Election 2018: Candidate Interviews & Questionnaires

Ahead of the Nov. 6 election, The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board offers its coverage of federal, state and local candidates and propositions.

Jump to category: U.S. Senate U.S. Congress California

San Diego County San Diego Cities State Propositions and Local Measures

U.S. Senate

State Sen. Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, the former Senate President Pro tempore, is challenging U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, for the seat she has occupied since 1992. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board interviewed each of the candidates.

U.S. HOUSE

49th Congressional District

The 49th Congressional District stretches from La Jolla to Dana Point and is one of the most-watched races in the country this election season. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, announced in January that he would not seek re-election. Democrat Mike Levin and Republican Diane Harkey are running. The Union-Tribune Editorial Board recently interviewed Harkey and Levin.

50th Congressional District

Voters in the 50th Congressional District, which includes much of East County and several North County communities, will choose between incumbent Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, who has been indicted for using campaign funds for personal bills and expenses, and Ammar Campa-Najjar. Hunter declined the Union-Tribune’s request for an endorsement interview.

52nd Congressional District

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the local candidates running for U.S. Congress. Here are the questions and responses from Rep. Scott Peters of the 52nd Congressional District and his Republican challenger Omar Qudrat. The 52nd district includes coastal and central portions of San Diego, including Carmel Valley, La Jolla, Point Loma, Poway and Downtown San Diego.

53rd Congressional District

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the local candidates running for U.S. Congress. Here are the questions and responses from Rep. Susan Davis of the 53rd Congressional District and her Republican challenger Morgan Murtaugh. The 53rd district includes central and eastern portions of the city of San Diego and parts of Chula Vista and El Cajon, as well as La Mesa and Lemon Grove.

CALIFORNIA

Governor

Californians will vote on Nov. 6 to replace termed-out Gov. Jerry Brown with either Rancho Santa Fe businessman John Cox, a Republican, or Lt. Gov. and former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat. The Union-Tribune Editorial Board invited both candidates to endorsement interviews. Only Newsom accepted despite a series of requests and multiple conversations over several months with the Cox campaign. Below are links to Newsom’s complete interview and an earlier interview with Cox that preceded the California primary election in June.

Lieutenant Governor

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state constitutional offices in the Nov. 6 election. Former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary Eleni Kounalakis faces fellow Democrat, State Sen. Ed Hernandez, for the office of lieutenant governor. Here are their questions and responses.

California State Attorney General

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state constitutional offices in the Nov. 6 election. Democratic incumbent State Attorney General Xavier Becerra faces Republican challenger Steven Bailey, a former El Dorado County judge, in the November election. Here are their responses.

Secretary of State

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state constitutional offices in the Nov. 6 election. Republican candidate Mark Meuser is challenging incumbent Alex Padilla, a Democrat, for the office of secretary of state. Padilla has not provided responses. Here are Meuser’s responses.

State Treasurer

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state constitutional offices in the Nov. 6 election. Republican candidate Greg Conlon faces Democratic candidate Fiona Ma for the office of state treasurer. Fiona Ma has not provided responses.

State Insurance Commissioner

California voters will be choosing a state insurance commissioner in the fall. Although the position gets little attention, it has a broad impact on Californians. The insurance commissioner oversees an office with 1,400 employees and a budget of $250 million. The Department of Insurance enforces insurance laws, regulates companies and investigates fraud. Former insurance commissioner Steve Poizner and state Sen. Ricardo Lara are vying for the job.

State Superintendent of Schools

Californians will be choosing a state superintendent of public instruction this November. The two Democrats vying for the job are Tony Thurmond, a state assemblyman from Richmond, and Marshall Tuck, a school executive who has run charter schools and alternative district schools in Los Angeles. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board met separately with each of the candidates.

State Controller

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state constitutional offices in the Nov. 6 election. Democratic incumbent Betty Yee faces Republican challenger Konstantinos Roditis for the office of state controller. Here are their questions and responses.

State Senate, 36th District

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state office. The 36th District includes part of Orange County and part of San Diego County, including Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista.

State Senate, 38th District

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state office. Democrat Jeff Griffith, faces Republican challenger Brian Jones, a former Assembly member, for State Senate, 38th District. The two are vying for the seat currently held by Republican Joel Anderson, who is termed out. The 38th District includes parts of Northern and Eastern San Diego County, including El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Poway, Escondido and San Marcos.

State Assembly, 71st District

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state office. The district encompasses much of East County and scattered parts of the Inland Empire. It includes El Cajon, Ramona, and Santee.

State Assembly, 75th District

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state office. Here are their questions and responses.

State Assembly, 76th District

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state office. The district encompasses coastal North County from Camp Pendleton in the north to Encinitas in the south.

State Assembly, 77th District

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state office. Here are their questions and responses.

State Assembly, 78th District

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state office. Here are their questions and responses.

State Assembly, 79th District

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state office. Here are their questions and responses.

