Republican chances of recapturing the SD Assessor/Recorder/Clerk
post soared today, when proven Republican winner Ernie Dronenburg
filed to challenge appointed Democrat incumbent David Butler.
Dronenburg, winner of FIVE races for a multi-county state Board of
Equalization seat, immediately becomes the clear favorite over Mr.
Butler who earlier filed a “Candidate Intention statement” to seek
election in his own right next June.
Toppling appointed incumbents is nothing new for Dronenburg. He
defeated a Jerry Brown-appointed incumbent to win his first Board of
Equalization term against Iris Sankey in 1978. He won 4 more races
for the job before retiring in 1998. He later served 7 years on the SD
County Board of Equalization.
Dronenburg’s political resume will endear him to conservatives and
many libertarians. He was a Southern California co-chairman of
Ronald Reagan’s 1980 and 1984 campaigns, was a delegate to
5 Republican conventions, and a vocal defender of Howard Jarvis
and Paul Gann’s Proposition 13.
He coined one of the most effective, and amusing campaign slogans
ever for his first Equalization Board race: “Ernie WHO, for WHAT?”
His lengthy Board of Equalization service, and professional training
as an Auditor, well qualify Dronenburg to serve as San Diego county
Assessor/Recorder/ Clerk. Dronenburg is a graduate of San Diego
State University.
Source: official records on file at the SD Registrar of Voters office.