Editor's note: an earlier version of this story neglected to state that Supervisor Bill Horn, in addition to Supervisor Ron Roberts, will also be termed out of office next year.
NEW(ISH) FACES IN COUNTY RACES
The Story
Term limits have finally hit the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
Fourth District Supervisor Ron Roberts and the Fifth District's Bill Horn are the first to be termed out of the all-white, all Republican board since voters passed Measure B in 2010.
Former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher announced his candidacy for the office, joining local attorney Omar Passons on the Democratic side of the ballot.
Since losing the mayoral race in 2013, Fletcher has been a Qualcomm executive and taught at UC San Diego.
Passons, raised in San Diego by foster parents, has concentrated on the areas of community health and community development.
Former San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, a Republican, is also considering a run.
Deputy Public Defender Genevieve Jones-Wright has announced she is a candidate District Attorney, running against Summer Stephan, the interim DA named by the Board of Supervisors to replace Dumanis.
The Discussion
-How might the priorities of the board change with the old guard getting termed out?
-Does a public defender have a real chance to become district attorney?
RELATED: After months of speculation, Nathan Fletcher enters race for county supervisor
RELATED: Public defender enters DA race
LOCAL LEGISLATORS' BILLS ADVANCE
The Story
Bills on housing and SANDAG reform are making their way through the state legislature.
Senator Toni Atkins' SB2 could provide some $250 million a year for low-income housing development by adding a $75 fee to real estate transactions.
Some question whether this approach will really ease the housing crisis because relatively few needy residents would benefit.
AB 805, a bill by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, would reform the board of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the intra-government agency that controls transportation policy and funding.
The bill, proposed in reaction to the scandal involving faulty revenue projections uncovered by Voice of San Diego, changes board rules to allow votes weighted by population. It would also allow transit agencies MTS and NCTD to raise their own revenue.
Small cities, 10 of which currently can muster a veto on the SANDAG board, are against this bill.
The Discussion
-What other options could the Legislature consider to assure more housing is constructed?
-How will these changes in SANDAG help avoid such mistakes in future?
RELATED: SANDAG needs reform. Why AB 805 is just the ticket
RELATED: Make no mistake. AB 805 an 'all-out assault' on SANDAG
THE PADRES AT MID-SEASON
Many thought this baseball season (and the next and the next) would be awful. Rebuilding is never fun.
But this season could be worse than it has been. And at times it's been quite interesting and entertaining.
At the season mid-point, the Padres are 22 games back, at 38-50. They rank last in the majors in batting average, on-base percentage and runs scored.
The Padres have, however, won six of their last 10 games. They had a pitcher in the All-Star game, Brad Hand, who had a 1-2-3 inning. And catcher Austin Hedges is a winner behind and at the plate.
The Discussion
-How is the season likely to end for the Padres?
-What is management doing to improve prospects for next year?
RELATED: Best, worst and most surprising from Padres' first half
