EAST COUNTY VOTING GUIDE: NONPARTISAN INFORMATION FROM EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE

East County News Service

November 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)— East County Magazine has compiled this handy guide for you with links to all of our coverage of local races, as well as some statewide and federal (Congressional) races on your ballot for the election on Tuesday, November 4. 

We invited all candidates running in local races listed below to be interviewed, and include print and/or  radio interviews with those who responded.   We also have links to our coverage of debates, candidate forums, analysis, editorials submitted by our readers (ECM does not editorialize), and other relevant information on candidates and ballot propositions. Also see below for links to additional nonpartisan resources for info on these and other races.

Our nonpartisan guide is arranged in three sections: local, state, and federal (Congressional) races, with  the races alphabetical under each section. To view, click "read more" below and scroll down.

Note: We could not cover every race with the resources available.  For nonpartisan information on all California races, you can visit the nonpartisan League of Women Voters’ Smart Voter site at http://votersedge.org/california/welcome-to-our-new-home#.VFg6rcngW5K ,  for local races see the League of Women Voters San Diego at  http://www.lwvsandiego.org/.  Vote Smart at  http://votesmart.org/  and Ballotpedia at http://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page  also have information on candidates including Congressional/federal races.

Below is our coverage of  the major races in East County, as well as some San Diego, countywide, state and federal/Congressional races.  Scroll down to view the full list, with links to our online stories and radio interviews.

LOCAL RACES

Alpine Union School District

• Future high school, safety top issues in Alpine school board race: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/future-high-school-school-safety-top-issues-alpine-school-board-race
• Negative mailers target Alpine school board candidate: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/negative-mailers-target-alpine-school-board-candidate
• Reader's editorial: Divisive politics in Alpine: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/readers-editorial-divisive-politics-al...
• Reader's editorial: Smear campaign in Alpine:   http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/readers-editorial-smear-campaign-alpine

El Cajon Council

• Mayor Pro Tem Gary Kendrick vies for reelection against challenger Elwood Alexander: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/mayor-pro-tem-gary-kendrick-vies-re-election-against-challenger-elwood-alexander

El Cajon Mayor

• Mayor Bill Wells shares views for future in exclusive ECM interview: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/mayor-wells-shares-views-future-exclusive-ecm-interview
• El Cajon mayoral candidate Jonathan Wright hopes to alleviate poverty: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/el-cajon-city-mayoral-candidate-jonathan-wright-hopes-alleviate-poverty

Grossmont Union High School District Board

• Radio interviews with candidates Barbara Stevens and Steve Mattia: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/hear-our-interviews-guhsd-candidates-barbara-stevens-and-steve-mettia
• Sycuan funds “scary” mailer against GUHSD board members Kelly and Shield: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sycuan-funds-%E2%80%9Cscary%E2%80%9D-halloween-mailer-against-guhsd-board-members-kelly-shield

• Reader’s editorial: New direction needed on Grossmont school board: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/reader%E2%80%99s-editorial-new-direction-needed-grossmont-school-board

Helix Water Board

• 2 candidates aim to stop rate hikes in Helix Water Board race: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/2-candidates-aim-halt-rate-hikes-helix-water-district

Julian-Cuyamaca Fire District: Prop P

• Reader’s editorial: Proposition P—what you need to know: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/readers-editorial-proposition-p-what-it-what-you-need-know

La Mesa Council

• La Mesa Council candidates air in-depth views in interviews with East County Magazine: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/la-mesa-candidates-air-depth-views-interviews-east-county-magazine
• McWhirter responds to candidate questions: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/mcwhirter-responds-candidate-questions-la-mesa
• La Mesans meet candidates at Chamber forum: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/la-mesans-meet-candidates-chamber-debate
•  Reader’s editorial: Big money and hit pieces influencing La Mesa election season: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/reader%E2%80%99s-editorial-big-money-and-hit-pieces-influencing-our-la-mesa-political-season

La Mesa Mayor

• Who will be La Mesa’s Mayor? http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/who-will-be-la-mesa%E2%80%99s-mayor
• La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid runs on record of success: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/la-mesa-mayor-art-madrid-runs-record-success-seeks-fulfill-his-vision-city-final-term
• Mark Arapostathis, “Dr. A” aims to bring positive attitude to mayoral job in La Mesa: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/mark-arapostathis-%E2%80%9Cdr-a%E2%80%9D-aims-bring-%E2%80%9Cpositive%E2%80%9D-attitude-mayoral-job-la-mesa
• Mud flies in La Mesa mayoral race: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/mud-flies-la-mesa-mayoral-race
• La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid launches reelection campaign: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/mayor-madrid-launches-reelection-campaign-runs-record-success
• Arapostathis to challenge Madrid for mayor: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/la-mesa-races-heat-arapostathis-challenge-madrid-mayor

La Mesa Term Limits proposition

• Opponents Dexter Levy and Kristin Kjaero make their case for no term limits in La Mesa: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/listen-now-opponents-make-their-case-no-term-limits-la-mesa
• La Mesa Vice Mayor Kristine Alessio and Craig Maxwell make their case for term limits in La Mesa: http://kiwi6.com/file/257ktyze5y
• Campaign launched to oppose term limits in La Mesa: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/campaign-launched-oppose-term-limits-la-mesa
• Reader’s editorial: Term limits: wrong idea, wrong place http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/content/readers-editorial-term-limits-wrong-idea-wrong-place
• Reader's editorial: A level playing field http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/readers-editorial-level-playing-field
• Reader's editorial: After the rhetoric, what's the record? http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/readers-editorial-after-rhetoric-whats...
• Term limits tactics take negative turn: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/term-limits-tactics-take-negative-turn-la-mesa

