This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on June 3, 2010. Good news — or, just one of those “gosh, finally” moments: After waiting for more than eight months, the office of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders finally released public records to San Diego News Network. To be exact, it has been eight months and 17 days.… Read more →
Unfiltered: Salas slugs it out for South Bay district seat
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on June 2, 2010. It’s one of the most contentious political races South Bay has ever seen. Millions have been poured into the contest to fill State Sen. Denise Ducheny’s seat in the 40th District by either Assemblymember Mary Salas or former Assemblymember Juan Vargas. There’s been plenty of spiteful… Read more →
Tweeting your way into elected office
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on June 1, 2010. Forget knocking on doors, hanging signs and mass phone-banking, if you’re not Tweeting your campaign message or friending your constituents on Facebook, you may be S-O-L. In other words: If you’re considering a run for office, consider your “net-roots” first. At least, that’s what experts say.… Read more →
Recall will damage Rexford’s career regardless of outcome
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on May 27, 2010. The recall of former California Gov. Gray Davis in 2003 tanked his political career. In stark contrast, though, the attempted recall of now-Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 1984, when she was mayor of San Francisco, boosted her civic profile. Despite the latter example of political perseverance, locals… Read more →
Experts say Democrats in 50th race seek a lost cause
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on May 26, 2010. It’s a race that could be considered quixotic by many standards. Two candidates face off in a primary knowing that the big prize might be unattainable: a seat in the U.S. Congress. That’s because those candidates are Democrats, the incumbent’s a Republican, and the district’s demographics… Read more →
Campaign Corral: Water woes, A-list endorsements
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on May 25, 2010. Two weeks away from the June 8 election. The last day to register was Monday, ballots are being mailed out (though I haven’t received mine yet and I’m quite jealous of those who did), candidates and their campaign managers are feeling the heat, and political fashionistas… Read more →
53rd congressional race: Homosexual slurs, libel lawsuits
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on May 24, 2010. Nasty campaigning is nothing new. But even by those low standards, things may have gone a bit too far in the Republican congressional primary. At least that’s what the candidates themselves seem to be implying – with one even announcing his intention to sue another for… Read more →
California Budget Crisis Diaries: Schwarzenegger the Destroyer
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on May 20, 2010. It’s been a week since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced his May Revise and Californians have wasted no time in offering their opinions on his proposal to close the $19 billion deficit and the man himself. In this edition of CBCD, I’ll focus on the swarm of… Read more →
GLT’s financial missteps show ‘a business in trouble’
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on May 19, 2010. Mikey Rox, a New York City freelance writer, was owed $600 when he stopped submitting his articles to San Diego’s Gay & Lesbian Times in February 2009. That represented a year’s worth of work. Rox says he tried contacting the magazine’s publisher Michael Portantino and associate… Read more →
Campaign Corral: A dirty 53rd congressional race
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on May 18, 2010. On tap for the Campaign Corral this week are independent campaigns that are still breathing, and a recap on what’s happening in the 53rd Congressional race. Normally, I begin CC by featuring a race in which I ask the candidates a nonpolitical question. The featured race,… Read more →