WEBER, BABER LEAD IN TIGHT RACE IN LA MESA
Update November 7, 2018: With 39% of precincts tallied, Weber and Baber maintain the lead with 27.43% and 25.94% respectively over McWhirter at 24.79% and Myers at 21.84%.
By Miriam Raftery
Photo: Dr. Akilah Weber and her sons at Democratic Party celebration downtown
November 6, 2018 (La Mesa) — One of the closest races in East County is unfolding in La Mesa, where incumbents Bill Baber and Guy McWhirter face tough challenges from physician Akilah Weber and retired Sheriff’s commander Dave Myers. Weber is currently in first place with 27.06% of the vote, narrowly leading over Baber at 26.22% and McWhirter at 25.03%, with Myers at 21.68%. But only five of 33 precincts have been counted as of midnight.
The offices are officially nonpartisan, but Weber and Myers are endorsed by Democrats while Baber and McWhirter are backed by Republicans. The “blue wave” that swept Democrats into control of the House of Representatives thus far appears to have split in La Mesa.
A key factor in the race may have been negative mailers sent by Public Safety Advocates, a PAC, targeting Weber and Myers with outright falsehoods in Weber’s case and half-truths regarding Myers. The tactic generated considerable attention on social media and may have backfired. Weber may also have benefitted from a trend toward electing women this election both locally and nationally.
La Mesa voters are, however, famously independent, voting for individuals over partisan politics. They’ve previously reelected a councilmemberwho changed parties and another who made a cross-party endorsement in a presidential race (neither are still in office). The current council is East County's only truly nonpartisan board, with two Republicans, one Democrat, and two members who recently left the GOP to become indepedent decline-to-state party affiliations: Kristine Alessio and Mayor Mark Arapostathis.
Mayor Arapostathis, despite his lack of party affiliation, had no opponent in this election and waltzed to victory.
If Weber’s lead holds, she will join Colin Parent to give Democrats two seats on the Council – and she will become the first African-American woman to represent La Mesa. A mother of two boys (photo), she is a physician at Rady Children’s Hospital and is also the daughter of Assemblywoman Shirley Weber.