From Imperial Beach to Lemon Grove to Oceanside, San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action have endorsed over a dozen green Democrats and proposition positions, including NO votes on Measure A, Measure B and Measure C – and a YES vote for Measure D.

The club's 2016 slate of endorsed candidates, along with our positions on the four countywide measures appearing on the November ballot, include:

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Congratulations to all of the candidates and initiative campaigns endorsed by San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action, and thank you to all the club members who turned out to vote on endorsements at our January, February and July club meetings, in which we endorsed the following line-up of candidates for the November ballot, along with official positions taken on the four countywide ballot measures.

If you haven't met our endorsed candidates yet – all of whom who spent time attending meetings, committee interviews, and taking questions from members – here they are.
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U.S. Congress, 49th District (CA-49) – Doug Applegate
Retried USMC Colonel Doug Applegate spoke to SDCDEA members and overwhelmingly received the club's endorsement, as he challenges Darrell Issa in California's 49th Congressional District. A recent poll shows both candidates in a statistical tie, despite Issa having outspent Applegate 16-to-1 in the primary. We're happy to stand with Doug Applegate and begin the process of taking back the House of Representatives – this is a big moment for North County Democrats, and this is the right time to win this race.
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San Diego City Attorney – Mara Elliott
From a crowded field of Democratic contenders, Chief Deputy City Attorney Mara Elliott won the most Democratic votes for city attorney in the June 7 primary, and advances to the general election where she will face Republican Robert Hickey. No stranger to the club, Mara has been an advocate for the city of San Diego's Climate Action Plan, and we're thrilled to unite behind Mara's candidacy. This is a great opportunity to elect a highly-qualified candidate into a position where she can do great work for the city.
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San Diego City Council, District Nine (D-9) – Georgette Gómez
In the race to represent central and eastern San Diego in D-9, both candidates in the November general election are Democrats, as well as SDCDEA members who have spoken to the club on numerous occasions. Following a short forum with questions from the audience, members voted to grant the club endorsement to Georgette Gómez, the associate director of the Environmental Health Coalition. We're confident Georgette will be a vital voice at City Hall on environmental and conservation matters.
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Helix Water Board, District Three – Mark Gracyk
Mark Gracyk has been running an enthusiastic campaign for Helix Water Board, where he pledges to serve as an active conservationist in protecting clean water and looking out for district ratepayers. Mark spent a good deal of time answering questions before the club's endorsement committee, and we're happy to give him our endorsement – plus Mark joined us on our June hike in the El Monte Valley. We look forward to helping Mark win this seat and keeping us informed on local water issues.
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Carlsbad City Council – Cori Schumacher
Many of us were first introduced to activist and three-time world-champion surfer Cori Schumacher when she spoke at the No on Measure A forum hosted by San Diego Democrats For Environmental Action in January, but Cori has been active in Carlsbad issues for years, and is now seeking a seat on Carlsbad City Council to craft positive change and policy from within. We're proud to offer Cori our endorsement and support – plus Cori led SDCDEA at the recent San Diego Pride Parade.
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Carlsbad City Council – Bill Fowler
Tired of seeing the mayor and city council in Carlsbad working for developers and thwarting public input during the Measure A episode and otherwise, SDCDEA member Bill Fowler is running for a seat on Carlsbad City Council. Outspoken in his advocacy for natural areas around North County and fighting to protect the quality of life for residents, we're happy to give Bill our endorsement and push for substantial changes to the course of business at Carlsbad City Hall.
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Encinitas City Council – Tasha Boerner-Horvath
A third-generation Encinitan, Tasha Boerner-Horvath serves as planning commissioner for Old Encinitas, and advocates for quality-of-life issues, smart zoning, reduced traffic congestion and safe neighborhoods. Tasha met with our endorsement committee and spoke to club members about the issues and principles that guide her candidacy. With our endorsement, the club looks forward to her winning the seat and working with us to conserve and protect coastal North County.
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Lemon Grove Mayor – George Gastil
A Lemon Grove resident since 1994 and city council member since 2008, George Gastil is an advocate for schools, parks, libraries, public safety, and community gardens, and has served the community as a member of the East County Economic Development Council (ECEDC), Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), Helix Water District and as alternate to the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). We're happy to endorse George Gastil as the next mayor of Lemon Grove.
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Imperial Beach City Council – Mark West
We're happy to endorse retired naval officer Mark West in his race for Imperial Beach City Council. The chair of the San Diego County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, Mark is a member of the Imperial Beach Mayoral Advisory Committee and was appointed by the county to serve on the Imperial Beach Redevelopment Successor Agency. Mark understands the unique challenges facing I.B. and the need for cross-border cooperation in tackling Tijuana River pollution issues.
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Oceanside City Council  –  Esther Sanchez
A deputy public defender for 20 years, Esther Sanchez is best known to environmentalists from her time as a member of the California Coastal Commission. A veteran lawmaker with four terms on the Oceanside City Council, Esther has built a public service record that emphasizes preservation of our coastline and public access to beaches, and as Oceanside grows more progressive – especially with the city's new plastic bag ban – we're delighted endorse Esther Sanchez for another term on Oceanside City Council.
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Encinitas City Council  –  Tony Kranz
In his four years on Encinitas City Council, Tony Kranz has been committed to maintaining and improving the quality of life for Encinitas residents, and pledges to advance a number of civic improvements over the next four years – including the launch of the Pacific View Center for arts, culture and ecology, a marine safety center at Moonlight Beach and a plan for two new pedestrian crossings. We endorse Tony Kranz for another term on Encinitas City Council.

