Public invited to meet elected officials and candidates

August 26, 2010 (La Mesa) –Instead of its annual convention, San Diego's County Democratic Party is hosting a free campaign kickoff and rally from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 29 at Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa. Members of the California Legislature as well as candidates for Congress, State Senate, Assembly, and local races will be at the event, which includes a potluck picnic and entertainment.

 
August 25, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- After 11 days of fasting, Democratic Congressional Candidate Ray Lutz announced Monday that after founding a new national organization (Debate for Democracy) to carry on the fight for congressional debates in districts nationwide, he will end his fast. eat. Libertarian candidate Michael Benoit has also resumed eating.

 
Candidates are “hungry for debate” with Rep. Duncan Hunter
 
East County News Service

August 22, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) –Ten days into a hunger strike, Democratic Congressional candidate Ray Lutz has become the topic of national news coverage, including an interview Thursday on CNN . Lutz and Libertarian candidate Michael Benoit are holding the hunger strike to draw attention to Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon) refusing to debate them until after absentee ballot voting has begun.  In San Diego, 60% of voters cast absentee ballots last election.
 
At Friday night’s “Politics in Paradise”, the two candidates joined dozens of supporters in a protest outside the event where Hunter and other elected officials participated in a public forum, but challenger candidates were not included. Hunter has claimed his legislative schedule precludes him from returning to his district for a debate prior to October.

By Patrick Riggs
 
Ray Lutz, Democratic candidate for the 52nd Congressional district, slammed incumbent Rep. Duncan D. Hunter’s vote against the Tribal Law and Order Act HR725. Democratic Lutz, I assume, did not read the “riders” (90 pages) added to HR725 which seem to be contradictory and at times confusing. This seems to be the rule with most good bills that have pages of “riders” attached. These riders authorized over $1 billion in spending which would be an additional burden on the taxpaying citizens.

 
Challenger accuses Rep. Hunter of dodging early debates; Hunter wants to wait until Congress is in recess--after absentee ballots have been mailed

 
By Miriam Raftery

August 12, 2010 (El Cajon) – In the 52nd Congressional District, Democratic candidate Ray Lutz is dishing up a new campaign tactic: a hunger strike. He hopes to convince Rep. Duncan D. Hunter to participate in a series of debates before absentee voting by mail begins. “Until Hunter steps up to the plate, I’ll be stepping away from the dinner plate,” Lutz said in a press release.

Flurry of new charter approvals raises questions over state funding priorities in an era of budget shortfalls
East County Magazine Special Report

By Miriam Raftery
 

August 5, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – In the 2009-2010 school year, California approved more than 88 new charter schools at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. Recent charters approved include middle schools opening in districts that already have schools with high academic achievements--new charters with oversight provided by a district with middle school test scores that rank in the bottom 10% statewide.

These findings, discovered by East County Magazine, raise serious questions about budget priorities at a time when the state faces a $20 billion deficit.  What are the long-range consequences of approving numerous charters, all entitled to a portion of public education funds? 

Hunter representative defends vote on cost, transparency issues

August 3, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Ray Lutz, Democratic candidate for the 52nd Congressional district, slammed incumbent Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R-El Cajon) for voting against the Tribal Law and Order Act HR 725), calling it a “vote protecting rapists.” President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on July 30, as ECM previously reported.

The measure allows tribal councils to prosecute criminals including rape victims when the defendant is an outsider and the U.S. Department of Justice has declined to prosecute.  A study by Amnesty International found that one in three Native American women is raped during her lifetime; 86% of those rapes are committed by non-native men, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
 

July 29, 2010 (San Diego's East County) – “This is destructive...It’s sabotage,” said Ray Lutz,  Democratic challenger to the 52nd Congressional seat. Lutz was reacting to Senate Republicans' filibuster of the Small Business Lending Fund Act, which would create a $30 billion lending fund for small businesses.  The bulk would be used to help community banks and credit unions start lending money again to local businesses.

Republican Congressman Duncan D. Hunter, Lutz’s opponent, voted no on the measure in the House June 17--four days after telling local business leaders that he shared their concerns over the need to help community banks and credit unions free up funds to lend to small businesses.

