It’s been nearly a week since San Diego voted in the California Primary and here, in brief, are some of the changes or noteworthy developments from our last report:
Mayor — No Substantial Change
The newest results show Gloria has come down a percentage point, as has Larry Turner to 23.3%, and Genevieve Jones-Wright has notched up a point and half. With the suit challenging Turner’s residency qualifications dismissed, and only 54,000 ballots to be yet tallied, it will be Turner, the “Protest” candidate against Gloria, the incumbent mayor who barely got half the Primary votes.
Gloria’s poor showing could really make him vulnerable come the fall battle, especially if everybody who doesn’t like Gloria rallies around Turner, who then becomes the “anti-Gloria” candidate. That could be a tall order because the concept of the Sunbreak Ranch doesn’t sit well with many and Turner, even though an independent, may find it difficult to cultivate Jones-Wright’s progressive supporters. On the other hand, perhaps Turner will become the lightning rod for the Republican base and able to craft together a coalition of sorts: disgruntled Democrats and progressives, and others fed up with Gloria, along with San Diego’s independents. Here are the latest:
TODD GLORIA
122,866
50.11%
LARRY TURNER
57,023
23.25%
GENEVIÉVE L. JONES-WRIGHT
38,241
15.60%
JANE L. GLASSON
17,755
7.24%
Other
9,323
3.80%
City Attorney – No substantial change
City Council District 3
The major change in this race is that it appears that Coleen Cusack has solidified her second-place finish to challenge Whitburn in November. At our last update, Cusack had 18.7% and has gained 2 percentage points since to 20.6% whereas Kate Callen has not moved her percentages. There’s now 1,175 votes between them. Whitburn lost a couple of points.
STEPHEN WHITBURN
15,945
52.61%
COLEEN CUSACK
6,260
20.65%
KATE CALLEN
5,085
16.78%
ELLIS T. CALIFORNIA JONES III
3,019
9.96%
City Council District 4 Short Term – No substantial change
There’s been no substantial changes to this race and it appears more than ever that Henry Foster will win the special election in District 4 to serve out Monica Montgomery-Steppe’s last year.
HENRY FOSTER III
8,095
53.67%
CHIDA WARREN-DARBY
4,126
27.36%
TYLISA D. SUSEBERRY
2,861
18.97%
City Council District 9
Challenger and politico-unknown Terry Hoskins will go up against the incumbent Sean Elo-Rivera in District 9 in the General Election. Elo-Rivera — the Council President — did break through and has now reached over 50% in the count while Hoskins has lost over 2 and half percentage points since the last count. The other challenger in the district race was Fernando Garcia who has received almost 18%.
SEAN ELO-RIVERA
8,979
51.13%
TERRY HOSKINS
5,434
30.95%
FERNANDO GARCIA
3,147
17.92%
Other Races
MEMBER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY 79TH DISTRICT
There is a possible change in this race for the 79th: Vasquez – the mayor of Lemon Grove – has lost ground to Sharp-Collins, the party-preferred candidate, and now there’s just 100 or so votes between them.
COLIN PARENT, DEM
20,280
39.95%
RACQUEL VASQUEZ, DEM
15,297
30.14%
LASHAE SHARP-COLLINS, DEM
15,183
29.91%
OBceans’ tries for Democratic Party Central Committee
DEMOCRATIC COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE 77TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
A number of OBceans or people with ties to Ocean Beach tried to get elected to the Central Committee of the Democratic Party for the 77th Assembly District. This is the district where Todd Gloria ran and won with 17.6%. Becca Taylor used to live in OB and was on the OB Town Council; she’s now head of the County’s Party. She was re-elected with almost 10% (9.8%) which is more than councilmember Whitburn received (9.3%).
It’s tough to get elected to this policy-making committee. Many in OB know animal-rights lawyer Bryan Pease who is the president of the Animal Protection and Rescue League which used to own a small, thrift shop on Newport Ave — who did not get elected with only 10,139 votes which was 5.09%. Our friend Gregg Robinson who lives in Point Loma and who has been active in OB over the years and who has been elected before to the County Board of Education, didn’t make the committee this time with 2.5%. And Mandy Havlik who is on the Peninsula Planning Board and the OB Town Council didn’t make it either with her 1.81%. Neither did either Derek Casady with 1.63% or Nancy Casady — the former CEO of People’s with her 1.48%. Here’s a partial list of candidates and results :
TODD GLORIA, DEM
35,162
17.65%
BECCA TAYLOR, DEM
19,438
9.76%
STEPHEN WHITBURN, DEM
18,504
9.29%
FRANCINE BUSBY, DEM
15,535
7.80%
BRYAN PEASE, DEM
10,139
5.09%
GREGG ROBINSON, DEM
5,049
2.53%
MANDY HAVLIK, DEM
3,611
1.81%
DEREK CASADY, DEM
3,245
1.63%
NANCY CASADY, DEM
2,946
1.48%
Cate Callen just sent this out:
“With Heartfelt Thanks
I want to begin this final campaign e-blast by congratulating Coleen Cusack on her second-place finish in the District 3 primary race. Coleen is my friend. She is a woman of principle who would bring integrity to the D3 Council seat. I wish her success in the general election.
This campaign has been an amazing experience. I will use what I have learned to forge a new path, not in politics, but in investigative journalism. The people of District 3 have made it clear they are outraged by the degradation of their city government. The bad actors who have flouted laws and squandered money have left footprints. It’s time to follow that trail.
I am truly blessed that so many people gave me so much encouragement and support. Our “Neighborhoods First!” mantra has resonated. Let’s keep fighting to safeguard local democracy. Please stay in touch.”
From Monday, March 11 latest vote count: there’s only a 12 vote difference now between Vasquez and Sharp-Collins for second place in the 79th Assembly District.