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Carl DeMaio and Reform California have released their “Plain English” voter guide for East County San Diego to give you an easy-to-understand explanation of the ballot measures and grade candidates.
California’s General Election is underway and ballots must be returned by November 8, 2022. With a bunch of confusing ballot measures and hundreds of candidates running for office, voters can feel overwhelmed and lost.
This “Plain English” voter guide makes voting simple – especially when it comes to the ballot measures and local offices that do not allow candidates to disclose their party affiliation. Endorsements below are given only to candidates who “passed the test” on these crucial criteria: opposing taxes, fighting crime, improving schools, creating jobs, and defending personal freedoms.
2022 offers a real chance for a wave election to block costly tax hikes and elect common-sense leaders - but to do that we need your help in turning out your friends, family and neighbors to vote and share this easy-to-understand voter guide with them!
How to Use the Guide – 9 Sections:
- Review the “Priority East County Races”
- Review Statewide Ballot Measures
- Review Your Local Ballot Measures
- Review Statewide Candidate Races
- Review Legislative Candidate Races (Congress/State Legislature)
- Review Your County Candidate Races
- Review Your City Candidate Races (unless you live in unincorporated area)
- Review Your School District Candidate Races
- Review Your Remaining Special District Candidate Races
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Priority East County Races
City of El Cajon
Measure P — VOTE NO
Increase Sales Taxes by 0.5%
City of La Mesa
Mayor: Kristine Alessio
City Council: Laura Lothian and Tony Orlando
City Treasurer: Bill Exeter
Grossmont Union High School District Board
Gary Woods (Area 3), Robert Shield (Area 4), Jim Kelley (Area 5)
Get recommendations for all other East County ballot measures and candidate races below…
Statewide Ballot Measures
Prop 1 — NO
Official Title: Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Plain English Translation: Eliminates Any Restrictions on When Abortions Can Be Performed
Prop 1 is being sold publicly as merely a codification of a pro-choice position in the California state constitution but it actually goes far further than that. The actual text of this ballot measure would repeal the current ban on abortions after 23 weeks of a pregnancy and allow the right to a late-term abortion up to the moment of birth. Prop 1 would give California one of the most extreme abortion laws in the country. This measure may also interfere with existing state laws that allow for Sexually Violent Predators to be placed under mandatory chemical treatment to limit their sex drive and desires. Reform California recommends a NO vote.
Prop 26 — NO
Official Title: Allows In-Person Roulette, Dice Games, Sports Wagering on Tribal Lands. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Plain English Translation: Protects Tribal Gaming Rights, But Enriches Trial Lawyers Through More Frivolous Lawsuits
Prop 26 affirms the current practice of allowing only federally-recognized Native American tribes to operate roulette, dice games, and sports wagering on tribal lands, subject to compacts negotiated by the Governor and ratified by the Legislature. It would also allow on-site sports wagering at privately operated horse-racing tracks in specified counties for ages 21 and up. Unfortunately, the measure contains a “poison pill” to expand the use of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) to allow unscrupulous trial attorneys to file frivolous lawsuits to shakedown small businesses. Reform California recommends a “NO” vote on Prop 26.
Prop 27 — NO
Official Title: Allows Online and Mobile Sports Wagering Outside Tribal Lands. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Plain English Translation: Allows Private Businesses to Engage in Online Gambling to Compete with Native American Tribes
Prop 27 would expand gambling in California beyond casinos currently operated by Native American tribes by allowing private businesses to operate online and mobile sports wagering for persons 21 and up. Native American tribes say this competition from private businesses will undermine their ability to fund programs for their tribes. Reform California recommends a NO vote.
Prop 28 — NO
Official Title: Provides Additional Funding For Arts And Music Education In Public Schools. Initiative Statute.
Plain English Translation: Earmarks Mandatory Funding from the Existing State Education Budget for Arts and Music Programs
Prop 28 is an earmark - or a requirement that the state spend at least a certain amount of funds from the state budget for the exclusive benefit of art and music programs. The earmark mandates that 1% of required state funding be set aside for arts and music programs and then allocates a greater proportion of the funds to schools serving more economically disadvantaged students. Earmarks are not free money - so any earmark will have to come at the expense of other important programs — including programs for fundamental academic areas like reading, writing, arithmetic, etc. Reform California recommends a NO vote.
