District 5 City Council Candidates: Keep the Bigger Picture in Mind
Fifth in a series on City of San Diego political contests on the November, 2020 ballot. I’ll be doing other contests between now and October when mail-in ballots arrive.
Already covered: San Diego City Council District One, District Three, San Diego City Attorney, San Diego Mayoral; previously State Ballot Propositions.
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Back in the day, District 5 was considered a Republican stronghold. Much of the time Democrats couldn’t find a candidate to run for city council, and when they did, the GOP trounced them on election day. Heck, Carl DeMiao held that seat until he ran for Mayor in 2012 and began his current losing streak.
As of last September, Democrats in the district outnumber Republicans, who have fallen to last place among major partisan groupings. The sizable No Party Preference bloc of voters, no doubt, includes those who’ve fled the Grand Old Party as it has left its purpose and ethics behind.
Now D5 is considered to be just another exhibit in the case for the crumbling California GOP.
Termed out incumbent D5 City Councilman Mark Kersey, is one of those San Diego Republicans who’ve ditched the party, along with County DA Summer Stephan and Assemblyman Brian Maienschein
Union-Tribune politics columnist Michael Smolens wrote (what I hope is) the political obituary for retiring GOP County Chair Tony Kvaric, including this lil’ tidbit:
A lot has been written about Democrats overtaking Republicans in voter registration countywide. But a particularly revealing look at the breadth of the change is how it breaks down by city.
Lucas O’Connor, a San Diego Democrat with a penchant for political statistics, noted that since 2007 (when Krvaric became chairman), 13 of the county’s 18 cities had more Republicans than Democrats.
Today it’s only three — Coronado, Poway and Santee. O’Connor listed the cities that have flipped from Republican to Democratic pluralities during that time: Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Oceanside, San Marcos and Solana Beach.
Republican Joe Leventhal, candidate for D5 city council, is cut from much of the same cloth as Kersey, except that he hasn’t told the party to take a hike. He won 38% of the vote in the (officially non-partisan) primary; two Democrats combined won 58%.
Expect to see a lot of “independent expenditures” from GOP-leaning committees as the election nears.
Leventhal appears to have a basic understanding of the rule of law…
https://twitter.com/jleventhal/status/1281798889679384581?s=20
However--and this is the critical point I have to make here-- defeating the incumbent president isn’t just about unseating an incompetant sociopath.
We, the voters, need to make repudiation of this repugnant ethos in government clear to the forces that put Trump and his allies into office; the ones who are benefiting from his grift, racism, and damage to the planet--no more!
A multiparty system can be a critical part of the checks and balances needed for good governance. What we have in power now doesn’t give a whit about checks, balance, and just about anything you’d think of as “good” when it comes to decision making.
Perhaps, when (if) this current crisis in democracy passes, the remaining non-indictable Republicans can join forces with the pro-business wing of the Democratic party to create another path for voters to consider. For now, circumstances require a laser-like focus on rooting out this political and economic cancer at its source.
I doubt that Joe Leventhal agrees with SD GOP Party chair on furthering the conspiracy mongering Epoch Times or the racist undermining of the health protocols needed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. BUT... the local party faithful are the ones financing his campaign, and they’ll be the ones bending his ear when it comes to council votes on critical issues.
https://twitter.com/TonyKrvaric/status/1295129737325506563?s=20
I went to a get-to-know-the-candidate event back when such things were happening. Marni von Wilpert is the one general election candidate (out several that appeared) that struck me as the kind of person capable of seeing both the big picture and local issues through the lens of intersectionality we need during these turbulent times.
Voting for her is a win-win; a nod toward saying Basta! to the GOP and a good choice to represent District 5 on the city council.
About the Candidates
Joe Leventhal
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Endorsements
Bio: While in law school worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide; also interned for the office of the vice president. Merged self-owned law firm with Dismore and now manages San Diego office of the national law firm of over 650 attorneys,
Education: UC San Diego, Georgetown Law
Relevant experience: Appointed to SD Ethics Commision. Member, Rancho Bernardo Rotary, the Rancho Bernardo Business Association, and the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation.
A Significant Accomplishment: Was deputy assistant to vice president Dick Cheney at the age of 25.
Politics in a nutshell: Moderate Republican
Issues highlighted on website: Safe Schools, Reduce Homelessness, Public Safety, Road Maintenance and Repair, Fiscal Reform, Economic Development
$$$$
Total small donors reported via Candidate Controlled committee: $339,873. (Includes $2000 in loans)
A sampling of links concerning Joe Leventhal
Two Republicans in key San Diego council races setting the pace in fundraising
San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore Endorses Joe Leventhal for Council
County Republicans Endorse Joe Leventhal for District 5 City Council Seat
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Marni von Wilpert
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Endorsements
Bio: Grew up in Scripps Ranch, joined the Peace Corps serving in Botswana, worked as attorney at the National Labor Relations Board
Education: UC Berkeley, Fordham University Law
Relevant experience: Deputy City Attorney, San Diego
A Significant Accomplishment: Founded a legal clinic with the Mississippi Center for Justice, to combat discrimination, assist people living with HIV/AIDS and help people lift themselves out of poverty.
Politics in a nutshell: Liberal
Issues highlighted on website: Reducing Homelessness, Safe, Healthy Neighborhoods, Access to Housing, Protecting Our Environment, Transportation and Infrastructure, Improving Neighborhood Services.
$$$$
Total small donors reported via Candidate Controlled committee: $244,747.98
She is the endorsed Democratic candidate, meaning party mailings will include positive information about her.
Also, the SD City Firefighters IE kicked in $1050. in the primary
A sampling of links concerning Marni von Wilpert:
Marni von Wilpert, candidate for San Diego City Council District 5
Defund police in San Diego? Here's Marni von Wilpert's view.
Opinion: A Pandemic Brings Out the Worst Scams—Don't Fall for Them
Marni Von Wilpert's campaign for the San Diego City Council District 5 seat -
Up next, More City Council Races. If everything goes as expected, I’ll cover City Council Districts 7,& 9 to finish out the week.
Voter Guide – You’ve Voted for President, what’s next?
I’ll be writing about many ballot measures and candidates between now and the end of September. That work will be condensed into a handy-dandy voter guide just in time for your mail-in ballots to arrive. I’m the guy who coordinated San Diego Free Press’s Voter Guides over the past decade, so this won’t be my first effort. Stay tuned.
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