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National City Council  –  Alejandra Sotelo-Solis
Since first being elected as a National City councilmember in 2008, Alejandra Sotelo-Solis has propelled enforcement of city codes to crack down on polluting businesses, and pushed for a measure to join other local cities in banning pet store animal sales to encourage shelter adoptions. A critic of the SANDAG transportation plan, we're pleased to stand with Alejandra Sotelo-Solis as an environmental justice leader seeking smarter, greener solutions to our regional challenges.

The club also rated two candidates running for National City Council as acceptable: veteran National City lawmaker Louis Natividad, and newcomer José Rodriguez.

In addition, the club took positions on three ballot measures which San Diego voters will face in November, including the proposed SANDAG tax increase, the Citizens' Plan for San Diego and the Chargers Downtown Stadium Plan.
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MEASURE A (SANDAG Tax Increase)  –  NO
The club voted to join the San Diego Quality of Life Coalition in opposition to the proposed SANDAG tax increase, primarily because of the emphasis on widening freeways at the expense of increased air pollution in economically disadvantaged communities, the lack of a mechanism to link funding projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet state targets, and because the plan – however well-intentioned it may be – fails to provide minimum funding essential for conservation and open space. Find out more about our club's position here.
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MEASURE C (Chargers Downtown Stadium Plan)  –  NO
The GOP largely opposes the Chargers' own measure because, like the Citizens' Plan, it also calls for an increase in hotel taxes – and GOP interests are aligned with hotel interests in keeping hotel tax rates static. By and large, SDCDEA members don't want a Chargers stadium built Downtown at all, and don't want public funds to be used to do so – but if a stadium is to be built Downtown, club members generally prefer it be done under the auspices of the Citizens' Plan.
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MEASURE D (Citizens Plan for San Diego)  –  YES
Offering a roadmap for managing several proposed city projects, the Citizens Plan addresses the expansion of the San Diego convention center in a manner that doesn't eat up the city's waterfront, how the Chargers might build a new stadium Downtown, and the repurposing of Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley for parklands and an educational center along the San Diego River. The Citizens Plan also calls for a more than reasonable, and frankly, overdue increase in hotel taxes in order to help achieve these goals.