Much of the attention in this year's San Diego election has been on city Council District 1. ________________________________________ Majority Democrat to maturity with public and. ________________________________________ Democrats and and two other races are putting up fight as well trying to unseat Republican incumbents. ________________________________________ City Councilman Scott Sherman is just starting to hang up signs in his new campaign office. He is hoping he will not be a long. ________________________________________ With an option to renewal if needed, hopefully we will not. ________________________________________ He is running for reelection in District 7. ________________________________________ He is one of two Republican incumbents on the city Council who could win outright in the June election. That will happen if he gets more than 50% oh. Still, he is not skipping campaign mode. Two ________________________________________ you want to make sure that you have a plan for the worst and hope for the best. ________________________________________ People do not need to discount the race. We have really seen that we can win, and it is important that we do so. ________________________________________ Justin is one of two Democrats running again Sherman County thinks he has a shot not only up extending the race past June, but of actually winning. ________________________________________ Is based on code or to door. And if we walk we will win. ________________________________________ He has been endorsed by the firefighters union and local Democratic party ________________________________________ ________________________________________ . ________________________________________ A lot of that support will likely be directly at another district peers District one is the biggest focus as that Democrat now holds that the end there is a good chance to continue to hold that seat. ________________________________________ Francine Busby says the Democrats will spend most of their time and money fighting to keep the shtick one which covers the way and University City. ________________________________________ Democrat Sherry Leitner holds the seat now in her last term. And Republican Ray Ellis hopes to take the seat. That would ship the city Council to a Republican majority. Busby says candidates will have to prove to the Democratic party, that they are worthy of support or its two when we look at candidates and the strength, exactly what the turnout models will look like. Of course we will be looking at fundraising and talking to their supporters. ________________________________________ There are three other Democrats to unseat the Republicans this year. José Caballero in District 7, and Frank in District 5. ________________________________________ Republican Mark Kersey currently holds the district by seat which runs from Scripps Ranch to send task well. It is the only district with the majority of Republicans. ________________________________________ In 2012 she ran unopposed but not this time your two's two ________________________________________ he's expected to win in June. He will focus on helping other Republican candidates win in November. Cement I ________________________________________ my colleagues in District 7. Cement if Republicans win on the city Council they can elect the Republican city Council President. Kirsty would not say who he thought that should he. B the one thing that I like, Scott Sherman has suggested my colleague, that we rotate the position around on an annual basis. ________________________________________ Sherman had another idea or two if he wins I would not mind taking a shot on it. ________________________________________ Most of the attention is on District 1, but he is hoping to change that. Two I understand what it means to our Council and rightfully has a big place. ________________________________________ That is not a bad thing whatsoever as is very important. Our goal is to let people know how important District 7 is as well. ________________________________________ He and the other candidates will be pushing next month to get enough votes continuing to campaign after the June 7 primary. ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ K bps. ________________________________________ Thank you for joining us Claire. ________________________________________ As we have just heard most of the focus is on city Council District 1. Why is that? ________________________________________ Is one of three open seats. The other two districts, three and nine are heavily Democrat. And that is the only one that there is a shot where it can shift the balance of power from Republican -- or from Democrat from Republican. ________________________________________ Why is District 5 especially expected to be an easy win for the comment? ________________________________________ Generally is the difficulty to unseat city Council members. District 5 is the only one in the city without a majority of immigrants. It is a majority of Republican and expected to be in the back for more Kersey as you do not have a campaign office or manager. ________________________________________ It will be an easy win for him I think. ________________________________________ So he can just sit pretty? ________________________________________ Yes, he ran unopposed last time. This time he has a couple of opponents. ________________________________________ Would about District 7? ________________________________________ That is a bit more interesting as there are more Democrats registered in the district. The Democrats Inc. they have a chance. Justin to Caesar, as I said in the story, a small business owner, community Council, and has exposure with the community. ________________________________________ What do you think the city Council elections depend upon? What are the things that ship the balance one way or another? ________________________________________ This year will be interesting is the June primary will be on the same day as the presidential race. The Democratic party is hoping that the presidential primary between Clinton and Sanders goes to June so California matters, that will draw more Democrats. And they can also vote in these as well. Select how many do they have to have? ________________________________________ They need 50% plus one vote. These two publicans are hoping to get that. Knock it up in June and be done. ________________________________________ So, if that happens, that is the end of it? ________________________________________ Yes and then they will spend time campaigning in District 1. Where it is expected to go past June to November. ________________________________________ Who do you expect to emerge? ________________________________________ I do not know. There are a bunch of people running. It seems like it will be the Democrat,. bree condo Republican Ray Ellis in June. And then, who knows who will one in November. ________________________________________ Thank you very much, Claire. Reported Claire Chagas surf. I am Kenny Goldberg. This is Midday Edition on KPBS. ________________________________________
Four San Diego Democrats trying to unseat Republican Councilmen Scott Sherman and Mark Kersey may not get much support from the local Democratic Party.
Why? Because the Democrats have put their attention on another City Council race — the District 1 seat — which they are at risk of losing to the Republicans. If that happens, Republicans would likely hold a 5-4 majority on the City Council.
So even with that reality, the Democrats trying to unseat Sherman and Kersey contend they still have a shot at winning in the June 7 election.
Sherman, the Republican incumbent in District 7, is facing challenges from Democrats Justin DeCesare and Jose Caballero. The district runs from Mission Valley and Del Cerro to Miramar.
On a recent morning, Sherman was just starting to hang up signs in his campaign office. He’s hoping he won’t be there long.
"We have a short lease with an option to renew if we need it, and hopefully we won’t," he said.
