Reforming San Diego County Supervisors’ Compensation

Brian BradyBrian Brady 4 Comments

Four of the five County Supervisors voted to increase their base pay (and pensions) this week.  Defeated Democrat Dave Roberts voted against the proposal while the four Republicans voted for it.  Board Chairman Ron Roberts (who will retire in two years) justified his proposal with this statement: “It has been nearly 20 years since we adjusted the formula for members …

Transparency Please

Eric AndersenEric Andersen 1 Comment

If one desires to be a “tax and spend” Republican so be it, but own it. transparent adjective |trans-par-ent, able to be seen through, easy to notice or understand, honest and open: not secretive. On Friday the SANDAG board met to draft ballot language for their sales tax increase. The draft ballot argument reads as follows… SAN DIEGO COUNTY ROAD …

Happy SANDAG Tax & Spend Republican Day

Brian BradyBrian Brady 6 Comments

It looks like the SANDAG Board of Directors will vote to approve the SANDAG Sky Gondola Tax for a public vote today.  The anticipated scorecard should look like this: City of San Diego: Faulconer (R) NO, Gloria (D) YES County of San Diego: Roberts (T&SR) YES, Jacob (R) NO – Horn voted NO, with Jacob absent. That cancels out the …

Belly Up To The Bar 2: The Official Goldens Drinking Game

The Libertarian Lass, Gayle FalkenthalThe Libertarian Lass, Gayle Falkenthal 1 Comment

Just in time could be my life’s mantra. I am reminded by Thor’s Assistant that no Official Drinking Game has been devised for tonight’s epic 17th annual San Diego County Taxpayers Golden Fleece and Watchdog Awards. Calling Ms. Tipit to the rescue. DISCLAIMER: In this litigious, risk-averse society, we must pause here to admonish anyone reading this column that it …

Confident, Determined San Diego Pension Reformers hold productive Thursday night meeting in Mission Valley

Jim SillsJim Sills 1 Comment

Kevin Faulconer set the tone last night, telling a crowd of civic leaders, “This is not about Republicans and Democrats.  This is about what is good for San Diego neighborhoods.”  Faulconer gestured to a chart showing that, if left unchanged, local residents will one day pay $500 million-a-year for a “defined benefit” pension system. “If we act now, we can save $1 …

Heidi Klum’s Take on the San Diego Mayor’s Race

The Libertarian Lass, Gayle FalkenthalThe Libertarian Lass, Gayle Falkenthal 14 Comments

Do I know what will drive Rostra reader traffic, or what? While Mrs. Seal hasn’t technically made any direct comment, her admonition to contestants on her reality show “Project Runway” applies nicely. As in fashion, in politics one day you’re in, and the next day you’re out. In a few short days on June 5 when fundraising can begin, all …

San Diego Watchdogging

B-DaddyB-Daddy 1 Comment

Dave Maass, at CityBeat, gets in on the local watchdog action with his report of how County Supervisor Ron Roberts and Carlsbad City Councilwoman Ann Kulchin treat the San Diego Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) like their own personal slush fund. (My words, not Dave’s). The fund was established in the 1990s to build out and maintain the system …

Three Types of Lies

The Libertarian Lass, Gayle FalkenthalThe Libertarian Lass, Gayle Falkenthal 6 Comments

Pollster John Nienstedt’s discussion on polling and the reasons polls fail to accurately gauge voter behavior (and what polls can and CANNOT do) has been a hit on the post-election poliwonk social circuit. Among the topics on tap, Nienstedt has provided his insight on the variance in results among the polls conducted over the past few months on Prop D, …

TONIGHT: Post-Election Analysis with Consultant Hoy, Pollster Nienstedt

Erica HollowayErica Holloway 1 Comment

I’m not exactly the most devoted GOP meeting attendee. But I’ll be there tonight to hear the recap of the wildly dead-on pollster John Nienstedt and Nov. 2 success-story consultant John Hoy. I had the honor of working with both men on Proposition A – which crossed the finish line easily with more than 70 percent of the vote. Conversely …

End Run, Touchdown!

