Internet Links from our May 26th Club Meeting
Our meeting guests provided the internet links posted below if you are interested in learning more about the information that they presented.
From Mark Leo, representing San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer:
marks.leo@sdcounty.ca.gov
Information for SANDAG Youth Opportunity Passes https://youthopportunitypass.sandag.org/
Sign up for Terra’s newsletter: https://remer.nationbuilder.com/join
Video of our D3 Community Budget Webinar that happened on May 23: https://fb.watch/dfUuwYC2CL/
From Jennifer Piscopo, Associate Professor of Politics at Occidental College, who presented When Women Run, Women Win – Or Do They? Myths and Truths About Women in U.S. Politics:
https://www.jenniferpiscopo.com/
Monthly ranking of women in national parliaments: https://data.ipu.org/women-ranking?month=5&year=2022
May 19, 2022
President’s Message
Dear Colleagues,
Program Reminder for the May 26, 2022, Club Meeting
Our Program for the May 26th features Professor Jennifer M. Piscopo, Assistant Professor of Politics and Director of the Center for Research and Scholarship at Occidental College in Los Angeles. Professor Piscopo will address the very timely topic in this Primary Election season of When Women Run, Women Win – Or Do They? Myths and Truths About Women in U.S. Politics.
Please Join Us Thursday, May 26th at 6:00pm (via Zoom) for our monthly Club Meeting
Link to Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87106677935?pwd=Qlo1MkVaaysvVTJrR3YrdjBPZzdYdz09
Meeting ID: 871 0667 7935
Passcode: 190259
You can view the Club Meeting Agenda HERE.
About California’s Gubernatorial Primary Election
Last week, in this column, I covered California’s June 7th Primary election extensively, including the anomaly of having two elections for the same office on the same ballot. Of course, I’m referring to California’s U.S. Senate seat now held by Alex Padilla. I’d like to revisit the reasons for this unusual occurrence.
But first, here’s a brief background about the Democratic candidate, Alex Padilla. According to Wikipedia, Alex Padilla received a degree in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1994. After graduation, he worked briefly for Hughes Aircraft developing software for satellite systems.
Almost immediately, Padilla became involved in politics following the passage of Proposition 187 in November 1994, first as an aide to Senator Dianne Feinstein. Then, in 1996, 1997, and 1998, he served as campaign manager for three candidates running for State legislative offices. All three were elected. In July 1999, at age 26, Padilla was elected and sworn in as a member of the Los Angeles City Council. Two years later, he was chosen by his peers as City Council President. In 2001, following the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, Padilla served for a brief period as interim Mayor of Los Angeles when then Mayor James Hahn traveled out of state. Padilla was recognized for his performance during that brief stint.
In 2006, Padilla ran for and was elected to the California State Senate. He served for two four-year terms. In 2013, he announced as a candidate for California’s Secretary of State and was elected in 2014. In 2017, he gained attention for his refusal of a request from the Trump administration for information on California’s registered voters going back to 2006. In 2018, Padilla was reelected as Secretary of State with 65% of the vote.
After Kamala Harris was elected as U.S. Vice President and assumed that office on January 20, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Alex Padilla to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Harris, and which he now holds, in accordance with California law. However, as required by the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a vacancy in a U.S. Senate seat must be filled for the unexpired term by popular vote at the next regular election. Thus, the June 7th Primary election will determine who advances to the November 8 General election to fill the unexpired term of Senator Harris’s seat.
The term of the Senate seat to which Kamala Harris was elected in 2016 and assumed in January 2017 expires on January 3rd, 2023. Therefore, the upcoming June 7th Primary Election will also determine the top two candidates who will face off in the November 8th General Election for the new six-year term beginning on January 23rd.
The two elections – one to fill the unexpired term ending on January 3, 2023, and the other to elect a candidate for the new term beginning on January 3, 2023 – are independent of one another. Alex Padilla, who now holds the seat by virtue of his appointment by Governor Newsom, has filed as a candidate for each of the two elections. And, of course, he is the only candidate for each election who is endorsed by the California Democratic Party.
This Is My Final Message as Club President
Earlier this month, I received the results of a biopsy confirming that I have a malignant tumor. The cancer is one that is common among men of a certain age. I have not yet completed all the testing necessary to determine if the cancer has spread. Those tests will be completed within the next few weeks. However, it is certain that I will need to focus my energy and time toward completing the diagnosis and following up with the course of treatment recommended for me.
