Supervisor Ron Roberts filed preliminary papers Friday which allow him to prepare for a 2014 re-election bid. The 1-page ‘Candidate Intention’ statement signals his continuing enthusiasm for the County job. Roberts won a 57% landslide victory last November, in a campaign helmed by Tom Shepard and Aimee Remanick. Roberts’ effective County staff is headed by respected veteran Sal Giametta. Republicans now hold all 9 elective County posts (the 5 Supervisors, the Assessor / Recorder, DA, Sheriff, and Treasurer) .
Democrats held the 4th District for 44 consecutive years (1950-1994) before proud Kearny High and SDSU graduate Roberts defeated Prof. Peter Navarro in 1994. DeGraff Austin had the post from 1950-1970, Jim Bear 1970-74, Jim Bates 1974-1982, and Leon Williams 1982-94. Roberts is likely the only Republican who can hold the seat, so this early action is seen as good news by Republican leaders.
Ron Roberts grew up in Linda Vista, attended Kearny High School (the Komets!), graduated SDSU (Aztecs!) and architectural grad school at UC Berkeley. He had a 20-year successful architectural career before winning an S.D. city council seat in 1987. He and his wife Helene make their home in Mission Hills. If ever a candidate fit a particular District, it is Ron Roberts in Supervisorial District 4.