Erica HollowayErica Holloway Leave a Comment

The quarterback gives the play in the huddle. Just after the snap, the defenders push to the center and the quarterback gets plowed from the side. The reason: the line decided to go with another play. In case you’re wondering, the public is the quarterback in this end run on the tax cap increase for the Centre City Development Corp. …

Yes on Prop A Endorsements Piling Up

Erica HollowayErica Holloway Leave a Comment

Strong Key Support Backs Local Jobs for Local Workers The list of endorsements continues to grow for Proposition A as the San Diego County Taxpayers Association and North County Times editorial staff backed the ballot measure for local construction jobs. The passage of Proposition A on November 2 would enact a charter amendment at the County of San Diego prohibiting …

The Greatest Story Ever Told, Almost

SunshineSunshine Leave a Comment

This is a bit lengthy, but worth it… Let’s start with the biggest, and perhaps least exciting, races for the county (state races to follow tomorrow). In the 50th Dem Primary Francine Busby was selected as the Democrat nominee to lose to Brian Bilbray once more. I don’t think Busby was celebrating her victory, I searched for police reports and …

Electoral Analysis: Ron Roberts, Re-elected.

Vince VasquezVince Vasquez 3 Comments

This election season, all eyes have turned towards the re-election contest of County Supervisor Ron Roberts, who is facing off against challengers Stephen Whitburn, Shelia Jackson, Juan del Rio and Margaret Moody in the seemingly competitive 4th Supervisorial District. As of May 27, the County Registrar of Voters counted 127,658 Democrats, 67,528 Republicans, and 66,554 Decline to State voters in …

‘Tis the Season for Political Mailers

Diana PalaciosDiana Palacios 7 Comments

To a political nerd, such as myself, there is nothing quite as exciting as going to the mailbox during election season and examining the day’s collection of glossy double-sided political mailers. Since I am new to California and thus a recently registered voter, I was not expecting to receive much mail this election cycle. However, my name and address apparently …

Lincoln Club Issues Ballot Recommendations

The Libertarian Lass, Gayle FalkenthalThe Libertarian Lass, Gayle Falkenthal 15 Comments

The Lincoln Club of San Diego County has posted its complete list of ballot recommendations.  If you’re a new reader or need a little refresher, the Lincoln Club is a fiscally conservative organization dedicated to the goal of advancing free market principles and ideas by recruiting, endorsing, and supporting business-friendly candidates, regardless of party affiliation. Lincoln Club members assess whether …

Ten Little Indians

SunshineSunshine 27 Comments

Well the filing deadline for office has come and gone and there were definitely quite a few interesting developments, some of which have been discussed here and some haven’t, and obviously everything is tentative before signatures are verified. The Sheriff race narrowed to three with Gore, Duffy, and LaSuer. The big question here is where do the Democrats and Independents …

Two more Democrats seek County Supervisor, 4th Dist.— Stephen Whitburn and Margaret Moody vs. Ron Roberts — Supervisor Roberts has Big Head Start

Jim SillsJim Sills 1 Comment

Two new potential candidates took out preliminary papers this afternoon (Thursday) to run against County Supervisor Ron Roberts, a Republican. They are (1) Stephen Whitburn, who lost a runoff to Todd Gloria in 2008 for City Council district 3 and (2) Margaret Moody, a longtime leader in local feminist causes. They join City Schools trustee Shelia Jackson, also a Democrat …

Shelia Jackson’s run a win-win-win-win-win

Richard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax FightersRichard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax Fighters Leave a Comment

For me, Shelia Jackson’s campaign against Supervisor Ron Roberts is good news on several levels. 1. A major challenge of a Supervisor will once again end in inglorious defeat, proving again NO incumbent Supervisor ever loses no matter what — a good case for the current term limits initiative on the ballot (which I support, and maybe will talk more …

Shelia Jackson to Run Against Ron Roberts for County Supe

Barry JantzBarry Jantz 15 Comments

In the wake of San Diego Councilmember Donna Frye’s announcement earlier in the week that she will not run against 4th District County Supervisor Ron Roberts, San Diego Unified School Board President Shelia Jackson is now opting to enter the race. Jackson started the nomination paperwork with the County Registrar of Voters office today. Jackson had previously considered running, but …

Frye Will Not Take on Ron Roberts for Supervisor

Thor's AssistantRostra Administrator (Thor's Assistant) 6 Comments

After dealing with the pension mess at the City of San Diego, did Councilmember Donna Frye really want to face years of the same discussions at the County? Dave Rolland has the scoop at San Diego CityBeat… http://lastblogonearth.com/2010/03/03/donna-frye-will-not-run-for-county-supervisor/ Any speculation as to another Democrat getting in, with Lori Saldana and Frye now out?  Or, does Saldana go into re-entry mode?