He’s hoping to win outright in June, which he did when he was first elected in 2012 — by 53 votes. To avoid a November runoff, he needs more than 50 percent of the vote.
So he’s not skipping campaign mode.
"Like in the business world, when you take something for granted that’s the minute it doesn’t happen," Sherman said. "So you want to plan for the worst and hope for the best."
In his first four years in office, Sherman is most proud of repaving more than 100 miles of road and finding funding for a 35,000-square-foot skate park in Linda Vista, which he said will be one of the largest in the country.
If re-elected, he hopes to continue to focus on improving infrastructure such as streets and parks.
"I have a mantra in my office that I brought with me from the private sector," he said. "Five simple words: How may I help you?"
But DeCesare, a Navy veteran and real estate broker who served a term as president of the Tierrasanta Community Council, said he thinks community needs have been overlooked.
"We had a 5,000-person petition for a dog park brought to us a few years ago, and that gets to City Hall and it's immediately just overlooked for the sake of special interest development," he said. "Everything we've seen with our district spending most of their time on the Chargers stadium, I thought there was a need to put the community voice back in at City Hall."
The Democrat said he thinks he has a shot not only of extending the race past June but also of winning.
"People don’t need to discount the race," he said. "I think in the last few months with the support we’ve had we've seen that people know that one, we can win, and two, it’s important that we do so."
District 7
Democrats: 36%
Republicans: 32%
Independents: 27%
Source: San Diego City Clerk, 2/29/16
He said fundraising has been a challenge, but he's hosting community events and is hoping for forums with the other candidates.
"Our campaign is based on going door to door and talking to voters, and if we walk, we’re going to win," he said.
He points out the district has more registered Democrats, and that he’s been endorsed by groups such as the firefighters union, the Municipal Employees Association and the San Diego County Democratic Party.
He was picked over fellow Democrat Caballero, also a Navy veteran, who says he's running "as a progressive, fighting for a fair, equitable, progress-oriented vision for our great city."
That party endorsement comes with money for mailers, email blasts and volunteers. But a lot of that support will likely be directed at District 1.
"District 1 is definitely the biggest focus because a Democrat holds that seat, and there's a good chance we’ll continue to hold that seat," said Francine Busby, chairwoman of the county Democratic Party.
Busby said the Democrats will spend most of their time and money fighting to keep District 1, which includes La Jolla, University City and Carmel Valley.
Democrat Sherri Lightner holds the seat now. She’s in her last term, and Republican Ray Ellis hopes to take the seat. That would shift the City Council to a Republican majority.
Lightner's husband, Bruce, is a Republican and he also got into the race a week before the filing deadline. The Democrats running in District 1 are Barbara Bry and Louis Rodolico. Kyle Heiskala, an independent, also is running in District. 1.
Busby said candidates like DeCesare in District 7 will have to prove to the Democratic Party they’re worthy of support.
"We look at the strength of the candidates, polling, what turnout models are looking like, and look at their fundraising, and talk to their supporters," she said.
The most recent campaign contribution filings show DeCesare raised $38,893 in 2015 (and spent $52,902); Caballero $20,549 (and spent $18,854); and Sherman $230,426 (and spent $65,701).
Challengers to Kersey, the other Republican city councilman seeking re-election, face an even steeper uphill climb. District 5, which runs from Scripps Ranch to San Pasqual, is the only council district with a majority of Republicans.
District 5
Democrats: 29%
Republicans: 38%
Independents: 29%
Source: San Diego City Clerk, 2/29/16
In 2012, Kersey ran unopposed, but not this time. He's facing challenges from Democrat Keith Mikas, a political newcomer who says he's running because of the lack of local candidates.
"Now that San Diego has been in a drought for over three years, our city should be more concerned about our quality life concerns," he wrote on his campaign website. "For instance, watering our pride, olive trees along Rancho Bernardo Road has been curtailed."
Democrat Frank Tsimboukakis, an investment manager, wrote on his campaign website that if elected he will roll back some water rates and fees, hire "more and better trained policemen and firemen" and "make infrastructure upgrading and maintenance an ongoing project not an election year issue."
The Democratic Party endorsed Tsimboukakis, who hasn't filed his campaign contributions.
In 2015, Mikas raised $2,170 (and spent $2,019). Kersey raised $74,859 (and spent $23,080).
Kersey said he'd heard an effort was made to be sure he didn't run unopposed like last time.
"That’s OK. A little competition is healthy," he said.
He said he's most proud of focusing the city conversation on infrastructure during his first term. His infrastructure ballot measure, called Rebuild San Diego, will also be on the June ballot.
If re-elected, he hopes to continue to work on implementation of his open data policy. The city recently launched a website where city data will be posted. Kersey is also working on a program where residents can call 311 to get information and report issues.
Kersey is expected to win outright in June. If he does, he’ll focus on helping other Republican candidates win in November.
If Republicans win a majority on the City Council, they can elect a Republican City Council president. Kersey wouldn’t say who he thought that should be.
"One thing I like that my colleague Scott Sherman has suggested is that we rotate that position around on an annual basis," he said. "I think there’s a lot of merit to that, but he and I haven’t talked about it in months, ever since we went through that whole thing with Todd and Sherri," referring to the City Council vote that ousted Councilman Todd Gloria from the president's seat.
Sherman had another idea.
"I wouldn’t mind taking a shot at it," he said.
Sherman’s opponent, DeCesare, knows most of the attention is on District 1. But, he’s hoping to change that.
"I understand what that open seat means to our City Council right now, but our goal is to let people know how important District 7 is as well," he said.
He and the other Democratic candidates will be pushing over the next few months to get enough votes to continue campaigning after the June 7 primary.
