From East County Advocate…
City of El Cajon Councilmember Gary Kendrick, one of the longest serving city elected officials in San Diego County, has stated to close supporters he will not seek re-election this year. He has served in the position for nearly 24 years.
Kendrick made headlines in February by re-registering as a Democrat, following decades as a Republican.
He publicly renounced the GOP outside City Hall at the time, citing his opposition to local police cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the city council’s conservative stance on immigration. Kendrick additionally expressed concerns that the national and local party had grown increasingly extreme and drifted away from the values he supported.
He announced then that he would seek re-election to the council position as a Democrat. Although city seats are non-partisan, elected officials may register with a party of their choice and the campaigns for office are often contested by both major parties.
With the local Democratic Party touting Kendrick’s re-registration, politicos were eyeing this November’s campaign as a test of whether an official in a fairly conservative council district could be re-elected following such a switch. Both parties were anticipated to spend significant resources on the race, with the local GOP endorsing Chuck Kaye for the seat.
With the filing deadline for candidates looming in the next few days, ECA invites any of them to make their case for election here.