San Diego-area lawmakers were among those speaking out against President Donald Trump and his immigration policies Tuesday during the president’s stop in San Diego, part of his first visit to California since taking office.
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, a San Diego Democrat, spoke at a protest rally in San Ysidro. The rally was held as Trump viewed prototypes of the border wall he promised voters in 2016.
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“It’s unfortunate that Mr. Trump has come to our region and won’t be meeting with our dreamer students, or the countless families whose lives have been torn apart by his immigration orders, or even the thousands of refugees whose lives have been made harder by his hateful rhetoric and discriminatory actions,” Gonzalez Fletcher said in a statement. “Perhaps if he did, he’d realize why he is so unwelcome in this community.”
State Sen. Ben Hueso, chairman of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, also issued a statement Tuesday in response to Trump’s visit.
“It is disheartening that Donald Trump is bringing his campaign of divisiveness to California,” Hueso said. “Mr. Trump is proving that he has no comprehension of, nor willingness to understand, how our state thrives and leads the nation economically.”
Hueso, a San Diego Democrat, added that Trump missed an opportunity to speak with area leaders about pressing economic and environmental matters that affect the region’s residents, including stemming the flow of wastewater and raw sewage that pours over the border from Tijuana into San Diego County.
On Friday, Hueso introduced a resolution calling on Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration to join a lawsuit filed by the cities of Imperial Beach and Chula Vista and the Port of San Diego against the U.S. side of the International Boundary and Water Commission to address cross-border pollution in the Tijuana River Valley.
During his time in San Diego, Trump criticized Brown for “doing a terrible job” and said California was “totally out-of-control.” Trump’s administration last week filed a lawsuit against the state, alleging California is undermining enforcement of federal immigration policy through its so-called sanctuary policies and protections for immigrants.
And the Candidates Are…
Just about all members of San Diego’s legislative delegation are running for something this year. Here are the candidates who have filed with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters in the region’s legislative races:
State Senate
State Sen. Joel Anderson of the 38th District is termed out this year. However, he has filed to run for a seat on the state Board of Equalization. He spoke to Voice executive editor Scott Lewis about his decision to run for the board and not U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter’s seat earlier this month.
Those who have filed to run for the 38th Senate District seat are paramedic Jeff Griffith, a Democrat; former Republican Assemblyman Brian W. Jones; and business owner Antonio Salguero, a Libertarian.
State Sen. Ben Hueso of the 40th District is running again. His challenger is retired judge Luis R. Vargas.
California Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates of the 36th District, which includes portions of Orange and San Diego counties, has filed with the Orange County Registrar of Voters to run for re-election. Her sole challenger is Democrat Marggie Castellano.
State Assembly
Assemblyman Rocky Chávez is not running for re-election to his assembly seat, but he is among those running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa in the 49th Congressional District.
Those who have filed to run for the 76th Assembly District seat are Encinitas Councilwoman Tasha Boerner Horvath, businessman Phil Graham, businessman Thomas Krouse, San Dieguito Union High School District Board Member Maureen Muir, Vista Councilwoman Amanda Rigby, business owner Jerome Stocks, former journalist Elizabeth Warren and Brian Wimmer, who works in information management.
Assemblyman Randy Voepel of the 71st District, a Republican, is running for re-election. His challengers are accountant James Elia and retired Navy SEAL Larry Wilske.
Assemblywoman Marie Waldron of the 75th District, a Republican, is running for re-election. Her challenger is attorney Alan Geraci.
Assemblyman Brian Maienschein of the 77th District, a Republican, is running for re-election. His challenger is businesswoman Sunday Gover.
Assemblyman Todd Gloria of the 78th District, a Democrat, is running for re-election. His challenger is trauma intervention counselor Maggie J. Campbell.
Assemblywoman Shirley Weber of the 79th District, a Democrat, is running for re-election. Her challenger is retired businessman John Moore.
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher of the 80th District, a Democrat, is running for re-election. Her challenger is retired contractor Lincoln M. Pickard.
The Secretary of State’s office must certify the candidates who appear on the ballot by March 30. The registrar will not list candidates’ party affiliations until the certification is complete.
California’s primary is June 5.
It’s Official
State Sen. Toni Atkins officially takes the reins as senate president pro tem on Wednesday.
Atkins becomes the first woman and the first openly gay state lawmaker to lead the state Senate. She replaces Sen. Kevin de Leόn as he continues his campaign against U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Atkins is not up for re-election this year. Her senate term ends in 2020.
And Finally…
The California Bureau of Cannabis Control’s policing of the local marijuana marketplace is confirming what many in the industry already suspected: The black market remains a prevalent force.
In recent days, regulators have sent more than 1,200 cease-and-desist letters across the state. As of Thursday, about 375 of those letters had been sent to unlicensed operators around San Diego, a city with only 12 legal dispensaries.
Members of the industry are encouraging the enforcement, as Voice’s Jesse Marx reported. Unlicensed operators pose a threat to the stability of the new regulatory system by undercutting legitimate outlets with cheaper goods.
Golden State News
• Years ago, the California Legislature carved out its own public records law, making it harder to get information about sexual misconduct in the Capitol and more. (Mercury News)
• Students across California and nationwide walk out of classrooms Wednesday to end school violence. (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Where were California’s Republican candidates on Tuesday? Not with Trump. (Los Angeles Times)
• Single-payer health care bill appears all but dead in Sacramento this year. (Sacramento Bee)
• California’s last drought was among the worst since Christopher Columbus landed in the New World, according to a new study. (Sacramento Bee)
• Millennial and Latino voters are changing Orange County’s political landscape, as Republicans lose ground in this once “most Republican” of counties. (Orange County Register)
• Weber agreed to pay the state’s political watchdog $4,000 for failing to immediately disclose donations during the 2014 campaign. (Los Angeles Times)