Key issue: Does the city need a full-time mayor, or can the job be done part-time?

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Mayor Art Madrid (left) and Councilman Mark Arapostathis (right)

October 15, 2014 (La Mesa) – La Mesa’s mayoral race is shaping up to be one of the hottest political contests in East County this election season, with two long-time community leaders vying for the city’s top job.  Both are long-time La Mesa residents with extensive experience in politics and community service. East County Magazine sat down for in-depth interviews with both candidates to talk about their records, their views on leadership, and their visions for La Mesa.

By Miriam Raftery

October 15,2014 (La Mesa) – Councilman Mark Arapostathis, twice named Teacher of the Year (by the County and La Mesa-Spring Valley School District), says a lesson he’s taught his students for 23 years is to always “be positive.”  He’s running against long-serving Mayor Art Madrid and says that if elected, he wants to bring “greater unity to the Council, which has been a bit divided.”  He holds a PhD degree and also heads up the Peter Pan Jr. Theater and C. Hook Theatre programs. 

He’s served on the La Mesa City Council for eight years.  Now with a term limits initiative on the ballot, he observes, “My window of opportunity may close” to run for mayor, since passage of the measure would limit the ability of long-serving council members to later run for mayor.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

Readers

October 13-17 (Monday-Friday) — City College Ninth Annual International Book Fair. For details, CLICK or contact: Virginia Escalante, vescalan@sdccd.edu (619) 338-3230.

By Janis Russell

October 15. 2014 (La Mesa)- At yesterday’s La Mesa City Council meeting, Council unanimously approved submitting an application to the Let’s Play Community Construction Grant Program through KaBoom! to support a playground upgrade at Vista La Mesa Park.

By Miriam Raftery

October 14, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) -- Ever wonder what news stories attract the most interest among our local readers?  We decided to find out, so we looked at the number of readers who clicked open each story for the past month.  The results were surprising. Some major news stories, such as Iraq air strikes, didn’t make the top 20-perhaps because that’s news available everywhere else. What DID get your attention was primarily stories relevant to East County, especially news that you can’t get anywhere else.

October 15, 2014 (Santee)--The Sheriff's Department is looking for horse owners and riders who would like to become members of the Volunteer Mounted Patrol. They conduct patrols on horseback across San Diego County, including the Santee and Lakeside areas.

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.

October 15, 2014 (San Diego's East County)-- East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Blackwater Founder Wants Mercenaries to Fight ISIS War (Reason)
• Supreme Court blocks Texas abortion law (Washington Post)
• U.S. Army says it faces huge equipment, training risks with budget cuts (Reuters)
• Lay-offs begin at CNN (Media Bistro)
• Feds Clear 7 On No-Fly List To Travel, Will Tell 6 More Why They Can't (NPR)

WORLD

• Meet The Kurdish Female Fighters Who Are Determined to Kick ISIS' Arse (JWR)
• Mexican activist slain during radio broadcast (AP)
• Global hero, local lightning rod? Why Malala's Nobel rankles many Pakistanis (+video) (CS Monitor)
• UN agency: Ebola cuts food in Sierra Leone (AP)
• Nations pledge $5.4 billion for Gaza at Cairo reconstruction conference (Reuters)
• UK lawmakers pass symbolic motion to recognize Palestine as a state (Reuters)
• Soldiers who fought in Gaza worry about traveling overseas (Jerusalem Post)
• ISIS threatens to conquer the Vatican, 'break the crosses of the infidels' (JPost)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

October 13, 2014 (San Diego)--The County Board of Supervisors (Board) will evaluate proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance (POD-13-003) when they meet on Oct. 29. The proposed improvement includes changes to various definitions, use regulations, procedures and other miscellaneous revisions and clarifications. They also include proposed amendments related to setbacks, detached garages and barns and recycling.

October 13, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Youth Choir of San Diego will perform its first concert on Thursday, October 16 at 7 pm. in the Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Center ( 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon).  This is a new nonprofit organization that has formed a group of high school students who gather twice a week, blending their communities as well as their voices to make music under the direction of Jason Prater - Artistic Director and Jonni Glaser - Musical Director. There are several San Diego City and several East County schools represented.

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 Miriam Raftery

October 13, 2014 (Sacramento)--Why did Covered California award $184 million in no-bid contracts – including millions to consulting companies with ties to executives on the Covered California board?   For instance, $4.2 million went to the Tori Group, whose founder once worked with Covered California’s executive director, Peter Lee, and other contracts went to a subsidiary of a firm  that Lee once led.

East County News Service

October 14, 2014 (San Diego)--A blood filtration treatment made by a San Diego company has now joined the fight against Ebola.  Aethlon Medical announced Tuesday the first use its Hemopurifier therapy on a patient infected with Ebola virus, Times of San Diego reports.

“This is criminal… This vote could possibly be blocked if enough Edison and SDG&E ratepayers raise enough hell.” – San Diego Reader reporter Don Bauder

By Miriam Raftery

October 12, 2014 (Sacramento) – California Attorney General Kamala Harris has opened an investigation into the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The Sacramento Bee reports that the probe centers around rate-setting procedures and oversight of Pacific Gas & Electric Company regarding the deadly San Bruno  pipeline explosion, and assignment of administrative law judges to CPUC matters. In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s office has notified PG&E of a separate investigation into private communications suggesting that the  state regulatory issue was trying to help PG&E avoid tough penalties for the fatal explosion. 

CPUC Chairman Michael Peevey, a former PG&E executive, announced after exposure of internal emails revealed inappropriate communications that he will resign at year’s end.   PG&E has fired some executives in the wake of the scandal. But ratepayer advocates say that's not enough.

San Diego Online News Association (SDONA)

By Chris Jennewein , originally published in Times of San Diego

Photo by Chris Jennewein

October 12, 2014 (San Diego)--San Diego transit and planning agencies on Thursday  celebrated completion of the $44 million Mid-City Rapid project, which starting Sunday will provide fast bus service between San Diego State University and downtown San Diego.