The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board Endorsement Guide for the 2018 primary
Your essential guide to the 2018 primary
Updated: California voters have moved on from the June primary to the November 2018 election. To see endorsements for candidates and ballot propositions statewide, please visit the Union-Tribune's November 2018 endorsement guide. Click here here to see the results of the June 2018 primary.
U.S. Senate: Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Feinstein's value to California and the nation is hard to exaggerate. She has "a lot left to be done" and has amply earned another six years as a U.S. senator.
She gets our endorsement.
U.S. House, 49th District: Rocky Chávez
When Rocky Chavez says, "Congress should not be an entry-level job," he's exactly right. But his military background and deep familiarity with local issues are only part of his appeal in the 49th Congressional District race.
He gets our endorsement.
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U.S. House, 50th District: Anyone but Duncan Hunter
Any of the five candidates would be superior to the incumbent. And come this fall, we’ll make a more comprehensive case for one of them. For now, here’s the short version of our view: anyone but Hunter.
Any of these five but Hunter.
California Governor: Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Villaraigosa offers the most promise to push back against the powerful interests that have kept California from confronting its problems.
He gets our endorsement.
State Superintendent of Schools: Marshall Tuck
We endorsed Marshall Tuck against Tom Torlakson in 2014, praising his credentials, his agenda and his understanding that California needs to update its high-school graduation requirements. We endorse him again. The case is stronger than ever for a state schools chief who is a reformer, not a caretaker.
He gets our endorsement.
San Diego County Sheriff: Bill Gore
San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore's record could be better, but his challenger hasn't made the case that Gore is resistant to change and criticism.
He gets our endorsement.
San Diego County District Attorney: Summer Stephan
We believe Summer Stephan has significantly more potential to be an aggressive, effective problem-solver.
She gets our endorsement.
San Diego County Supervisor, 4th District: Omar Passons
While Omar Passons lacks some of his opponents' name recognition and campaign resources, he outshines them on temperament and preparedness.
He gets our endorsement.
San Diego County Supervisor, 5th District: Jim Desmond
We think one candidate has the most promise to lead the county in a better direction: three-term San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond.
He gets our endorsement.
San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-Clerk: Ernest Dronenburg
Ernest Dronenburg's history of returning millions each year in appropriated funds to the county treasury and his emphasis on customer service and performance metrics would be welcome in any government.
He gets our endorsement.
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San Diego County Office of Education: Alicia Muñoz
We wish Alicia Muñoz, a community college instructor, were less comfortable with the state’s education establishment and its history of complacency. But she has a much better command of education issues than her challenger.
She gets our endorsement.
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San Diego County Office of Education: Rick Shea
Incumbent Rick Shea is a personable, thoughtful veteran educator, and his challenger sidestepped one of our questions.
He gets our endorsement.
San Diego County Superior Court Judge, Office 28: Herbert Exarhos
Herbert Exarhos has amply earned re-election. First appointed in 1983 as a San Diego judge by Gov. George Deukmejian, the U.S. Army veteran is rated “exceptionally qualified” by the county Bar Association.
He gets our endorsement.
San Diego County Superior Court Judge, Office 37: Victor Torres
Victor Torres has an eclectic legal background that would serve him well on the bench, endorsements across the ideological spectrum and is the only "exceptionally qualified" candidate in the race, according to the county bar.
He gets our endorsement.
San Diego City Council, District 2: Lorie Zapf
District 2: Lorie Zapf has led on keeping the San Diego River clean despite more and more homeless residents camping along its shores — and in trying to move river dwellers to temporary housing. She also has pushed for more housing all around.
She gets our endorsement.
San Diego City Council, District 4: Myrtle Cole
District 4: Myrtle Cole has been elected City Council president two years running, a sign of the political skill and leadership she has shown.
She gets our endorsement.
San Diego City Council, District 6: Chris Cate
District 6: Chris Cate has been a constant presence in his district and a leader on short-term vacation rental regulations.
He gets our endorsement.
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San Diego City Council, District 8: Vivian Moreno
District 8: Vivian Moreno shows a deep understanding of the city’s severe housing crisis, a thoughtful “tough love” approach to a persistent homelessness problem and a willingness to call it as she sees it.
She gets our endorsement.
Authorizes bonds funding parks, natural resources protection, climate adaptation, water quality and supply, and flood protection.
A reassuring Legislative Analyst’s Office study of the measure cites its solid oversight provisions and its requirement that local governments share in the costs of some of the projects it would fund.
The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board says vote yes.
Requires that certain new transportation revenues be used for transportation purposes
Given past diversions of fuel taxes, this is an excellent idea.
The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board says vote yes.
Requires legislative supermajority vote approving use of cap-and-trade reserve fund
Proposition 70 would ensure that in 2024, state lawmakers have a day of reckoning — an up-or-down vote — on the state's massively troubled $77 billion bullet-train project. This is not an ideal example of representative government, but fiascoes require unusual responses.
The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board says vote yes.
Sets effective date for ballot measures
Proposition 71 would fix a glitch in state law that lets ballot measures that seem to have won approval take effect the day after an election — before all votes are counted and voting tallies are official.
The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board says vote yes.
Permits legislature to exclude newly constructed rain-capture systems from property-tax reassessment requirement
A case can be made that simple tax codes without such carve-outs are best, but a far stronger argument is that drought-plagued California should incentivize water conservation however it can.
The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board says vote yes.
Imposes a half-cent sales tax increase in Chula Vista
Chula Vista voters should vote no on Measure A — then demand honesty and action on their city's pension crisis. The problem won't solve itself.
The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board says vote no.
Sets two four-year term limits in National City; allows sitting mayor to seek re-election
In small-town politics a mayor could easily squelch this brazen move. Instead, Mayor Ron Morrison and the organized interests who have grown comfortable with his leadership have pursued a measure that is dishonest and deceptive to its core.
The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board says vote no.
Extends mayoral term limits — three four-year terms — to council, clerk and treasurer
This is a far more straightforward, logical and neutral approach than allowing a mayor who in 2004 favored mayoral term limits to change rules and keep power.
The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board says vote yes.
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