State Assembly, 80th District

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently e-mailed questions to the candidates running for state office. Here are the questions and responses from Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, who represents the 80th Assembly District, which encompasses southern San Diego. Note: Her opponent in the race, Lincoln Pickard, did not respond to attempts to get his answers to the same questions.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

County Board of Supervisors, District 4

Voters in San Diego County’s 4th Supervisorial District will choose between former county DA Bonnie Dumanis and former Assembly member Nathan Fletcher to represent them. The district extends north to UC San Diego, west to the Pacific Ocean, east to Encanto and south to Paradise Hills. It includes the neighborhoods of City Heights, Clairemont Mesa, Hillcrest, La Jolla and University Heights.

County Board of Supervisors, District 5

Voters in the San Diego County’s 5th Supervisorial District will be choosing a new representative in the fall. San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond, a Republican, faces Oceanside resident Michelle Gomez, a Democrat, in the November election.

San Diego Superior Court Judge

San Diego voters will choose a Superior Court judge for Office 37 this November. Incumbent Judge Gary Kreep faces challenger Matt Brower, a deputy district attorney.

CITY OF SAN DIEGO

District 2 City Council

Residents of San Diego’s District 2 will be choosing a City Council representative in the fall. Incumbent Lorie Zapf faces challenger Jennifer Campbell in the November election.

District 4 City Council

Residents of San Diego’s District 4 will be choosing a City Council representative in the fall. Incumbent Myrtle Cole faces challenger Monica Montgomery in the November election.

District 6 City Council

Residents of San Diego’s District 6 will be choosing a City Council representative in the fall. Incumbent Chris Cate faces challenger Tommy Hough in the November election.

District 8 City Council

Voters in San Diego’s District 8 will choose a new City Council representative since incumbent David Alvarez is termed out. Alvarez’s aide Vivian Moreno and San Ysidro school board member Antonio Martinez are vying to represent the district, which includes Barrio Logan, Otay Mesa and San Ysidro.

Carlsbad Mayor

Residents of Carlsbad will be choosing a mayor on Nov. 6. Incumbent Matt Hall, a Republican, faces challenger Cori Schumacher, a Democrat. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board met separately with each of the candidates.

Chula Vista Mayor

Residents of Chula Vista, the second-largest city in San Diego County, will be choosing a mayor in the fall. Incumbent Mary Salas faces challenger Hector Gastelum in the November election.

Escondido Mayor

Residents of Escondido will be choosing a mayor on Nov. 6. Incumbent Sam Abed, a Republican, faces challenger Paul McNamara, a Democrat. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board met separately with each of the candidates. Here is a transcript and audio of the interview with Sam Abed.

Statewide propositions

The San Diego Union-Tribune’s has published opinion pieces in support and opposition on some.

Proposition 1 would authorize $4 billion in state general obligation bonds for housing-related programs and housing loans for veterans.

Yes on Prop 1 | No on Prop 1

Proposition 2 authorizes the state to use Proposition 63 revenue — about $120 million a year — to pay off $2 billion in new revenue bonds for homelessness prevention housing for those in need of mental health services.

Yes on Prop 2 | No on Prop 2

Proposition 3 asks voters to approve $8.9 billion in bond funds for water projects.

Yes on Prop 3 | No on Prop 3

Proposition 4 asks voters to approved bond funding to build children’s hospitals.

Yes on Prop 4

Proposition 5 would allow homeowners over 55 or who are severely disabled to transfer Proposition 13 property tax protections to newly bought homes anywhere in the state.

Yes on Prop 5 | No on Prop 5

Proposition 6 would repeal the fuel and vehicle-license taxes and fees that Gov. Jerry Brown got the Legislature to enact last year, reducing the excise tax on gasoline by 12 cents, among many changes.

Yes on Prop 6 | No on Prop 6

Proposition 7 would give the state Legislature ability to change daylight saving time period by two-thirds vote, if changes are consistent with federal law.

Yes on Prop 7 | No on Prop 7

Proposition 8 would limit the profits of kidney dialysis clinics on the spurious grounds someone somewhere needs to force owners to spend more on “direct patient care and health-care improvements.”

Yes on Prop 8 | No on Prop 8

Proposition 10 would throw out a state law that bans rent control on all housing built after Feb. 1, 1995, and that gives landlords the right to raise the rent to a market rate after a tenant moves out.

Yes on Prop 10 | No on Prop 10

Proposition 11 seeks a change in the long-established practice under which they — like police and firefighters — must be on call during their breaks.

Yes on Prop 11 | No on Prop 11

Proposition 12 seeks to establish new minimum requirements on farmers to provide more space for egg-laying hens, breeding pigs, and calves raised for veal.

Yes on Prop 12 | No on Prop 12

San Diego City and other countywide measures

The San Diego Union-Tribune’s has published opinion pieces in support and opposition on some.

Measure D is a San Diego County measure on election consolidation.

Yes on Measure D | No on Measure D

Measure E is a San Diego City stadium lease and redevelopment initiative.

Yes on Measure E | No on Measure E

Measure G is a San Diego City stadium sale to San Diego State University.

Yes on Measure G | No on Measure G

Measure L is a San Diego City measure on pay raises and reforms for city elected officials.

Yes on Measure L | No on Measure L

Measure Y is an Oceanside City land use measure.

Yes on Measure Y | No on Measure Y

Measure YY is a San Diego Unified School District bond measure.

Yes on Measure YY | No on Measure YY