By Brian Lafferty

By Brian Lafferty

June 5, 2012 (San Diego) – For many, the array of issues and candidates on  today's ballot can be confusing.  This is the first election to implement California’s new top-two primary system. Instead of seeing all candidates in your own party, your ballot will include candidates from all parties running for each race, except president.  

June 3, 2012 (San Diego) –East County Magazine requested interviews with the four top contenders in the San Diego Mayoral race. Two responded.   Read our interview with Congressman Bob Filner here: http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/7210 and with Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher here:http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/9877 .   We also covered the Politifest debate featuring Fletcher, Filner, and several lesser known candidates here: http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/7305

Additional resources that we recommend to learn about all of the mayoral candidates include: 

By Miriam Raftery

June 3, 2012 (Berkeley) - As the mother of a U.C. Berkeley graduate, I couldn't be prouder of my son's alma mater than after viewing this video.  In it, student Austin Whitney, who was paralyzed in a car accident, is enabled to walk across the stage and accept his diploma with help from an exo-skeleton created thanks to technology developed at the University of California, Berkeley.  Just imagine what this could mean someday for our wounded veterans and other injured people!

By Bryan Zmijewski,  President, El Cajon Police Officers Association

“Most alarming is the ECPD patrol staffing levels. At times, there may only be four police officers working the street…The El Cajon Council wants more power, yet they choose to handcuff the police chief...The ECPOA fears that this will continue, especially if the current city council is allowed to have the additional power that they crave.”—Bryan Zmijewski

The people behind Proposition D say changing El Cajon from a general law city to a charter city will save tax payer money by giving more control over decision making to the city council. Charter city status may be appropriate for other municipalities. We don't believe it would be appropriate in El Cajon at this time with our current city council in power.

We don't believe the city council, in its current form, has the experience, insight or forward thinking ability to handle any more power than it already has. More power for this city council? One council member just resigned as a result of a pending FBI investigation, reminding us about what happened not too long ago in the City of Bell.

By Miriam Raftery

“With California’s new `top two’ primary system, only two candidates will advance to a November run-off.  I’m running against two Republicans, so it’s important for Democrats to vote on Tuesday.” – Pat Hurley, candidate, 71st Assembly District

June 2, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Pat Hurley has worked in factories and on railroads. He’s turned around troubled businesses in mobile electronics, finance and sales. He’s led efforts as a nonprofit executive to create job-training programs, help low-income communities, and forge a sustainable future for our region. Now he wants to bring his experience—along with Midwest, middle class values—to the state capitol.

Hurley is the only Democrat running for the new  71st Assembly district (formerly the 77th), which includes nearly all of East County. The seat is currently held by Republican Brian Jones. Another Republican, engineer John McLaughlin from Temecula, is also in the race.