This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on May 4, 2010.
I probably should have taken my kickboxing class after my phone call with Congressional candidate Mason C. Weaver, as I couldn’t envision anyone to punch. Oh well, I’ll have motivation in tomorrow’s class.
So this week’s Campaign Corral includes info on Weaver’s campaign signs violating a city ordinance, what went down with Assemblymember Mary Salas and her Democratic opponent Juan Vargas and the introduction of Congressional candidate Joe Ryan, who is running against Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.).
Let’s start with this week’s featured race, though.
Featured race – San Diego City Council District 8:
This week, I asked San Diego City Council District 8 candidates the following question: What song best describes you when you first wake up in the morning?
Unfortunately, David Alvarez was the only candidate in the race to respond:
“‘La Vida…Es un Ratico’ by Juanes is one of my favorite songs. Juanes sings about the importance of appreciating every moment in life. This optimistic outlook best describes me when I first wake up in the morning.”
Other campaigns:
There is drama among some of the campaigns, which I guess makes this an even more interesting election season. The first campaign to enter dramahood is Mason C. Weaver. Weaver – a Republican running against Michael Crimmins in the primary for Rep. Susan Davis’ Congressional seat – was recently attacked by a press release sent out accusing him of violating a city of Coronado ordinance with his campaign signs. The press release also included comment from Coronado Mayor Casey Tanaka after an e-mail was sent to him from a local woman named Lacey Silverstein.
Being accustomed to receiving various accusatory e-mails on Weaver, and opting to write about this particular e-mail since it included comments from elected officials, I gave him a ring. Weaver said it was “too early” for him to comment on the violation but apologized to the city. He also said he just has “overzealous volunteers.” Our conversation was complete with a wankerish and intrusive Weaver asking me why I’ve never called to ask him about his stance on issues like immigration, and whether I was a registered Democrat, how I voted in the “last election” or if I was even a voter.
I also talked with Tanaka to verify the quote in the press release. Though Tanaka confirmed he did say, “I have been thinking the same thing!” in response to Silverstein’s e-mail, he said the quote was taken out of context and his original message included that he would deal with the situation “during the work week.”
At any rate, Tanaka — with his accustomed courteous attitude, pretty much the opposite of Weaver — said the consequences are a “confiscation of the signs.”
Essentially, Weaver’s campaign signs violate the ordinance that prohibits the placement of political signs in the public right of way.
On a side note to Weaver, I believe an American voter has the right to decline information on how he or she voted and it would probably be more appropriate to, instead, ask elected officials where they stand… A candidate for U.S. Congress should probably know that. Just sayin’, as I’ve successfully soaked in and practiced lessons on courtesy.
In other drama-related news, a news conference was hosted by Assemblymember Mary Salas and Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.) regarding the campaign finances of Salas’ opponent for State Senate, Juan Vargas. Salas and Filner accused Vargas of getting some heavy cash from insurance companies.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, there was a “shouting match” between Vargas supporters and the Salas team, who accused “Salas of hypocrisy because she has received donations directly from some of the same interests.”
So what’s the deal between the two Democratic candidates looking to replace Sen. Denise Ducheny?
Not completely sure yet, but we’ll find out. Until then, Salas released the following statement:
“These despicable acts cannot be tolerated, and I call on Juan to renounce these acts and to immediately fire everyone associated with the assault this morning.”
Ending this week’s CC on a fun note, Congressional candidate Joe Ryan – an Independent candidate in the race for Rep. Duncan Hunter’s seat – informed me that he has a total of five websites for his campaign. One website is the “main one” titled www.JoeRyanforCongress.com and the other four are pitted against his opponents: www.RyanvsHunter.com, www.RyanvsBenoit.com, www.RyanvsLutz.com and www.RyanvsLumpkin.com. (Terri Linnell is also in the race).
What’s the strategy behind all of this? Ryan, a local businessman, said, “The philosophy behind three 4 websites revolves around winning a 4-way race by illustrating to voters how a common sense approach to issues that is not tied to a party platform allows a politician to reach out to a relatively large majority of the electorate without contradicting themselves.”
Next week I’ll focus on one of three races listed in the poll below. And, for candidates and campaign managers — please keep me up-to-date by sending any new info to Politics(a)SDNN.com or start blogging for us!
Hoa Quach is the political editor for the San Diego News Network.