Other items in today’s column include:
* Political bytes
*Recommended reading
SAN DIEGO –Jewish candidates haven’t done very well so far in their bids for The San Diego Union-Tribune’s political endorsements. In most cases, on San Diego County ballots, the daily newspaper has selected non-Jewish candidates over Jewish ones. There is one exception.
Here is a review by level of government:
FEDERAL — In the Democratic primary for President of the United States, the newspaper chose Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Neither Bernie Sanders nor Michael Bloomberg got the nod.
In the contest in the 53rd Congressional District, it selected Janessa Goldbeck over such well-known candidates as Sara Jacobs and San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez.
STATE — In the 78th Assembly District, it selected City Councilman Chris Ward over two Jewish opponents, Micah Perlin and Sarah Davis.
COUNTY — In the battle for the 3rd District County Board of Supervisors, Escondido City Councilwoman Olga Diaz was selected over challenger Terra Lawson-Remer and incumbent Kristin Gaspar.
In the race for Office 18 of the San Diego County Superior Court, the newspaper picked C.J. Mody over Roberta Winston.
CITY OF SAN DIEGO — In the race for San Diego mayor, the editorial board chose Assemblyman Todd Gloria over City Council members Barbara Bry and Scott Sherman.
The U-T chose City Attorney Mara Elliott over challenger Cory Briggs and Pete Mesich.
So what was the exception?
Jewish community member Joe Leventhal, an attorney, did win the newspaper’s co-endorsement in the 5th City Council District. So did Marni von Wilpert.
Remaining to be seen are the U-T’s endorsements in the 75th Assembly District where Kate Schwartz is running and in the San Diego Community College District where Bernie Rhinerson is seeking re-election.
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Political bytes
*David Garrick reports in The San Diego Union-Tribune that campaign finance statements show that Assemblyman Todd Gloria has raised the most money in the March 3 mayor’s race, and so have Mara Elliott for city attorney, Sam Nejabat, with a loan to himself of $150,000 in District 1 of the City Council; Stephen Whitburn in District 3, Joe Leventhal in District 5, Noli Zosa in District 7 and Kelvin Barrios in District 9. The U-T’s breakdown of the amount of money raised and cash left over in all these races is included in Garrick’s article, which may be accessed via this website.
*Terra Lawson-Remer, commenting on a Chamber of Commerce donation of $40,000 in the 3rd District County Supervisor race to Escondido City Councilwoman Olga Diaz, said: “Big Business knows I cannot be bought. They know I will fight for a clean and healthy environment and an economy that works for everyone. They know I have the integrity, experience, and fearlessness to fight for the people of San Diego County, not kowtow to monied interests.” Lawson-Remer and Diaz both are opposing incumbent supervisor Kristin Gaspar.
*Micah Perlin, a candidate in the 78th Assembly District, has been endorsed by the Save San Diego Neighborhoods organization. Ronan Gray, who chairs the organization, commented: “Micah is a lifelong San Diegan and has watched our region’s population explode. He understands the damage that the conversion of homes to short term rentals has on our communities – driving rents and housing costs ever higher and destroying our neighborhoods. Understanding that San Diego is in the midst of the worst housing crisis and homelessness crisis in it’s history, Micah will fight for the eradication of short term rentals from residential neighborhoods and, in the City of San Diego, for the enforcement of the existing San Diego Municipal Code, which prohibits short term rentals in our neighborhoods. With his background in urban planning and public policy SSDN welcomes Micah to the fight and wholeheartedly endorses him for State Assembly.”
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Recommended reading
*The Forward’s Michael Kaminer doesn’t like Einstein Brothers’ new combination bagel-burrito. In fact he calls it a shonde.
*World Jewish Congress reports two contestants have been kicked off a Swedish reality show after they expressed anti-Semitic sentiments on the air.
*Jewish Websight carries a JNS column by Jonathan S. Tobin taking the ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt to task for describing Senator Ted Cruz’s political attack on Michael Bloomberg as anti-Semitic.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com