Prop 29 — NO
Official Title: Requires On-Site Licensed Medical Professional At Kidney Dialysis Clinics And Establishes Other State Requirements. Initiative Statute
Plain English Translation: Imposes Costly Regulations on Kidney Dialysis Clinics to Benefit Organized Labor Unions
Prop 29 may be familiar to voters since it has been rejected TWICE before in 2018 and 2020. Why does it keep appearing on the ballot? Wealthy labor unions force the measure on the ballot in an attempt to impose new costly regulations on kidney dialysis clinics that would benefit the interests of the unions. Prop 29 requires specific medical personnel on site during treatment at outpatient kidney dialysis clinics - whether or not the personnel are even needed. The measure also increases mandatory state reporting and prohibits clinics from closing or substantially reducing services without state approval. A "no” vote keeps your doctors and clinics more independent from state control. Reform California recommends a NO vote.
Prop 30 — NO
Official Title: Provides Funding for Programs to Reduce Air Pollution And Prevent Wildfires by Increasing Tax on Personal Income Over $2 Million.
Plain English Translation: TAX INCREASE - Increases Income Taxes to Fund a Variety of New Government Programs
Prop 30 is a massive income tax increase - even though California already has the highest income taxes in the country of any state. Prop 30 imposes a 1.75% tax increase for personal incomes over $2 million. Revenue for the proposition aims to go toward climate change measures, but the definition of programs eligible for these new funds is quite broad as to allow the funds to be used in a wide-range of ways. Reform California recommends a NO vote.
Prop 31 — NO
Official Title: Referendum on 2020 Law that Would Prohibit the Retail Sale of Certain Flavored Tobacco Products.
Plain English Translation: Should California Ban the Sale of Flavored Tobacco?
Prop 31 is a “referendum” or question on whether a proposed state law should be implemented or rejected. State Senate Bill, SB 793, which prohibits the retail sale of certain flavored tobacco products and tobacco flavor enhancers. A “yes” vote would uphold and pass the law into effect, banning the retail sale of these flavored tobacco products. A “no” vote would overturn the law and tobacco companies would be allowed to sell flavored tobacco products in the state.
Statewide Candidate Races
- Governor - Brian Dahle
- Lt. Governor - Angela Underwood Jacobs
- Attorney General - Nathan Hochman
- Treasurer - Jack Guerrero
- Controller - Lahnee Chen
- Secretary of State - Rob Bernosky
- Superintendent of Public Instruction - Lance Christensen
- State Insurance Commissioner - Robert Howell
- State Board of Equalization - You're Doomed
Justices of the California Supreme Court
- Patricia Guerrero: NO
- Joshua P. Groban: NO
- Martin J. Jenkins: NO
- Goodwin Liu: NO
Justices of the California Courts of Appeal
First District
- Therese M. Stewart: NO
- Alison M. Tucher: NO
- Ioana Petrou: NO
- Carin T. Fujisaki: NO
- Victor A. Rodriguez: NO
- Tracie L. Brown: NO
- Jeremy M. Goldman: NO
- Teri L. Jackson: NO
- Gordon B. Burns: NO
Second District
- Frances Rothschild: NO
- Judith M. Ashmann: NO
- Luis A. Lavin: NO
- Audrey B. Collins: NO
- Brian S. Currey: NO
- Laurence D. Rubin: NO
- Lamar W. Baker: NO
- Hernaldo J. Baltodano: NO
- John L. Segal: NO
- Maria E. Stratton: NO
- John Shepard Wiley Jr.: NO
