By Susan Taylor and Miriam Raftery 

November 3, 2022 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa-Spring Valley School District will soon have a majority of new faces, since incumbents Megan Epperson and Charda Bell are not seeking reelection in trustee areas 1 and 3. In addition, the resignation of Sarah Rhiley resulted in the Board appointing Nathanial Allen last month to complete her term in trustee area 5. 

 

Six candidates are vying for three seats on the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District Board. In trustee area 1, business owner and former board member Jim Long is running against Tiffany Caitlin, a teacher.  In area 2, board president Rebecca McRae, an elementary school teacher, seeks reelection and faces challenger Myriam Moody, a community college professor.  In area 3, La Mesa Planning Commissioner Brianna Coston is running against teacher and university administrator Hermann Kyle.

The California Teachers Association has endorsed Caitlin, McRae, and Coston. So has the San Diego County Democratic Party.  The San Diego County Republican Party has endorsed Moody and Kyle.

East County Magazine sent questionnaires to all candidates running but disappointingly, only one candidate, Jim Long, replied. His responses are published below.

By Jake Christie

October 28, 2022 (Spring Valley) – While many other local planning groups and governmental bodies have resumed in-person meetings that were suspended due to COVID-19, the Spring Valley Community Planning Group (SVCPG) is still meeting only virtually.

By Miriam Raftery

October 28, 2022 (San Francisco) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 82-year-old husband, Paul, was brutally assaulted by a hammer-wielding attacker at the couple’s San Francisco home early Friday morning.

Police have confirmed that the intruder shouted “Where is Nancy?” not realizing that the Speaker was not in town.

Paul Pelosi managed to dial 911 and kept the line open, allowing a 911 operator to hear the exchange and dispatch police.

Officers arrived in time to witness the elderly Pelosi struggling with the assailant, who bashed Paul Pelosi in the head before police officers wrestled him to the ground.

By Robin N. Kendall

October 27, 2022 (Alpine) -- Alpine Union School District voters can change or keep the status quo in this year’s election for school board trustees, with three seats on the ballot and five candidates. Two candidates are challengers and the other three are incumbents. Trustees in Alpine represent the entire district, so voters can choose three names when they mark their ballots.

By Mike Allen

October 25, 2022 (Santee) -- The Santee School District’s board of trustees has three seats of the board’s five seats up for election this cycle.

However, for Seat Number 3, there is only one candidate, incumbent Dustin Burns.

For Seat Number 1, there are two candidates, Ron Burner, a realtor, and incumbent Barbara Ryan.

For Seat Number 5, three candidates are on the ballot: Joseph Dolin, a sales supervisor; incumbent Ken Fox, who has served on the board for 12 years; and Tracie Thill, who describes herself as a parent/ educator/ advocate.

East County Magazine sent out questionnaires to all six candidates and received two responses — from Burner and Thill -- which are published in full below.

By Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Mejgan Afshan

October 21, 2022 (La Mesa) - A political action group calling itself San Diegans Against Hate has come out in opposition to La Mesa City Council candidate Mejgan Afshan, describing her anti-Israel positions as antisemitic.  Afshan, daughter of Afghan refugees, was invited via her campaign website to respond on Wednesday, Oct. 19, by San Diego Jewish World, but had not done so by late afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 20.

By Mike Allen

October 18, 2022 (Santee) -- A group of four environmental organizations led by Preserve Wild Santee filed a lawsuit to overturn the city of Santee’s approval last month of Fanita Ranch, the 3,000 residential project that has been hotly contested for several decades.

By Mike Allen

October 17, 2022 (Lakeside) -- Voters in the unincorporated town of Lakeside will get to vote on four seats of the five-member Lakeside Union School District this November.

The Lakeside district, which covers nearly 75 square miles and has about 5,000 students, consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools, a preschool program, a DREAM Academy, and world language programs.

Seven candidates are running for three seats with a full four-year term, and two candidates are running for a shortened term. 

