San Diego Voter Guide: Ballot Measures 2018 General Election

Here are the key San Diego County ballot measures in California's 2018 General Election on November 6. Carl DeMaio and the team at The DeMaio Report have thoroughly researched these measures and have issued endorsements in almost every case.

Carl DeMaio is Chairman of Reform California and the leader of the statewide Gas Tax Repeal Campaign. Carl also hosts a daily news and politics talk show weekdays from 3-6pm on NewsRadio 600 KOGO which can be heard statewide on the iHeartRadio App.

Among the factors that Carl DeMaio applies in issuing endorsements:

Opposition to tax hikes (like the dreaded Car and Gas Tax Hikes);
respect for the Constitution and personal freedoms; and
support for small businesses and job creation against excessive regulation.

LOCAL BALLOT MEASURES

Measure A – County of San Diego Technical Clean Ups to Charter YES

Every once-in-a-while technical amendments are required when federal and state law changes and a conflict arises. This initiative does that housekeeping by modifying our County Charter to reflect new law.

Measure B – County of San Diego Redistricting Changes YES

San Diego county has some areas where services are provided by cities and other areas are unincorporated and services are provided by the county. This amendment would require that the county redistricting commission take this into account when drawing up districts for board elections – thus ensuring that the unincorporated areas have a clearer voice on the County Board of Supervisors.

Measure C – County Government Fiscal Reform Practices YES

San Diego county has made fiscal management reforms in the past 25 years that have resulted in sound management of fiscal reserves. As new less-fiscally responsible board members are elected, it is vital that these safeguards continue.

Measure D – Mandatory General Election Runoffs for County Races NO

San Diego Democrats are upset they can’t win elections so they now want a second shot at each elected office by mandating that even if someone wins a county race during the Primary Election they would still be required to run in another race for the same seat in the General Election.

Measure E – Mission Valley Stadium: Soccer City NO

While the Soccer City proposal is better than SDSU West, it still is being offered outside of an open, public process and without a competitive bid to ensure that taxpayers get the best value for this land.

Measure G – Mission Valley Stadium: SDSU West NO

SDSU West is the result of a backroom deal involving some of San Diego’s most powerful special interest groups and lobbyists. This development would eliminate local control of land use decisions in Mission Valley, robs taxpayers of fair market value to the land, and will result in years of delay in the redevelopment of the old stadium.

Measure H – Term Limits for San Diego Unified School District NO

Term limits should be applied to every political office, but this is phony measure designed to prevent real reform at the school board.

Measure J – Disclosure of Business Interests YES

This measure would require the disclosure of ownership stakes in any company doing business with the City of San Diego so we know who really benefits and profits from public contracts. More transparency is never a bad thing.

Measure K – Term Limits for San Diego City Council YES

This measure corrects a flaw in the existing term limits language in the City Charter that stipulated that an individual was limited to two terms per council district rather than two terms period. Some Councilmembers have served longer than two terms by switching districts.

Measure L – Massive Pay Hike for San Diego City Council NO

This measure would more than DOUBLE the pay for the Mayor and City Council – with an 85% salary increase enacted in 2020 and a more than 100% salary increase in 2022. As it is right now, the Mayor and City Council already earn more than the average salary for the constituents they represent. Specifically this flawed and deceptive measure would increase the pay for both the Mayor and City Councilmembers to the level of state judges – with those salaries automatically increasing each year!

Measure M – Audit Committee Membership NO

This measure would allow the City Council to reappoint a member to its audit committee without a competitive process of other candidates being considered. The audit committee needs to be independent and the City Council should do a better job of promoting this committee appointment.

Measure N – Pension Benefit Increase NO

While providing for industrial disability pension benefits is something we all support, this measure fails to protect taxpayers against abuse where disability benefits are granted to individuals that do not truly qualify for them. In addition the City’s pension system already faces billions in debt and no off-setting cost savings from other benefits are proposed to pay for this enhancement.

Measure O – Otay Mesa Infrastructure Financing District Bonds NO

More costly bonds with little accountability or oversight – and a poor infrastructure plan overall.

Measure Q – City of Chula Vista Business License Tax Hike NO

Chula Vista is mismanaged and does not need yet another blank-check tax hike.

Measure P – Del Mar Zoning Changes NO

These changes will only make housing more costly.

Measure R – Del Mar Shoreline Protection Area Zoning Calculation Changes NO

These changes will only make housing more costly.

Measure T – Del Mar Housing Project Rescission YES

Measure U – Encinitas Housing Plan Update YES

Reasonable land use changes to facilitate better housing.

Measure V – La Mesa Marijuana Tax and Regulations NO

A tax hike with no guarantee the funds will be used for enforcement.

Measure W – National City Rent Control NO

Rent control will only increase the cost of housing and hurt working families that rely on rental units.

Measure X – Oceanside Sales Tax Hike NO

Instead of raising taxes, cut the wasteful spending.

Measure Y – Oceanside Land Use Amendments NO

This measure would restrict what private property owners can do with their land and is an overly restrictive taking of property rights – particularly for those in the farming business.

Measure Z – Vista Medical Marijuana Initiative NO

A tax hike with no guarantee the funds will be used for enforcement.

Measure AA – Vista City Council Marijuana Tax NO

A tax hike with no guarantee the funds will be used for enforcement.

Measure BB – Vista City Council Marijuana Land Use Rules NO

Better than Measure Z, but still not adequate to protect neighborhoods.

Measure CC – Term Limits for Southwest Community College District YES

Term limits are good!

Measure DD – Sweetwater Union High School Bonds NO