- Elizabeth Annette Grimes: YES
Third District
- Harry Hull: YES
- Laurie Earl: NO
- Stacy Boulware Eurie: NO
- Peter Krause: YES
Fourth District
- Judith McConnell: NO
- Martin N. Buchanan: NO
- Truc T. Do: NO
- Manuel A. Ramirez: YES
- Carol D. Codrington: YES
- Michael J. Raphael: NO
- Frank Menetrez: NO
- Kathleen E. O’Leary: NO
- William W. Bedsworth: NO
- Eileen C. Moore: NO
- Joanne Motoike: NO
- Maurice Sanchez: NO
Fifth District
- Brad R. Hill: YES
- Bert Levy: NO
- Jennifer Detjen: NO
Sixth District
- Mary J. Greenwood: NO
- Charles E. Wilson II: NO
- Cynthia C. Lie: NO
Legislative Races
- US Senate - Mark Meuser
- US Congress - District 48 - Darrell Issa
- US Congress - District 49 - Brian Maryott
- US Congress - District 50 - Corey Gustafson
- US Congress - District 51 - Stan Caplan
- US Congress - District 52 - Tyler Geffeney
- State Senate – District 18 - Alejandro Galicia
- State Senate – District 32 - Kelly Seyarto
- State Senate – District 38 - Matt Gunderson
- State Senate – District 40 - Brian Jones
- State Assembly – District 74 - Laurie Davies
- State Assembly – District 75 - Marie Waldron
- State Assembly – District 76 - Kristie Bruce-Lane
- State Assembly – District 77 - Dan Downey
- State Assembly – District 78 - Eric Gonzales
- State Assembly – District 79 - Corbin Sabol
- State Assembly – District 80 - You're Doomed
County Candidate Races
- San Diego County Sheriff - John Hemmerling
- District Attorney - Summer Stephan
- Assessor/Recorder/Clerk - Jordan Marks
- Treasurer/Tax Collector - Dan McAllister
- Supervisor, 4th District - Amy Reichert
- Supervisor, 5th District - Jim Desmond
- Board of Education District 3 - Marvin J. Attiq
- Board of Education, District 5 - Emily Ortiz Wichmann
- Superior Court Judge – Office No. 35 - Mike Murphy
- Superior Court Judge – Office No. 36 - Peter Murray
City Candidate Races
City of Carlsbad
- Mayor - Keith Blackburn
- City Council
- District 1: Melanie Burkholder
- District 3: Ray Pearson
- City Treasurer - Craig Lindholm
City of Chula Vista
- Mayor - John McCann
- City Attorney - Dan Smith
- City Council
- District 1: Marco Contreras
- District 2: Steve Stenberg
City of Coronado
- City Council - John Duncan
City of Del Mar
- City Council - Stephen Quirk
City of El Cajon
- Mayor - Bill Wells
- City Council - District 1: Gary Kendrick
City of Encinitas
- Mayor - Cindy Cremona
- City Council
- District 3: Julie Thunder
- District 4: You’re Doomed
City of Escondido
- Mayor - Dane White
- City Council
- District 1: Michael Johnson Palomares
- District 2: Joe Garcia
City of Imperial Beach
- Mayor - Shirley Nakawatase
- City Council
- District 1: Carol Seabury
- District 3: Mitchell McKay
City of La Mesa
- Mayor - Kristine Alessio
- City Council
- Laura Lothian
- Tony Orlando
- City Treasurer - William Exeter
City of Lemon Grove
City Council - Definitely NOT Jennifer Mendoza, Alysson Snow, or Jessica Heredia
National City
- Mayor - NOT Jose Rodriguez or Alejandra Sotelo-Solis
- City Council
- District 1: You’re Doomed
- District 3: Marissa Acierto
City of Oceanside
- City Council
- District 1: Kori Jensen
- District 2: Rick Robinson
City of Poway
- Mayor - Steve Vaus
- City Council
- District 1: Brian Pepin
- District 3: Peter De Hoff
City of San Diego
- City Council
- District 2: Linda Lukacs
- District 4: Definitely NOT Monica Montgomery
- District 6: You’re Doomed
- District 8: You’re Doomed
City of San Marcos
