Citizens for a Better East County’s Election Scam
Will Dirty Tricks Make Carlsbad Better?
The “Carlsbad Democratic Voter Guide” pre-election mailer showing up in people’s homes this week is full of contradictions. For one, it’s sponsored by an inland-based committee claiming to speak for a coastal group.
For another, it’s chock full of Republicans, though you wouldn’t know it reading the headlines saying “Vote for Climate Action, Diversity, and Reproductive Rights” and “Unite Behind Our Endorsed Team of Candidates Committed to Progressive Change in Carlsbad.”
Among the non-Democrats listed are:
Melanie Burkholder, Carlsbad City Council
Keith Blackburn, running for Carlsbad Mayor
Lance Christiansen, California Superintendent of Public Education
Jordan Marks, San Diego County Assessor
Sharon McKeeman, Carlsbad School Board*
(*Founder of anti-mask group “Let Them Breathe”)
Down at the bottom of the mailer, there is a disclaimer saying it was paid for by “Citizens for a Better East County (CBEC).”
So the question becomes “who are these citizens?”
The answer is: they’re mostly Republicans and this group is just another way to shuffle the money around to achieve deniability for bad behavior.
The County Registrar of Voters Office, which keeps track of many local political donations, offers some insight.
On October 5, “San Diegans Against Hate” donated $2500.
This is an oddball donation, since the group is ostensibly aimed at electing officials who will oppose anti-Semitism in schools. They list six candidates on their “Allies” page, half of whom are running for school boards.
Assemblyman Christ Ward is listed and both Barbara Bry and Jordan Marks, who are running for Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk. Bry donated $500 to the group back in July. Although the County position is non-partisan, Marks is the GOP endorsed candidate and he’s also listed in the aforementioned flyer.
On September 30, Bennett for Lakeside School Board donated $2500
Jim Bennett is the endorsed candidate of the local GOP for the Lakeside School Board
On September 21, Wells for Mayor made an in-kind donation (signs) of $2955.23
Bill Wells is the County GOP endorsed candidate for Mayor of El Cajon
On September 12, the Republican Party of San Diego donated $12,500
Earlier in the year,
The Lincoln Club of San Diego donated $7000
The Republican Party of San Diego donated $3000
In 2021 much of the funding for CBEC came from the Hamann family & associates, an El Cajon building and property management company.
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So why are Republicans like this?
In California, GOP voter registration numbers continue falling– to under 24%. The state senate minority leader was removed after pushing a bogus conspiracy theory blaming the far-left for Jan. 6. The state GOP chairwoman was a featured speaker at a rally co-organized by an individual who had called for Americans to arm for civil war. Channeling their inner Trumps, 10 handily defeated GOP Congressional candidates sued the state claiming election fraud (and lost). And the $200 million attempted recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom failed in a landslide.
For 2022, the GOP is dodging questions about abortion and their fealty to the former president.
When you’ve got nothing to run on, dirty tricks are a necessary distraction.
Email me at WritetoDougPorter@Gmail.com
Lead image: Via Director of Membership for Carlsbad Democrats @Ms_Sicily on Twitter