SAN DIEGO — When candidates outright refuse to grant interviews to news media, even if they politely decline, it raises suspicions that there is more to know about them than what their campaigns have to say in carefully prepared press releases.
We were disappointed to read that State Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) declined to be interviewed by The Voice of San Diego, which has raised questions about his possible conflicts of interest and whether Hueso has taken credit for far more than he has accomplished. The Voice of San Diego took an equally tough look at the record of his opponent Nora Vargas, who sits on the Southwestern College board of trustees. Although the interview may have been uncomfortable for her, she answered the reporters’ questions and gave a credible account of her service and motivations.
Both Hueso and Vargas are Democrats, and both on matters of public policy, probably would find themselves in general agreement with County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, a fellow Democrat. So looking beyond policy to the question of candor, we believe that Nora Vargas is voters’ best choice in the 1st Supervisorial District.
In the 3rd District, in which incumbent Kristin Gaspar, a Republican, is locked in a tight battle against Terra Lawson-Remer, a Democrat, we cannot make an endorsement. Although we disagree with Gaspar on numerous policy issues, including what appears to be lock-step devotion to some of President Trump’s policies, neither can we endorse Lawson-Remer who found one reason after another to decline an interview with us about her background and experience. As such interviews with members of the Jewish community typically are introductory, rather than adversarial (see our interviews, for example, with Congressional candidate Sara Jacobs and Mayoral candidate Barbara Bry), we were mystified over Lawson-Remer’s continuous refusal to be interviewed. Since then, numerous allegations have been made against Lawson-Remer’s record as a protestor, which may be simply “hit pieces” by Gaspar supporters, or may be worthy of much deeper exploration.
Given Lawson-Remer’s unwillingness to be interviewed, we cannot in good conscience give her an endorsement, and given Gaspar’s policy positions, we are also unwilling to endorse her.
So, for the County Board of Supervisors, San Diego Jewish World has these recommendations:
District 1: Nora Vargas
District 2: Steve Vaus, whom we previously endorsed in a separate editorial.
District 3: No endorsement
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Lesser known offices on the San Diego County ballot are those for the five-member County Board of Education. This body was created by the state government to help the 42 public school districts throughout the county comply with state laws, which are numerous and often too complicated for small, rural districts to follow without outside help. So, for example, the County Board of Education can provide payroll services for school districts that may need it, budgetary oversight including forensic accounting when something appears amiss, and also handles appeals in cases when districts within the county, for one reason or another, refuse to create charter schools. In addition, the County Board of Education supervises schools run under its auspices, such as that associated with the Juvenile Detention Department, and community schools in Escondido and downtown San Diego for homeless children.
District 1, 2, and 4 are on the ballot this year. In District 1, we favor the retention of Mark Powell, a member of our Jewish community, who before becoming a successful realtor served as a teacher in public schools and also as a lecturer in education at National University. Powell, who serves as vice president of the San Diego Association of Realtors, is a strong advocate for public charter schools, which often can provide more highly targeted and effective education for minority students. His opponent, Gregg Robinson, a public school teacher whom Powell defeated last election cycle, is less enthused about charter schools–one of their major philosophical differences.
In District 2, we advocate the election of Tamara S. Rodriguez, a businesswoman, over incumbent Guadalupe Gonzalez, a school guidance counselor, because we believe Rodriguez will bring to the county board a broad understanding of the budgeting process — an area in which some school districts in the South Bay portion of our county have had notable problems. The District 2 area includes the South Bay.
In District 4, Paulette Donnellon is running unopposed, an indication that her constituents are satisfied with her work.
Accordingly, San Diego Jewish World has these recommendations:
District 1: Mark Powell
District 2: Tamara Rodriguez
District 4: Paulette Donnellon
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com