- Mayor - Rebecca Jones
- City Council - District 2: Mike Sannella
City of Solana Beach
- City Council
- District 2: You’re Doomed
- District 4: You’re Doomed
City of Vista
- Mayor - John Franklin
- City Council
- District 1: You’re Doomed
- District 4: Armen Kurdian
School Districts
Alpine Union School District
- Glenn Dickie
- Al Guerra
- Eric Wray
Bonsall Unified School District
- Trustee Area B: Michael Gaddis
- Trustee Area D: Roger Merchat
Borrego Springs Unified School District
- Judy Coyle
Cajon Valley Union School District
- Trustee Area 1: Anthony Carnevale
Carlsbad Unified School District, Trustee Area 1
- Trustee Area 1: Sharon McKeeman
- Trustee Area 4: Gretchen Vurbeff
- Trustee Area 5: Scott Davison
Chula Vista Elementary School District
- Seat 1: Jesse Vigil
- Seat 3: Delia Dominguez Cervantes
- Seat 5: Keren Dominguez
Coronado Unified School District
- Regular Term: Scot Youngblood
- Short-Term: Gerri Machin
Del Mar Union School District
- Scott Wooden
Encinitas Union School District
- Andre Johnson
Escondido Union High School District
- Trustee Area 1: Bob Weller
- Trustee Area 2: Joan Gardner
- Trustee Area 4: Zesty Harper
- Trustee Area 5: Jon Petersen
Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
- Trustee Area 1: Diane Sebalj
- Trustee Area 4: NOT Susan Jackson Liebes
- Trustee Area 5: Mary McBride
Fallbrook Union High
- Trustee Area 1: Courtney Hilborn
- Trustee Area 3: Paul Christensen
Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College
- Trustee Area 1: Dawn Ivy
- Trustee Area 2: Megan D. Dunn
Grossmont Union High School
- Trustee Area 3: Dr. Gary Woods
- Trustee Area 4: Robert Shield
- Trustee Area 5: Jim Kelly
Lakeside Union School District
- Andrew Hayes
- Jim Bennett
- Ron Kasper
- Short Term: Autumn Ellenson
La Mesa-Spring Valley School District
- Trustee Area 1: No endorsement
- Trustee Area 2: Myriam S. Moody
- Trustee Area 3: Kyle Hermann
Mountain Empire Unified School District
- Trustee Area 1: Jeffrey Morrison
National School District (3)
- You’re Doomed
Oceanside Unified School District
- Trustee Area 1: Allyson Mineau
- Trustee Area 4: NOT Tigran Ghukasyan
Palomar Community College
- Trustee Area 1: Frank Xu
- Trustee Area 4: Michelle Rains
- Trustee Area 5: Jacqueline Kaiser
Poway Unified School District
- District B: Ginger Couvrette
- District C: Patrick Batten
- District D: Janet Bremseth
Ramona Unified School District
- Trustee Area 1: Maya Phillips
- Trustee Area 5: Rodger Dohm
Rancho Santa Fe School District
- Jee Manghani
- Kali Kim
San Diego Unified School District
- Trustee Area B: You’re Doomed
- Trustee Area C: Becca Williams
San Dieguito Union High School District
- Trustee Area 1: David Carattini
- Trustee Area 3: Sheila King
- Trustee Area 5: Phan Anderson
San Marcos Unified School District
- Trustee Area C: Stephanie Carroll
- Trustee Area E: Sharyl Cavellier
San Pasqual Union School District
- Trustee Area 1: Kami Goe
Santee School District
- Seat 1: Barbara Ryan
- Seat 5: Either Ken Fox or Tracie Thill
San Ysidro School District (3)
Strategic Voting: While you may vote for up to 3 candidates in this race, please do not vote for any other candidate or candidates, as you may inadvertently knock recommended candidates out of the race. We need to spike the votes for our reform-minded candidates and let left-wing voters split their votes for the other candidates.
- Zaccheri Brown (only candidate to vote for!)
