Shady Dave Roberts is on the ropes.
He shouldn’t be. Increased Democratic registration almost handed the District One race to Barbara Bry (we’re holding our breath while provisional ballots are counted this week), delivered the Republican candidates in the 52nd Congressional District a crushing blow, and nearly embarrassed a popular, long-serving, high-ranking Republican Congressman in a safe district. Yet, with all of those new Democratic voters in the neighborhoods of Supervisorial District Three, Shady Dave couldn’t break 40%.
Dave Roberts is an incumbent but an incumbent with a high-profile ethics violation on his record. The kind of ethics violation which reminds San Diegans of Bob Filner and ain’t nobody got votes for THAT.
Encinitas Mayor Kristin Gaspar followed the Faulconer playbook in her messaging. Gaspar said, “Character Matters” while Escondido Mayor Sam Abed attacked Gaspar instead of Shady Dave. Abed is still coming to grips with the fact that he ran the wrong campaign while Gaspar’s campaign team is crafting the Shady Dave’s retirement in November.
The only way Gaspar loses this election is if Abed LOUDLY backs Dave Roberts. That won’t happen because Abed is ambitious and needs the Republican Party faithful for help in future elections.
Supervisor Kristin Gaspar. The local Republican Party would do well to extend an olive branch, admit it was wrong, and endorse Gaspar quickly.