Board of Supervisors District 5 Valley Center Forum

Del Pilar’s Diatribe, a conservative Latino’s view on politics…

Candidate Field Set… Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!

The deadline to file for political offices came and went, and as always, a flurry of candidates flooded the San Diego Registrar of Voters office. Some changed races and whether party strategy or a more viable path to win, they seek to represent us. For local political junkies, the final week is like watching teams fighting to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. It’s exciting and moves quickly with oohs and ahhs.

We now have four candidates competing to replace current District 5 Board of Supervisor Bill Horn. The following two have been campaigning for months.

• Jim Desmond: desmondforsupervisor.com/
• Jerry Kern: kernforsupervisor.com/

Let’s now welcome the newest and final two candidates.

• Michelle Gomez: MichelleforSupervisor.com/
• Jacqueline Arsivaud: jacquelinefor2018.com/

Let’s not forget, our moderator, local celebrity, and host of the DeMaio Report on Newsradio 600 KOGO:

• Carl DeMaio: kogo.iheart.com/featured/the-demaio-report/

There are important issues facing our community. From developments to infrastructure; congestion to multimillion-dollar roundabouts to unwanted traffic lights; fire safety to water shortage; amendments to the general plan that directly affect us and many more issues. We’ll take most of our questions from the audience, but I know these issues are chiefly on your mind. They’ll be here to answer them.

A candidate asked me why I’m doing this, and it’s simple. We want our potential new representative to address our concerns. We want to see where they stand on issues affecting us. We need to hear from our future representative who’ll have the power to protect us… or betray us.

Welcome the Valley Center Roadrunner

Let’s welcome the Valley Center Roadrunner as our title sponsor. The Roadrunner’s this community’s primary media presence that goes to most events, and even telecasts some of them. It’s only natural to bring them on board to help. They cover the news from every angle and as their editor, David Ross says, “I can handle big news and little news. And if there’s no news, I’ll go out and bite a dog.”

I, the volunteers and The Roadrunner represent no political group, which makes this forum different from every other board of supervisor forum I’ve gone to. Whether it’s the builders (developers), women’s group, minority groups or whatnot, when you research them you’ll find they back a specific party and their endorsements are hollow and set – despite what they say. We represent the community and the only endorsement will come on Election Day, from voters.

Full disclosure – I am a conservative as my column, “A conservative Latino’s view on politics…” gives away. However, as you can see, I’ve reached out across the aisle because my primary role is as your Valley Center Community Planning Group representative, and our community is diverse in its political beliefs. That’s why this’ll be nonpartisan and frankly, that’s how every forum should be, and our little community is proudly breaking the mold!

It is now incumbent on you to do your civic duty and come out and meet the candidates.

• DATE: FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2018
• TIME: 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)
• WHERE: VALLEY CENTER MIDDLE SCHOOL (28102 N Lake Wohlford Rd, Valley Center, California 92082)

I hope to see you, the candidates hope to see you, so let’s not disappoint and let’s challenge them and make them work for our vote!

• Save the Date at our Facebook Events Page: North County Rumble: Board of Supervisors District 5 Debate

***The Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District does not endorse or promote any candidate running for the Board of Supervisors. ***

This article originally appeared in the Valley Center Roadrunner, March 22, 2018.