Flickr/ Justin in SD
Campaign financial reports for the second half of 2017 were released recently. There’s good news and bad news, and news needing to be taken with a grain of salt.
In San Diego County, the system of passing the torch from retiring officeholder to anointed successor gives the GOP candidates for District Attorney and D4 Supervisor all the advantages of incumbency sans the need to defend past actions. Republican Bonnie Dumanis is running as a “Judge” in the hopes of creating some distance from the scandals associated with her tenure as County District Attorney.
Simply put, the County government is the biggest entity impacting the most lives in San Diego. And if you look closely, it’s apparent the decisions of the Board of Supervisors regularly favor interests whose fundamental values do not align with those of most of the people living in the region.
The 2018 election represents an opportunity to begin changing that reality. As is true with any big institution, change will not happen overnight. But you have to start somewhere.
Endorsements are also important when it comes to running a successful campaign for office, and I expect the State Democratic Convention in late February and the San Diego Labor Council’s final set of endorsements (they’ve already done some) in late March to provide some additional clarity.
I’m covering San Diego City & County Races today. Look for House of Representatives on Thursday.
The important thing to know about County elections is most of them will be decided in the June primary. Candidates winning more than 50% of the vote in the races for Assessor, Sheriff, District Attorney, and Supervisor get a pass on the general election. Non-county elections allow the top two candidates to face each other in the general election.
Ok, some numbers, covering the second half of 2017. Democrats have a 7% advantage in registered voters in the County. Republicans (mostly) have raised more money. While County races are technically non-partisan, the only place that designation means anything is on the ballots, which don’t list affiliations.
I have rounded numbers to the nearest hundred. Amounts reflect monetary contributions, not in-kind services. Cash on hand may not balance due to carryovers from old campaigns or loans.
County Assessor*
Ernest Dronenburg (R-Incumbent)
Raised $19,700 YTD $22,100 Cash On Hand $56,700
Matt Strabone (D)
Raised $18,600, YTD $65,300 Cash on Hand $24,600
SDFP Article on this contest
*Something hinky? From Joshua Stewart at the Union-Tribune:
Dronenburg’s report did not reflect $25,000 in debt he reported from the first half of last year, nor does it show a repayment of those funds. Dronenburg did not respond to a request for comment.
County Sheriff
Bill Gore (R-Incumbent)
Raised $113,100, YTD $212,800, Cash on hand $166,100
Dave Myers (D)
Raised $58,300, YTD 100,400, Cash on hand $36,300
SDFP article on this contest
District Attorney
Summer Stephan (R-Appointed Incumbent)
Raised $146,000, YTD $345,500, Cash on hand $241,600
Genevieve Jones-Wright (D)
Raised $105,000, YTD $105,000, Cash on hand $85,500
SDFP article on this contest
District 2 Supervisor (North County)
Jim Desmond (R)
Raised $73,600, YTD 185,700, Cash on hand 193,800
Jerry Kern (R)
Raised $36,000, YTD 112,900, Cash on hand $111,600
Esther Sanchez (D)
Raised $0, YTD $1000, Cash on hand $1000
We haven’t covered his contest, yet.
District 4 Supervisor (Mostly City of San Diego)
Bonnie Dumanis (R)
Raised $310,500, YTD $310,500, Cash on hand $252,600
SDFP article on Bonnie Dumanis
Nathan Fletcher (D)
Raised $300,700, YTD $300,700, Cash on hand $255,600
SDFP article on Nathan Fletcher
Omar Passons (D)
Raised $88,700, YTD $210,700, Cash on hand $8100
SDFP article on Omar Passons
Ken Malbrough (D)
Raised $13,500, YTD $13,500, Cash on hand $19,400
Lori Saldaña (D)
Raised $14,800, YTD $14,800, Cash on hand $7400
SDFP article on Lori Saldaña
Marcia Nordstrom (D)
Raised $1,800, YTD $1800, Cash on hand $785
San Diego City Council
(SDFP Coverage of City Council races will begin soon)
District 2
Lori Zapf (R-Incumbent)
Raised $165,100, YTD $295,000, Cash on hand $225,600
Joshua Tomolak (R)
Raised $2,100, YTD $2,100, Cash on hand $2,100
Jen Campbell (D)
Raised $61,000, YTD $61,000, Cash on hand $61,600
Bryan Pease (D)
Raised $28,000, YTD $39,700, Cash on hand $29,000
Jordan Beane (D)
Raised $9,700, YTD $24,700, Cash on hand $13,000
Daniel Smiechowski (D)
Raised $1,200, YTD $1200, Cash on hand $500
District 4
Monica Montgomery (D)
Raised $20,700, YTD $20,700, Cash on hand $8,900
Myrtle Cole (D-Incumbent)
Raised $17,100, YTD $84,100, Cash on hand $64,700
Neal Arthur (UNK)
Raised $5,600, YTD $5,600, Cash on hand $8,000
District 6
Chris Cate (R-Incumbent)
Raised $98,000, YTD $327,000, Cash on hand $191,100
Fayaz Nawabi (D)
Raised $15,900, YTD $15,900, Cash on hand $10,800
Tommy Hough (D)
Raised $13,600, YTD $13,600, Cash on hand $12,000
Matt Valenti (D)
Raised $3,400, YTD $3,400, Cash on hand $2,300
District 8
Vivian Moreno (D)
Raised $35,409, YTD $102,400, Cash on hand $79,300
Christian Ramirez (D)
Raised $28,600, YTD $28,600, Cash on hand $26,100
Antonio Martinez (D)
Raised $24,900, YTD $58,000, Cash on hand $39,200
Zarchary Lazarus (D)
Raised $3,300, YTD $3,400, Cash on hand $700
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Doug Porter
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