U.S. Marine Corps veteran and congressional candidate Janessa Goldbeck announced Wednesday that she received the endorsement of former state legislator Dede Alpert in her bid to represent the state’s 53rd District.
Alpert represented San Diego in the Assembly from 1990 to 1996 and in the state Senate from 1996 to 2004. Prior to that, she served as a member of the Solana Beach school board from 1983 to 1990. Since leaving politics, Alpert has been an advocate for public and private education throughout the county.
Goldbeck is one of a flock of local Democrats running to succeed Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, who announced in September that she would not run for a 10th term representing the 53rd District, which encompasses La Mesa, Lemon Grove, parts of El Cajon and Chula Vista and central San Diego neighborhoods such as Hillcrest, Grantville and North Park.
The field includes San Diego City Councilwoman Georgette Gomez, Navy veteran Jose Caballero, community organizer Joaquin Vazquez, policy advisor Sara Jacobs, affordable housing and immigration advocate Marisa Calderon — all Democrats — and Republican nurse Famela Ramos.
On Monday, former congressional candidate Ray Lutz announced he wouldn’t run in the 53rd District after previously forming an exploratory committee.
“Although I appreciate the many supporters who have asked me to run for this seat, I believe my time will be better spent working to make the Election Auditing service — AuditEngine.org — a reality rather than pursue this seat,” he told East County Magazine. “I know I can be successful in creating the cloud-based auditing service to improve our confidence in elections nationwide, but winning the seat is not … a sure bet.”
Alpert said Goldbeck “will be a strong champion for our community at the federal level.”
“Janessa has the experience to hit the ground running on day one and the backbone to stand up to special interests. She will lead with her values and listen to the needs of all San Diegans,” Alpert said in a statement released by Goldbeck’s campaign thatk also touted endorsements from Escondido Mayor Paul McNamara, himself a retired Marine colonel, and Encinitas City Councilwoman Kellie Hinze.
In addition to serving in the Marine Corps, Goldbeck worked as a human rights advocate in Washington, D.C., focusing on support for Sudan, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She is also the founder of Sui Generis Strategies LLC, a legislative advocacy and consulting firm.
— City News Service
