By Buck Shott

June 7, 2010 – With Election Day tomorrow, last-minute endorsements and attacks are rolling out. Here’s a wrap-up on the latest political wrangling on the campaign trail:

 
Update:  Watch full video of the debate now posted here in 8 parts: http://www.youtube.com/user/EastCountyMagazine  

How would you as a  freshman legislator attempt to alleviate and help address the budget crisis? http://vimeo.com/12276900.
By Miriam Raftery
 
June 3, 2010 (El Cajon ) – Seven candidates for state legislative offices fielded questions and presented their views at a candidate forum sponsored by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce Tuesday and moderated by former TV news anchor Vic Salazar at the Elks Lodge in El Cajon. Candidates clashed on views over how to turn the economy around and bring jobs to East County, with visions that ranged from slashing taxes to specific plans for actively bringing green manufacturing jobs to our region.

79th district Democrats Ben Hueso, Pearl Quinones in Bonita;

77th district Republican Christine Rubin at Barrett Junction

May 6, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – On Thursday, May 13th, voters are invited to meet local candidates for Assembly at two separate locations. Both events are free and open to the public.
 

May 5, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- KCBQ radio will host a debate amonth the three Republican candidates for the 77th Assembly District: Christine Rubin, Brian Jones, and Bill Wells. Rick Amato will host the debate live from 9:15 to 10 p.m.

The winner of the debate will face off in November against Mark Hanson, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

April 15, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Incumbent Assemblyman Joel Anderson’s decision to run for the State Senate creates an open seat. Three local Republicans want the job –and they are facing off in the June primary. Two of the candidates, Brian Jones and Bill Wells, are elected council members in Santee and El Cajon. The third, Christine Rubin, is an educator and political communications strategist who has worked many campaigns including the McCain-Palin ticket. The winner in June’s primary will vie against Democrat Mark Hanson, an educator, business and nonprofit leader who formerly ran for State Senate, in the November election.

To learn more about the three Republican contenders, click on their photos below. Hanson, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, has not yet established a website or campaign materials. ECM will profile Hanson in a future issue.

“The number one most important thing for East County right now is to create more jobs. The on ly way we can do that right now is to decrease the regulatory burden.” – Brian Jones

April 15, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Santee Vice Mayor Brian Jones is vying against two other candidates (El Cajon Councilman Bill Wells and educator/political communications specialist Christine Rubin) in the Republican primary. He hopes to fill the vacancy left by Joel Anderson, who is running for State Senate. If successful in June, Jones will face off against Democrat Mark Hanson in November.

Christine Rubin – “Public service is ingrained in me.”
By Miriam Raftery
April 14, 2010 (San Diego's East County)--The San Diego region has elected many women to public office including Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Pam Slater-Price, U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, State Senators Christine Kehoe and Denise Ducheny, Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, and former Assemblywoman Shirley Horton.
But East County’s 77th Assembly District has been represented by men for nearly two decades. Now  Christine Rubin hopes to change that.

 
"I believe that it is the duty of government to diminish itself to the point that the people are not burdened by taxes. It is the duty of elected officials to force the government to restrict itself to the functions of protecting the people and providing the necessary infrastructure for people to thrive. " -- Bill Wells
By Miriam Raftery

April 15, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Less than two years after winning election to the El Cajon Council, conservative Bill Wells is running for the 77th Assembly seat being vacated by Joel Anderson. (Anderson is running for the State Senate). Wells is among three candidates in the Republican primary in June, along with Santee Vice Mayor Brian Jones and Christine Rubin, educator and political communications professional. The winner will face off against Democrat Mark Hanson in the November election.
 
If successful in winning election, Wells will leave an open seat which will be filled via appointment of his successor by the remaining El Cajon Council members.