La Mesa marijuana dispensaries proposition

• Prop J: Should La Mesa pass the J? http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/should-la-mesa-pass-j

La Mesa City Clerk proposition

• Elected or appointed City Clerk in La Mesa? http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/content/elected-or-appointed-city-clerk-la-mesa

La Mesa-Spring Valley School District

• La Mesa-Spring Valley School District candidates speak with East County Magazine: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/la-mesa-spring-valley-school-board-candidates-speak-ecm

Lemon Grove City Council

• Lemon Grove candidates share views: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/lemon-grove-council-candidates-share-views

San Miguel Fire District

• San Miguel Fire District race is hot: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/san-miguel-fire-board-race-hot
• Chief disputes candidate statements in San Miguel Fire District race: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/cal-fire-chief-disputes-candidate-statements-san-miguel-fire-race

San Diego Community College District

• Community College race pits religious conservative against social justice advocate: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/community-college-race-pits-religious-conservative-against-social-justice-advocate

Santee City Council:

• Radio interviews with Santee City Council candidates Keshav Damoor and Rob McNelis: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/santee-councilman-rob-mcnelis-and-challenger-keshav-damoor-radio-interviews-now-online
• Radio interviews with Santee Council candidates Maggie Acerra and John Minto: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/hear-interviews-santee-councilman-john-minto-and-challenger-maggie-acerra
• Santee Council candidates share views on growth, homelessness, rent control and more in candidate forum:  http://eastcountymagazine.org/santee-council-candidates-share-views-growth-homeless-rent-control-and-more

Superior Court Judge

• Ethics complaint filed against judicial candidate Gosselin over signs: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/ethics-complaint-filed-against-judicial-candidate-gosselin-over-deceptive-signs
• Judicial candidates facing ethics controversies: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/judicial-candidate-faces-ethics-controversies  (Note: This article was written before the primary: Gosselin and Weinreb are the two in the November run-off)
• Bar Association rates Gosselin lacking qualifications: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/county-bar-issues-ratings-judicial-candidates-ranks-3-%E2%80%9Clacking-qualifications%E2%80%9D  (Note: Other candidates rated lacking qualifications did not make it past the primary.)
• Reader’s editorial: Brad Weinreb, the public safety choice for judge: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/readers-editorial-public-safety-choice-judge

 STATE OFFICES

Assembly 77^th District

• Moderate Republican Tony Teora challenges Assemblyman Brian Jones http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/moderate-republican-tony-teora-challenges-assemblyman-brian-jones  (note: this article was written before the primary, but the same two candidates are running in the Nov. 4 election due to the top-two primary system)

Insurance Commissioner

• Insurance Commissioner Jones runs on record of protecting consumers, vs. challenger Gaines, an insurance broker: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/insurance-commissioner-jones-runs-record-protecting-consumers-insurers-vs-challenger-gaines-insuranc  (Note, this article was written before the primary; Jones and Gaines made the runoff, the third candidate did not)

Lieutenant Governor

• Lt. Governor’s race pits Gavin Newsom against Ron Nehring: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/lt-governors-race-pits-gavin-newsom-against-ron-nehring-and-6-others  (note: this article was written before the primary;  Newsom and Nehring will run off in the Nov. 4 election, the other candidates were eliminated in the primary)

Proposition 45

Deceptive ads seek to dupe public in Prop 45 campaign http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/deceptive-ads-seek-dupe-public-prop-45

State Senate

• Radio interview with Frank Tsimboukakis, who is running against State Senator Joel Anderson: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/our-radio-interview-state-senate-candidate-frank-tsimboukakis-now-online-listen-now / . (Note: Senator Anderson did not respond to our interview requests.)
• Tsimboukakis vies for Senator Anderson’s seat, takes stand against big energy projects in East County: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/tsimboukakis-vies-senator-anderson%E2%80%99s-seat-takes-stand-against-industrial-scale-energy-projects-east
•  Also hear our pre-primary radio interview: http://k007.kiwi6.com/hotlink/57a2e3ruq7/Newsmaker-TsimboukakisFrank-Sept2014Interview.mp3
• Reader's editorial: Concern over local state Senate election: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/readers-editorial-concern-over-local-s...

State Superintendent of Schools

• State Superintendent race pits teacher who backs strong public schools vs. privatization advocate:  http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/state-superintendent-schools-race-pits-teacher-who-backs-strong-public-schools-vs-privatization-advo

FEDERAL OFFICES

Congress

49^th Congressional District (Note: Rep. Issa did not respond to many requests for an interview)

• Peiser asks voters to “fire Issa”:  http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/peiser-asks-voters-fire-issa
• Criticism grows over Issa watchdog role: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/criticism-grows-over-issa-watchdog-role

 50^th Congressional District

• In heated debate, vets battle for 50^th Congressional district seat (hear audio of full Hunter-Kimber debate):  http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/heated-debate-vets-battle-50th-congressional-district-seat
• ECM radio interview with James Kimber, 50^th Congressional District candidate: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/exclusive-ecm-radio-interview-james-kimber-50th-congressional-candidate-now-online  (Note: Hunter did not respond to our request for an interview)
• Congressman Hunter speaks at Chamber roundtable: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/congressman-hunter-speaks-chamber-round-table
• Hunter targeted by Bill Mahler’s “flip a district”: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/hunter-targeted-bill-mahers-flip-district

52^nd Congressional District

• Peters, De Maio debate highlights: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/peters-demaio-debate-highlights

53^rd Congressional District

Hear our in-depth interviews with Congresswoman Susan Davis and her Republican opponent, former Navy Seal Larry Wilske: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/hear-our-depth-interviews-congresswoman-susan-davis-her-opponent-larry-wilske