 “I believe that the PACE program is critical to stimulating our local and statewide economy. I’m glad to see this lawsuit filed so that this novel program can continue.” --San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, joining Brown at today's press conference in San Diego

July 14, 2010 (San Diego) – California Attorney General Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown today filed a lawsuit against mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for blocking the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs nationwide.  View a video of today's press conference in San Diego:

 
LOCAL LEADERS REACT TO DECISION WITH SHOCK & AWE
 
July 13, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The last 19-mile link of SDG&E’s controversial Sunrise Powerlink transmission line project has been approved by Cleveland National Forest director William Metz, the Union-Tribune reports.
 
“We are not surprised by Metz’s decision, although we are disappointed,” Laura Cyphert, cofounder of the East County Community Action Coalition (ECCAC), an organization representing 79,000 people opposed to Powerlink, told East County Magazine. “Metz was under considerable political pressure. Fortunately we have anticipated this day, and are prepared to take every necessary legal action…Over a year ago, the legwork was started for a lawsuit against the Forest Service in the event that they permitted this project. We are well positioned to prevail in the court room.” 

 

“I am persuaded that this project will not be built. It was conceived in secrecy ….sold with misleading information.” – Stephen Volker, attorney

Anonymous donor pledges to match donations for legal battle up to $20,000

June 24, 2010 (Alpine) – A standing-room-only crowd of around 700 people packed into the Alpine Community last night, where Supervisor Dianne Jacob and the Protect Our Communities Foundation convened a meeting for the public to provide input on SDG&E’s proposal to route Sunrise Powerlink through the Cleveland National Forest.  No representatives were present from the U.S. Forest Service or SDG&E.
 
Many public officials and candidates for office came out in opposition to the project—while others were conspicuous by their absence or failure to take a stance. 
 
The public has until June 29 to submit comments to Forest Supervisor William Metz. You may submit your comments online at www.mailroom_r5_cleveland@fs.fed.us and include the subject line “Sunrise Powerlink Comments” or call to leave recorded comments at (858)673-6180.

Community leaders testify on Viejas’ behalf, ask Padre’s water board to find alternative solution;
Viejas to ask judge on Friday to extend injunction

By Miriam Raftery

June 24, 2010 (Santee) – Improper. Disrespectful. Inappropriate. Embarassing. Those were some of the terms community leaders used at yesterday’s Padre Dam Municipal Water Board hearing to describe the Board’s refusal to halt construction at a planned reservoir and pipeline site near Lake Jennings.

“I’ve just come from the site,” Leon Thompson testified, drawing an audible gasp from the crow when he added that he shot video showing “desecration continuing” of areas near a circle of rocks marking grave sites.  View video here.

 
 
June 20, 2010 (San Diego) – The All Saints’ Episcopal Church Choir will present a free classical/sacred choral concert today at 4 p.m. in the All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 625 Pennsylvania Avenue in San Diego. The event is dedicated to the memory of Harold G. Lutz, an East County choral conductor, composer and educator.

Lutz taught music, directed the choir and award-winning marching band at Grossmont High School from 1939 to 1955, with the exception of a few years overseas during World War II. He composed the school hymn, “Hail to Thee, Dear Grossmont. He later taught at El Cajon Valley High School. Lutz also brought together music lovers and the business community to create the Grossmont Community Concert Association.

HUNTER ALSO WINS EASILY; WATCHDOG TO FACE CONGRESSSMAN IN NOVEMBER

 

June 9, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Raymond Lutz won a decisive victory in the 52nd Congressional district Democratic Primary, winning 70.63% of the vote. His opponent, community activist Connie Frankowiak of Anza-Borrego, received 29.3% with all precincts counted.
 

In November, Lutz will face off against incumbent Republican Congressman Duncan D. Hunter, who won a resounding primary victory over Tea Party activist Terri Linnell by a 90.5 to 9.5% margin.

By Miriam Raftery
 
June 3, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – While other candidates are hitting the campaign trail, Congressman Duncan D. Hunter is in Afghanistan visiting troops and getting an update on the war.  On the home front, four candidates are on the ballot in the June 8th primary, each taking aim in hopes of representing the 52nd Congressional district.
 
