By Miriam Raftery

November 7, 2018 (San Diego) – Republican State Senator Joel Anderson is in a tight race for Board of Equalization seat 4.  The Secretary of State reports that overall in the race spanning five counties, Anderson leads 50.9% over Democrat Mike Schaeffer, who has 49.1%.   The real shocker is that in his home county, San Diego, Anderson has lost with just 47.7% of the vote to Schaeffer’s 52.3%.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Governor-elect Gavin Newsom (file photo by Ron Logan)

November 7, 2018 (Sacramento) – Maintaining California’s reputation as the bluest state in the nation, Democrats won every statewide office and also regained a two-thirds, veto-proof majority in both houses of the State Legislature –with two votes to spare.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: left:  Nathan Fltecher toasts victory with champagne and a dance with his wife, Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher; right, Jim Desmond, new Supervisor whose district includes Borrego Springs and some inland mountain towns

November 7, 2018 (San Diego) – Due to term  limits, Supervisors Bill Horn and Ron Roberts are leaving office.

In the race to fill Roberts’ seat, former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher has defeated former District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis by a  65% to 35% margin with 69% of precincts counted, becoming only the second Democrat in three decades to serve on the County Board of Supervisors. Fletcher, formerly a Republican and independent; he is married to powerhouse Democratic Assemblywoman and former labor council leader Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher.

Bill Horn’s seat will be filled by San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond, a Republican and part-time pilot for United Airlines. Desmond defeated Michelle Gomez, a Democrat and legislative analyst, by a 60/40 margin as of this morning’s tally. Horn’s district includes portions of northeast San Diego County include Borrego Springs, Warner Springs, Ranchita, Pauma Valley and Valley Center as well as north coastal communities. Desmond also serves on the San Diego Regional Association of Governments (SANDAG) the San Diego Regional Airport Authority, and the County Economic Development Corporation.

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photos, left to right: Rep. Duncan Hunter, Ammar Campa-Najjar, Mike Levin, Diane Harkey

November 6, 2028 (San Diego)-- Voters warmed to environmental attorney Mike Levin as early state results show the Democrat wresting the coastal 49th Congressional District from longtime GOP control.

The state’s overall tally showed voters in southern Orange County and northern San Diego County favoring Levin over state Board of Equalization member Diane Harkey, a Republican endorsed by retiring Rep. Darrell Issa, 53 percent to 47 percent.

By Miriam Raftery

November 7, 2018 (Spring Valley) --- A trio of incumbents backed by the firefighters' union won reelection easily in the San Miguel Fire Protection District.

With 39% of districts counted, Theresa McKenna has 33.2%, Jim Ek 27.4%, and Michael Vaio 26.6%, defeating William A. Kiel II, son of board member William Kiel. The younger Kiel, a  trading card company owner with no fire experience, drew just 12.8% of the vote.

The stakes were high in the race, since the three incumbents who won reelection voted to return the district to independent operation, cancelling a contract with Cal Fire. The action passed by a slim one-vote margin, with Kiel, senior, voting against separating from Cal Fire.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Challenger Teresa Rosiak says even if she doesn't win, she hopes to restart a Chamber of Commerce to help bring new businsses to Lemon Grove and help improve the city's economy.

November 6, 2018 ( Lemon Grove) – With 14% of precincts counted, incumbent Councilmenbers Jennifer Mendoza and Jerry Jones appear headed for reelection in Lemon Grove. They are leading with 32.48% and 29% of the votes respectively.

Source:  goaztecs.com

Video courtesy goaztecs.com

November 6, 2018 (San Diego) -  Devin Watson made a career-high six 3-pointers and the senior guard scored 20 points as San Diego State opened its season with a 76-60 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday night.

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Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and in-game updates!

By Liz Alper

Videos courtesy goaztecs.com

For video of Stacie Terry's, Kyahva Tenzino's and Isaac Lessard's portion of the press conference, click "read more" and scroll down.

November 6, 2018 (San Diego) - San Diego State women's basketball starts their season on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m.  Head coach Stacie Terry joined football coach Rocky Long, junior linebacker Kyahva Tenzino and junior fullback Isaac Lessard in today's press conference.

By MIriam Raftery

November 6, 2018 (Mt. Helix) -- Thanks to all who turned out in style at East County Magazine's Halloween Party at our editor's "haunting Hideaway haven" on Mt. Helix!

We had some great entries in the best costume contest,including Day of the Dead, Star Trek, witches, cats, Hugh Hefner, a race car driver, Donald Trump and Robert Mueller among other creative costumes.

El Cajon Councilman Steve Goble came as an endangered species -- a Chargers fan. 

We also enjoyed great music, rocking out to Monster Mash and more thanks to Tim Luranc and Paul Nichols.

Plus our guests vied for great prizes and savored a spook-tacular feast, too!

Source: San Diego Professional Editors Network

November 6, 2018 (San Diego) - On Thursday, November 15, 2018, Natalie Harris of Mindful Accounts will help self-employed taxpayers prepare for the changes in the tax code resulting from last year’s major tax reform bill. Her presentation, titled “How the New Tax Laws Impact the Self-Employed,” will address:

By Buck Schott

November 5, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – On Election Eve, here are a few last-minute signs of the times:

Stealing or defacing campaign signs is illegal. But in Santee, someone has found a creative way to augment info for voters by adding their own message underneath Congressman Duncan Hunter’s signs (left).

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

November 5, 2018 (San Diego) -- Though fire season is pretty much year round we can take preventive measures to prevent the start and spread of them. We educate and encourage those living in wildland fire-prone communities, to follow the “Ready, Set, Go” model to properly prepare for wildfires https://www.fire.lacounty.gov/rsg/

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type “Sports” on the donation line!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and in-game updates!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

November 4, 2018 (San Diego) - SDSU men’s soccer is ready to close out the season at home and they did so today against Cal on Senior Day.  The Aztecs lost track of what could’ve been a great season, falling to 6-9 coming into today’s game. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Zack Gianino, Laura Koval, and Lynda Marrokal

November 4, 2018 (Santee) – There will be at least one new face on Santee’s City Council soon, since District 3 is an open seat with no incumbent.

Three candidates are running in a race where development issues, traffic, and the city’s looming deficit are key issues.  They are Zack Gianino, a community college district liaison, Laura Koval, parks and recreation director at Santee Lakes, and Lynda Marrokal, a retired manager. 

Hear our in-depth interviews with all three candidates by clicking the audio links (Gianino, Koval, Marrokal) and scroll down for highlights.

East County News Service

November 4, 2018 (Poway) – You’re invited to swing into your holiday season at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, November 30^th at 8 p.m. with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party.  So, break out the zoot suits and swing dance dresses to take a step back in time to the ‘40s and ‘50s.