I have advised our Executive Board that I am stepping down from the office of Club president and from the Board as of May 28th. It has been an honor for me to have served as your President for the past 16 months.
The Club remains in good hands with the outstanding Executive Board in place. They will be selecting an interim president to fill the vacant office, in accordance with our Club Bylaws.
I will remain a member of the Club and I look forward to continuing participation as a member as my condition allows.
So, for now, farewell, and I look forward to seeing you again.
Wayne Dernetz,
President
May 12, 2022
President’s Message
Dear Colleagues,
Program Speaker for the May 26, 2022 Club Meeting
Our Program for the May 26th features Professor Jennifer M. Piscopo, Assistant Professor of Politics and Director of the Center for Research and Scholarship at Occidental College in Los Angeles. Dr. Piscopo’s research focuses on women’s political representation, and gender and elections, in the U.S., Latin America, and around the globe. Her work has earned numerous awards from such professional organizations as the American Political Science Association, the International Political Science Association, and others, and has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other major outlets.
In 2011, she earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from UCSD. The topic of her presentation is entitled, When Women Run, Women Win – Or Do They? Myths and Truths About Women in U.S. Politics. What could be more relevant in today’s political climate?
Please Join Us Thursday, May 26th at 6:00pm (via Zoom) for our monthly Club Meeting
Link to Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87106677935?pwd=Qlo1MkVaaysvVTJrR3YrdjBPZzdYdz09
Meeting ID: 871 0667 7935
Passcode: 190259
You can view the Club Meeting Agenda HERE.
About California’s Gubernatorial Primary Election
This past week, County Registrars of Voters throughout the State have begun mailing ballots to all registered voters in their respective counties. If you haven’t yet received yours, contact our San Diego County Registrar’s Office at (858) 565-5800 to inquire. If you are not sure about your current voter registration, would like to make changes, or have questions about the ballot or the election, you can find answers at www.sdvote.com.
This will be the first election conducted under California’s new Voter’s Choice Act. The new law allows California’s 58 counties to decide whether to participate in a new, modern electoral process that gives voters maximum choice in how, when, and where they cast their ballots. San Diego County is one of 27 counties to adopt the new procedures. Find out more about the procedures here: https://www.sdvote.com/content/dam/rov/en/election/elections-2022/HassleFreeVoting2022En.pdf
And don’t forget to sign up for the “Where’s My Ballot” feature that lets you know when your ballot has been received and accepted by the Registrar’s office here: https://www.sdvote.com/content/rov/en/elections/wheres-my-ballot.html
Our ballots in this Primary election include races for each of the State’s eight Constitutional Officers, from Governor to Insurance Commissioner and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
There are also two races for the same U.S. Senate seat vacated by Kamala Harris when she was sworn in as U.S. Vice President on January 20th, 2021. The seat is now held on an interim basis, pending this election, by former California Secretary of State, Alex Padilla, who was appointed by Governor Newsom under California law. The first race will elect a candidate to fill the unexpired term of Senator Harris, which ends on January 3rd, 2023, as required under the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The second race will elect a candidate to fill the seat for the new six-year term beginning January 3rd, 2023. Senator Padilla is a candidate in both races and faces seven challengers in the race to fill the unexpired term, and 22 challengers in the race for the full term. Oddly, the two races appear in reverse order on ballot, with the full-term election up first, followed by the unexpired term election.
Along with the State Offices and U.S. Senate seat, the races include candidates for each of the Congressional Districts; for the even-numbered State Senate Districts and odd-numbered State Assembly Districts; for three offices of the Superior Court for the County of San Diego; for the San Diego County Sheriff; for the County Board of Supervisors, Districts 4 and 5; for City Council seats in selected districts, and other city-wide elected offices, in San Diego and Chula Vista; and for several Community College District seats and school district seats in certain areas of San Diego County.
If the complexity of this primary election seems confusing and difficult to follow, you’re not alone. Typically, the mid-term Gubernatorial Election is the most complicated in our four-year election cycle, in part due to the number of State offices to be filled. And due to California’s top-two primary system which requires all candidates for each race to appear on the same ballot, instead of each party having its own slate of candidates running for the party nomination.
The complexity of the ballot notwithstanding, it is important for all voters to vote in all the races their ballot, including the so-called “down ballot” races toward the bottom of the ballot. It is these “down ballot” races in which our vote counts the most. And it these races that fill the offices that have the most immediate and direct impact on our daily lives. So, take the time and put in the effort to vote the whole ballot, please.
Wayne Dernetz,
President