33 years, as Mayor since 1990 and on the Council before that since 1981. He led the city through its centennial celebration and has held numerous other leadership positions including chair of the San Diego Association of Governments, president of the League of California Cities San Diego Division, and as a member of 125 different boards and commissions.

In an in-depth radio interview on the East County Magazine Show on KSNJ, Mayor Madrid discussed his history of accomplishments, his views on leaderships, and his vision for La Mesa for the future if reelected.  To read highlights of our interview, click "read more" and scroll down.

By: Ernie Susi, President, San Diego County Probation Officers Association;

Ben Kelso, President, San Diego Black Police Officers Association;

Alan R. Alvarez, President, National Non-Partisan Latino Peace Officers Association for Law and Order; and

Kevin McQuillen, President Fraternal Order of Police (San Diego Lodge #10)

October 11, 2014 (San Diego)--We expect judges to understand public safety issues.  We hope they come to the bench with a track record of experience and supporting law enforcement and the community.  In the November election there’s only one contested Superior Court Judge race, seat #25.  The obvious choice is clear: Deputy Attorney General Brad Weinreb.

By Janis Russell

October 14, 2014 (El Cajon)- Mayor pro tem Gary Kendrick is up for re-election this November against challenger Elwood Alexander. Kendrick served on the City Council and was then elected as Mayor Pro Tem a year ago.

Listen to our full interview here (it may take a few moments to load): https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au... For highlights, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Miriam Raftery

October 14, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – East County Magazine invited both candidates for the 50^th Congressional District to be interviewed on our radio show.  Congressman Duncan D. Hunter did not respond, but we did sit down for an in-depth interview with his opponent, Navy veteran and medical professional James Kimber, who talked about his views on topics including Social Security, healthcare, education, veterans, women's issues, bringing jobs to the district, student loans, energy issues, the Iraq and Syria conflicts, and the need to bring back compromise and end the partisan divide in Congress. 

Kimber has served in the healthcare field for 30 years, currently as a physician assistant specializing in neurosurgery. Asked why he’s running for Congress, he states, “I see the inaction going on within Congress. There are a lot of issues facing this country and some of them are very serious right now, but Congress has stepped back and they’re not working together very well right now.”

By Nadin Abbott

October 11, 2014 (San Diego) Channel 10 hosted a debate this week for candidates in the 52^nd Congressional District, sponsored by KOGO and the San Diego Chamber of Commerce. Republican Carl DeMaio and Democrat Scott Peters came ready to answer questions from both LaDonna Harvey of KOGO and former Mayor/current San Diego Chamber of Commerce President Jerry Sanders.

October 10, 2014 (San Diego County) - The Registrar’s office is required by federal law to provide bilingual speakers and voting materials to voters who speak Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese and Chinese. A survey by the University of California, Berkeley showed a need for speakers of Khmer, Japanese, Korean and Hindi at about 20 precincts so the Registrar’s office is also recruiting poll workers bilingual in those languages for the November 4 election.

Listen to our interview with Frank Tsimboukakis, now online at:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

October 9, 2014 (San Diego's East County)-- Frank Tsimboukakis, candidate for State Senate running against incumbent Senator Joel Anderson, sat down for an interview with the East County Magazine Show. The interview originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM radio on October 1st and is now available online at the link above.

Tsimboukakis talked about his goals if elected, drawing clear distinctions between himself and his opponent on issues ranging from education affordability to jobs. He also questioned Anderson's slogan as a "tax fighter" given that Anderson has had multiple tax liens filed in the past, both personal and business, including business tax liens that records indicate have never been paid. 

For more information, click "read more" and scroll down.

October 6, 2014 (San Diego)--Voters interested in casting their ballots early for the Nov. 4 Gubernatorial General Election can now do so at the County Registrar of Voters new office at 5600 Overland Ave. in Kearny Mesa.

By Miriam Raftery

October 4, 2014 (Sacramento)—Governor Jerry Brown earlier pledged to sign a $100 million funding bill for the University of California and California State University systems ($50 mlilion each)—but only if property tax revenues met or exceeded projections.

By Janis Russell

October 5, 2014 (El Cajon)- At Thursday’s, September 25th round table at Hooleys Irish Pub, the public participated in a Q & A with Congressman Duncan D Hunter about anything they wanted to know. The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce organized this event.

East County News Service

October 4, 2014 (San Diego) – An ethics complaint has been filed with the California State Bar Association against Superior Court Judicial candidate Ken Gosselin, East County Magazine has learned.

By Miriam Raftery

Hear audio of the complete debate at the links below. (Note, these may take a few moments to load.)  Or click "read more" and scroll down for details and highlights.

• Part 1:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...
• Part 2: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

October 2, 2014 (Rancho San Diego)—Republican Congressman Duncan D. Hunter, a Marine Corps veteran,  and challenger James Kimber, a former Navy corspman and current physician assistant in neurosurgery, took the stage September 26th at Cuyamaca College in a contentious yet civil debate.  Voters have a clear choice in this race, in which the candidates clashed on nearly every issue. While finding common ground on the importance of fighting terrorism and protecting the backcountry against massive energy projects that threaten rural communities and public safety, the two contenders offered contrasting views on nearly everything else, from budget priorities to climate change to the role of government itself.

East County News Service

September 30, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--There are several candidate forums coming up this week featuring East County Candidates.