Source: press release from Lorena Gonzalez

October 1, 2016 (San Diego) -- A bill by California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) allowing voters to designate a person of their own choosing to return a completed mail ballot to the proper drop-off location or post office was signed into law by the Governor last week.  It will take effect in 2017.

East County News Service

October 1, 2016 (El Cajon) - The Grossmont Healthcare District is hosting "#UThinkUKnowWeed:  How Does Marijuana Impact Our Youth?" on October 10 at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center from 5:30 - 8 p.m.

East County News Service

October 1, 2016 (El Cajon) -- With Election Day just around the corner, here’s an opportunity to get a historical perspective of voting in America.

The Cuyamaca College Department of History, Social and Behavioral Sciences will present “Politics: Past and Present Series 2016,” through the month of October to focus on a variety of political discussion topics, including voter suppression, gender, foreign policy, local propositions, and the role of persuasion in politics.  The free events, sponsored by Student Affairs and led by Cuyamaca College instructors, are open to the public. Refreshments, music and a voter registration drive will cap each discussion.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 1, 2016 (San Diego) - The Registrar of Voters is urging voters to double-check their registration status on its website after some residents got letters from an organization called the Voter Participation Center claiming the residents aren’t registered to vote.



The organization’s letters offer a pre-filled voter registration form that may include incorrect or outdated information or information for persons who don’t live at the address. The letters are causing some confusion because in many instances, the voter is properly registered to vote.

By Liz Alper

September 28, 2016 (San Diego) - The last La Mesa Chamber breakfast of the year was held at Marie Callender's at Alvarado Road.  The speaker was Senator Joel Anderson.

The majority of Senator Anderson's speech was comprised of his reasons for opposing Senate Bill 654.  SB654 aims to increase parental leave for new parents by six weeks.  Senator Anderson, a Republican and former small businessman, believes this will harm small businesses by putting them out of business.  He understands the struggle that small businesses have already and does not want to add six more weeks of parental leave to that. 

September 16, 2016 (Lemon Grove) – East County Magazine invites you to attend a forum with candidates running for Helix Water District’s board and Lemon Grove Mayor.  The forum will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at the Lemon Grove Library (3001 School Lane).  You can meet and greet candidates from 5 to 5:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Come meet the candidates,  hear their goals for the future and responses to questions posed by East County Magazine’s editor, plus bring questions on issues that matter most to you!

East County News Service

September 19, 2016 (San Diego) -- Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton will face off on September 26th at 6 p.m.Pacific Standard Time in the first presidential debate at Hofstra University in New York. Lester Holt from NBC news will be the moderator.

East County News Service

September 16, 2016 (Santee) — The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, along with the East County Development Council, Santee, Lakeside and Alpine Mountain Empire Chambers invite you to Politics in Paradise part 2. 

Candidates for races across East County have been invited—including city council and mayoral contests as well as races ranging from school boards to the Grossmont Healthcare district. Here’s your chance to meet candidates up close and personal, hear their ideas, ask questions and network with movers and shakers from across our region.

East County News Service



September 17, 2016 (San Diego) – California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein are among 27 Democratic Senators introducing a Senate resolution calling for every American to have the choice of a public health insurance option.  A broad coalition including labor and progressive groups are also calling for the public, Medicare-like option that would guarantee healthcare as a right for all Americans.

You can listen now  to a podcast of our interview by clicking the audio link: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au..., or click "read more" and scroll down for highlights.

By Miriam Raftery

Mark your calendars for our candidate forum with Helix Water Board candidates and Lemon Grove Mayoral candidates on Wednesday, September 21 at the Lemon Grove Library.Meet candidates at 5 p.m. with the forum starting at 5:30.

September 16, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – John Linden has served on the Helix Water District Board since 2000.  He’s proud of his service and of the Helix district’s long history since its establishment back in the 1880s.  He’s running for reelection in district 1, against three challengers. We sat down for an interview with Linden that originally aired on KNSJ radio.

East County News Service

September 14, 2016 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to a "Meet The Candidates" forum on Thursday, September 15 at the La Mesa Community Center (4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa).

All three candidates for the La Mesa City Councill will be present:  incumbents Ruth Sterling and Kristine Alessio, as well as challengerColin Parent.

This is a great opportunity to meet the candidates who wish to serve you. 

By Miriam Raftery

September 11, 2016 (New York) – Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton left a 911 memorial event in New York early and stumbled as she was helped into her limousine.  Her campaign initially reported she suffered heat exhaustion but later stated that she has been diagnosed with pneumonia. 

Her doctor has indicated she is being treated with antibiotics and is recovering, though he has advised curtailing her campaign schedule for a few days. Clinton was later filmed leaving her daughter,Chelsea's home,walking unassisted and waving.

East County News Service

September 11, 2016 (El Cajon) - The city of El Cajon is offering three workshops on Measure S on Sept. 14 and 15, and again on Oct. 3.

If approved by voters, the measure would provide for district elections for city council seats, meanng each councilmember would represent a specific neighborhood, instead of city-wide elections for all seats.

East County News Service

September 7, 2016 (San Diego) – Opponents of Measure A, the countywide transportation initiative, have filed a lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court challenging the accuracy of ballot statements filed by Measure A supporters.

Prominent Latinos drop support of Trump after speech;

Illegal immigration at lowest level since 1972;

Fact checkers find many false statements in Trump’s speech.

By Miriam Raftery; Photo by Gage Skidmore

September 1,2016 (San Diego) – Just hours after returning from meeting Mexico’s president, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump delivered a fiery speech in Arizona in which he stereotyped Mexicans as rapists and murderers, called for a revival of an “Operation Wetback” deportation program similar to a widely criticized program under the Eisenhower administration, but  tougher.  

He announced plans to cancel President Obama’s actions to protect people brought here as children and parents of U.S. citizens.  He made clear that his goal is to ultimately deport every undocumented immigration in the U.S.  “Anyone who has entered the United States illegally is subject to deportation,”Trump stated. “Our message to the world will be this: You cannot obtain legal status,or become a citizen of the United States, by illegally entering our country. Can’t do it.”

As for undocumented immigrants already living in the U.S., his words are striking fear. “They have to go back."