While running against the Hunter family legacy (the current Republican Congressman replaced his father, also named Duncan Hunter), may seen a daunting task, Democrats Ray Lutz and Connie Frankowiak, as well as Republican Terri Linnell and Libertarian Michael Benoit, are taking on the challenge.

June 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Ray Lutz, Democratic candidate for the 52nd Congressional District, praised the U.S. Senate's confirmation of Laura Duffy as new U.S. Attorney in San Diegio.  Duffy, appointed by President Barack Obama,  fills the position once held by Carol Lam, "who was surprisingly dismissed after she successfully prosecuted Randy 'Duke' Cunningham, Dusty Foggo and Brent Wilkes," noted Lutz.

Lam, along with numerous other U.S. Attorneys, was fired by the George W. Bush administration despite winning a conviction against then-Congressman Cunningham for bribery and other charges. Suggestions have long been made by critics of the Bush administration that Lam’s abrupt dismissal may have been an effort to squelch her investigation into another powerful Congressman – Duncan Hunter, then chair of the House Armed Services Committee.

Staff members of Anderson & Kriger, a La Mesa-based law firm, volunteered their time on Saturday, April 24 by delivering two car loads of supplies and about $1,750 in contributions to El Centro and Calexico to help survivors of the Easter Sunday earthquake. 

“We found out that going across the border with supplies is a bit of a challenge, but there are plenty of opportunities to provide help on this side of the border," senior partner Clayton Anderson said.“There are thousands of residents of Calexico who were driven from their homes, many of them children, and they are struggling to get back to normal. Donations and supplies are still needed, and we may focus primarily on providing transportation of supplies being gathered in San Diego as part of the earthquake relief effort."

By Buck Shott

May 28, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – With just 10 days until the June 8 primary, hit pieces are out in droves--like killer bees swarming to finish off hapless victims. As usual, there’s a fair amount of truth-stretching going on. Greatest “hits” of the season include:

Board meets May 13; Critics slam GUHSD for secretly stacking advisory board with conservative political figures

May 12, 2010 (Alpine) – Why doesn’t the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) want the public to be given the names of people appointed to serve on a committee to name Alpine’s planned new high school?

“It’s a secret that East county’s high school district evidently would prefer you didn’t know,” stated a San Diego Union-Tribune editorial.  The GUHSD board forced the newspaper to file an official public records act request to obtain committee members' names. The list suggests the GUHSD trustees hand-picked political figures, a large majority of whom support naming the new school after former president Ronald Reagan.

1,500 TURN OUT IN LOCAL MAY DAY PROTESTS; OFFICIALS & CANDIDATES VOICE VIEWS

By Miriam Raftery

May 1, 2010 – Across America, hundreds of thousands participated in May Day marches and rallies to protest Arizona’s new immigration law, which requires that law enforcement officers demand papers proving legal status from anyone suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. Supporters say the law is necessary to stem the flow of illegal immigration, but opponents fear it will lead to civil rights violations, illegal detention of legal residents, and a climate of intimidation.

By Miriam Raftery
 
March 23, 2010 – President Barack Obama today signed into law historic healthcare reform legislation. Locally, the measure drew sharp criticism from Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) but praise from Hunter’s Democratic opponent, Raymond Lutz.

By Buck Shott

A Roundup of the latest national, state and local political news
 

March 1, 2010 -- As filing deadlines fast approach, who's in, who's out, and who's still on the fence?  Find out here!

By Miriam Raftery
Updated 11/25 8:45 p.m.
November 25, 2009 (El Cajon) – Surreptitious taping and dumpster diving are the latest tactics used by critics seeking to discredit a local chapter of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now;www.acorn.org), the largest national organization focused on advocating for the poor and disadvantaged. The latest revelations cast doubt not only on the actions of ACORN employees, but also raise questions over the legality of tactics used to obtain information. The controversy includes questions over the legality of surreptitious taping of an East County Democratic Club meeting in El Cajon, as well as questions over the propriety of actions taken in response by Club president Raymond Lutz.