Solana Beach School District
- Trustee Area 1: Aubrey Huff
- Trustee Area 4: You’re Doomed
South Bay Union School District
- Trustee Area 1: No endorsement
- Trustee Area 2: No endorsement
- Trustee Area 4: You are Doomed
Southwestern Community College
- Trustee Area 1: No endorsement
- Trustee Area 4: No endorsement
- Trustee Area 5: Rosemarie Ballard
Sweetwater Union High School District
- Trustee Area 3: Rebekkah Naputi
- Trustee Area 5: NOT Elva Lopez-Zepeda or Marquetta Brown
Valley Center- Pauma Unified School District
- Trustee Area 3: NOT Wendy Heredia
Vista Unified School District
- Trustee Area 2: NOT Rena Marrocco
- Trustee Area 3: Jennifer Telles
Warner Unified School District
- Jeannean Rombal
Special Districts
Alpine Fire Protection District
- Baron "Barry" Willis
- Thomas Girard
- Chase Cromwell
Canebrake County Water District - No endorsement
Deer Springs Fire Protection District
- James Gordon
Fallbrook Community Planning Group (7)
- Steve Brown
- Eileen Delaney
- Lisa Lynn Geffeney
- Kelly Hansen
- Kari Ann Hoyer
- Krystal Lee
- J.J. Neese
Fallbrook Regional Health
- Zone 1: Sydney Lay
- Zone 3: William R. Leach
- Zone 5: Terry Brown
Helix Water District
- Division 2: Jordan Lehr
Jacumba Community Services District (3)
Strategic Voting: While you may vote for up to 3 candidates in this race, please do not vote for any other candidate or candidates, as you may inadvertently knock recommended candidates out of the race. We need to spike the votes for our reform-minded candidates and let left-wing voters split their votes for the other candidates.
- John Hogue
- Debra Yu
Lakeside Community Planning Group
- Oleksandra Reva
- Robert Rutledge
Lakeside Fire Protection District
- Division 5: Robert Peterson
Olivenhain Municipal Water District
- Division 1: Marco San Antonio
- Division 4: Matthew Hahn
Otay Water District
- Division 3: Definitely not Gary Croucher
Padre Dam Municipal Water
Division 3: Bill Pommering
Palomar Healthcare District
- Division 1: Robin Joy Maxson
- Division 3: Laurie Edwards-Tate
- Division 5: John Clark
- Division 7: Carol Ware
Pauma Valley Community Services District (3)
- Richard Collins
- Jodie Michelle Lawston
- Beth Potalivo
Rainbow Community Planning Group (5)
Strategic Voting: While you may vote for up to 5 candidates in this race, please do not vote for any other candidate or candidates, as you may inadvertently knock recommended candidates out of the race. We need to spike the votes for our reform-minded candidates and let left-wing voters split their votes for the other candidates.
- Erin Maturo
- Guy Maturo
- Miguel Gasca
- Greg Irvine
Rainbow Municipal Water District
- Division 3: Miguel Gasca
- Division 4: Definitely not Bill Stewart
Ramona Community Planning Group
- Holly Hamilton-Bleakley
- Janelle Clark
Ramona Municipal Water District
- Division 2: James Hickle
- Division 3: Jim Piva
- Division 4: Either candidate is acceptable
Rincon Del Diablo Water
- Division 1: Greg Quist
- Division 3: James B. Murtland
- Division 4: No endorsement
Spring Valley Community Planning Group (7)
Strategic Voting: While you may vote for up to 7 candidates in this race, please do not vote for any other candidate or candidates, as you may inadvertently knock recommended candidates out of the race. We need to spike the votes for our reform-minded candidates and let left-wing voters split their votes for the other candidates.
- Robert Eble
- John Eugenio
- Lora Lowes
- Heaven Majesta Morgan
- Christopher Michael Pierce
- Lori Noe
Tri-City Healthcare District
- Zone 6: Richard Truchinski
Vallecitos Water District
- Division 2: Jim Hernandez
- Division 3: You’re Doomed
Vista Irrigation District
- Division 3: Richard Alvarez
Election Integrity: The "S.A.F.E." Way to Vote
NOTE: This Election Guide reflects the endorsements made by Carl DeMaio and Reform California and should not be taken as an official endorsement or position of iHeartMedia.
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