Progressive Picks

Progressive San Diego tipped its hat to two Democratic candidates for San Diego Unified's school board, handing endorsements to Richard Barrera and John Lee Evans.

Barrera's endorsement isn't a big surprise: The labor organizer sits on Progressive San Diego's board, and is currently the sole qualifying candidate in the race to replace trustee Luis Acle.

Evans, a Democrat and a psychologist who works in Poway, is competing with incumbent Mitz Lee, a Republican.

According to PSD, Barrera and Evans were the only candidates in their respective races to answer the group's request to enter the endorsement process, which includes a questionnaire and an interview.

Progressive San Diego hasn't endorsed in the third school board race, for Sheila Jackson's seat, because the group has yet to meet with Jackson and her competitors, said Tommie Watson, the group's operations director. Watson explained that the group had prioritized more heavily contested races. (Prior to Acle's failure to qualify, the race for his seat look competitive, Watson said.)

~Emily Alpert
Voice of San Diego

Some End of the Week Reflections

Last night at the San Diego County Democratic Party - Central Region meeting, Both Marti Emerald in city council district 7 and Sherri Lightner in city council district 1 were recommended for early endorsement to the Central Committee meeting in January.

With the announcement earlier this week that TaxpayersAdvocate.org Scott Barnett is dropping out of the race for Mitz Lee school board seat, leaves John Lee Evans as the only announced candidate to fill the seat. The word on the street is that Barnett is going to be involved in one of the Republican campaigns for City Attorney?

Speaking of the City Attorney, I have heard this week that Mike Aguirre has retained the services of Al Ducheny, the husband of State Senator Denise Ducheny, to manager his re-election campaign.

Finally, Auday Arabo will get to face Democratic activists for the first time in January. The Chicano Democratic Association has scheduled their 78th Assembly candidate interviews for January 9th.