For the three full term seats the candidates are Jim Bennet, Maureen Cruise, Holly Ferrante, Aaron Gordon, Andrew Hayes, Ron Kasper, and Bonnie LaChappa.  For the short-term seat, the two candidates are incumbent Don Whisman, and Autumn Ellenson.

East County Magazine sent questionnaires out to all nine candidates and received four responses, which are published in full below.

October 15, 2022 (San Diego) – In an interview with East County Magazine also aired on KNSJ Radio, State Senator Brian Jones talked about his accomplishments in the Legislature and his priorities if reelected.

Senator Jones has served in the California Legislature for the past 12 years, first in the Assembly , and now in the State Senate, where he’s also the Senate Republican Caucus Chair. He has a degree in business administration from San Diego State, and has worked as a government relations consultant and church broker. He’s also a former Santee City Councilman and resident of Santee, along with his wife and their three children.

Click the video link to view the full interview, and scroll down to read highlights.

By Miriam Raftery

October 12, 2022 (Alpine) – Voters are often frustrated in trying to get information on judicial candidates since they are prohibited from answering questions on any issues that may come before them in court. But during the Candidates to Constituents forum in Alpine recently, Superior Court judicial candidates Pete Singer and Rebeca Kanter provided details on their backgrounds and experience that provided clear insights into their core values and qualifications.

By Henri Migala

View the full interview by clicking the image below, and scroll down to read highlights.

October 7, 2022 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Councilwoman Laura Lothian spoke with ECM via zoom about her run for re-election. Council. The interview also aired on KNSJ radio, 89.1 FM.

Lothian is one of four candidates running (a fifth, Kathleen Brand, has dropped out); ECM will be publishing and airing interviews with all the candidates over the next several days. She aims to "class up" La Mesa, bucking the trend toward high-density housing downtown, while also working to reduce homeless and crime, as well as cut regulations for businesses and homeowners with permit applications for new construction or remodeling.

By Miriam Raftery

View a video report by John Lekven with excerpts of Senator Jones’ press conference by clicking the image below; scroll down to read highlights.

October 9, 2022 (Escondido) – State Senator Brian W. Jones (R-Santee) held a press conference Sept. 23 to announce a new bill he plans to introduce on the first day of the next legislative session, December 5. The measure would prohibit homeless encampments near sensitive community areas such as schools, parks, libraries, and day-care centers. It would also require enforcement officers to provide information to homeless people about sleeping alternatives, homeless and mental health services, and homeless shelters.

“It’s unfair and dangerous for neighbors, families and children that are near these sensitive areas. Our measure, along with Governor Newsom’s Care Court, will hopefully work together to help end the public camping in these areas, while also compassionately assisting  the homeless with getting treatment for their  mental and health needs and finding a more suitable space to stay.”  He added that he is not seeking to criminalize homelessness. “Every Californian deserves a path off the street, and our bill will help make that happen.”

East County News Service

October 10, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) - Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) announced the formation of the Congressional Rodeo Caucus, which he will chair alongside his bipartisan colleagues Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) and Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16).

By Miriam Raftery, based on interview by Henri Migala

October 6, 2022 (La Mesa) – In an interview with East County Magazine’s Henri Migala originally aired on KNSJ radio, La Mesa City Council candidate Mejgan Afshan shared her experience as a civil rights leader and her goals to build a more equitable La Mesa if elected. She is one of four candidates running (a fifth, Kathleen Brand, has dropped out); ECM will be publishing interviews with all of the candidates over the next several days.

Update Nov. 15, 2022:  A federal appeals court has blocked the student loan forgiveness plan.  The Biden Administration is likely to appeal the decision.

By Miriam Raftery

October 7, 2022 (San Diego) – Congressman Darrell Issa has been sharply critical of President Joe Biden for cancelling a small percentage (10-20%) of student loan debts. But Greene Properties in Vista, for which Issa is listed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), pocketed $151,313 in federal loan forgiveness on a Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The company’s website had since gone dark, offline for at least the past several weeks.