The midterm general election, so-called because it falls in the middle of a president’s term, includes a number of high profile local and state races, but is likely to suffer from low turnout. Here is a guide to the key races on the ballot in San Diego County on Nov. 4.
Statewide Offices
Gov. Jerry Brown is running for an historic fourth term as governor of California on a record of fiscal responsibility and prudent investment in water resources and transportation. Brown points to the first state budget surplus in years as proof of his policies. He faces Republian newcomer Neel Kashkari, who has led a spirited campaign, at one point labeling the planned high-speed train network a “crazy train,” but remains a distant second in the polls.
Incumbents Gavin Newsom, the lieutenant governor; Kamala Harris, the attorney general; and Dave Jones, the insurance commissioner, face token Republican opposition. Respected Controller John Chaing, who is termed out, is running for Treasurer and expected to win. There are three statewide races with real opposition.
The race for for Secretary of State pits Alex Padilla, a termed-out state senator and former Los Angeles city councilman, against Republican newcomer Pete Peterson, who heads at think tank at Pepperdine University. Padilla is widely considered an effective legislator and has outlined a plan to add 1 million voters to the rolls.
Democrat Betty Yee, a member of the State Board of Equalization, faces the two-term mayor of Fresno, Republican Ashley Swearengin, for the position of Controller. Swearengin is a respected mayor, and broke ranks with the Republican establishment by refusing to endorse Kashkari.
The position of State Superintendent of Public Instruction is non-partisan, and the race is between two Democrats, incumbent Tom Torlakson and Marshall Tuck. Torlakson is backed by teachers unions, while Tuck is a charter-school reformer who has the high-profile endorsement of former Los Angles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. A fundamental difference between the two candidates is in the area of teacher tenure. Torlakson has appealed the landmark Vergara decision, which struck down the practice of lifetime tenure for Los Angeles teachers, while Tuck would drop the appeal.
For the State Board of Equalization, termed-out Republican Assemblymember Diane Harkey, who represented Orange County, faces political newcomer Nader Shahatit, a Democrat. The board administers the state’s taxes.
Statewide Propositions
There are six statewide propositions covering water supply, a state “rainy day” fund, health insurance costs, medical malpractice claims, criminal sentences and Indian gaming. See Times of San Diego’s complete guide to the propositions.
Statewide Judicial Races
Judges on the California Supreme Court are initially appointed, but face a yes-or-no confirmation vote to complete a full 12-year term. All three judges on the ballot are generally considered competent and qualified. You can read their qualifications in the state-provided voters guide.
There are also yes-or-no confirmations on the ballot for 10 state appellate judges in the 4th district. This district serves San Diego, Imperial, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Inyo counties. You can read each judge’s qualifications in the state’s voters guide.
Congress
One of the five pivotal races for Congress nationwide is right here in San Diego, where incumbent Scott Peters faces a challenge by Republican Carl DeMaio in the 52nd District. Both men are former members of the San Diego City Council, and DeMaio went on to run unsuccessfully for mayor. Peters has staked out a position as a centerist who is willing to compromise to get legislation passed in Congress, even winning the surprising endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which rarely backs Democrats. DeMaio has emphasized his independence from the Republican Party, especially in the area of social issues, and has vowed to bring fiscally conservative reform to Washington and “fix Congress first.”
The race has attracted millions of dollars in campaign funds, mostly from national political-action committees, and mostly spent on attack ads. The last weeks of the campaign have seen nasty attacks, including an accusation of sexual harassment by a former DeMaio staffer and allegations that Peters benefited from stock sales while in office.
In the other four Congressional races, incumbents Darrell Issa in the 49th District, Duncan Hunter in the 50th District, Susan Davis in the 53rd District and Juan Vargas in the 51st district are expected to win easily.
San Diego
The race between DeMaio and Peters may get the national attention, but there are 435 members of the House of Representatives and only nine members of the San Diego City Council. The race in the 6th District could end the council’s veto-proof Democratic majority. Chris Cate, a former aide to Mayor Kevin Faulconer, nearly won outright in the June primary, with 47 percent of the vote, but faces education consultant Carol Kim in the general election. The office is officially non-partisan, but Cate is a Republican and Kim a Democrat. Cate has outraised Kim, and has even been able to run TV ads. Both candidates are of Asian descent in a district that is now largely Asian-American.
Chula Vista
Voters in the county’s second largest city will see a number of familiar names on the ballot. For mayor, educator and former City Council member Jerry Rindone faces former Assemblywoman and City Council member Mary Salas. Rindone has the endorsement of the current mayor, Cheryl Cox.
For Seat No. 1, former Mayor Steve Padilla is running against former City Council member John McCann. After a term as mayor, Padilla served as a port commissioner, and has picked up numerous high-profile endorsements, including Reps. Susan Davis and Juan Vargas.
Escondido
National immigration politics have figured in the race for mayor, as the top contenders took opposite sides in a controversial decision to reject a center for housing immigrant families awaiting deportation. Mayor Sam Abed voted against the project, while his opponent Olga Diaz voted for it, saying “I may lose an election, but I will not lose my humanity.” Her’s was the only vote on the council in favor of the center. Abed is expected to win a second term.
Also on the ballot for Escondido voters if Proposition H, which would allow re-development of a 100-acre, bankrupt golf course into 430 homes. Proponents say the development will help revitalize Escondido, opponents worry about traffic. Diaz is for it, while Abed is neutral.
La Mesa
Art Madrid is running for his seventh term as mayor of the “Jewel of the Hills” but faces opposition from City Councilman Mark Arapostathis, a popular teacher and youth-theater director. Madrid says that if he is elected, it will be his last term. Arapostathis says the city does not need a full-time mayor.
Imperial Beach
Environmentalist, author and political newcomer Serge Dedina is running for mayor against incubent Jim Janney, who is seeking a third term. If Janney is re-elected, he is set to become chairman of SANDAG, the regional planning agency
Superior Court
Brad Weinreb, a deputy district attorney who is endorsed by almost every official in the legal and law-enforcement community, faces attorney Ken Gosselin. The San Diego County Bar Association has rated Weinreb as “qualified” and Gosselin as “lacking qualifications.”
