San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 11
sanclementetimes.com
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 12
sanclementetimes.com
— 2020 —
Presidential Primer BY ZACH CAVANAGH The 2020 Presidential Election has been labeled one of the most important in American history, and it has also certainly proved to be one of the more contentious races in recent memory. To help sort through the noise, we’ve outlined the views of Republican nominee and incumbent President Donald Trump and his challenger, Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden, on two of the major issues in this cycle amid the ongoing pandemic. Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen and Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins will also be listed on the ballot.
C O R O N AV I R U S TRUMP:
ELECTION DAY VOTER GUIDE
T
he Presidential General Election is now less than four weeks away. While the whirlwind of the political news cycle can be simultaneously enticing and draining, it’s equally important that voters match their energy and attention for the presidential bid toward local races. San Clemente’s race for city council features a crowded field of candidates who are vying for three seats on the dais—two four-year terms and one two-year term. In the General Election, incumbent Councilmember Gene James is looking to keep his seat, which he won in last year’s Special Election, as he faces nine others. The third council seat opened after former Mayor Dan Bane’s departure from local office this past April, prompting the Special Election, the second in as many years. The 73rd Assembly seat will be filled by a newcomer after Assemblymember Bill Brough’s upset in the March primary. Voters will determine whether the seat will remain Republican with Laurie Davies, as it has been historically, or whether Scott Rhinehart will pave the way for Democrats. In the 49th Congressional race, incumbent Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) will defend his seat against Republican challenger Brian Maryott, a sitting councilmember for San Juan Capistrano.
Voters will also be choosing our leaders to represent us on the boards for South Coast Water District, the Municipal Water District of Orange County, and Capistrano Unified School District. These legislative bodies have impacts on our environment, determine where and how we get our water, how much we pay our teachers and what kind of teaching experience our students will benefit from in the classroom. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 19. Just like in this year’s Primary Election, voters will have three options when it comes to casting their votes. Voters have the choice of returning their ballot to the Orange County Registrar of
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Voters’ office via mail, taking it to a metal drop box or delivering it to a vote center. The more than 100 drop boxes around the county opened on Oct. 5 and will close at 8 p.m. the day of the election on Nov. 3. According to the Registrar’s office, voters will be able track their vote through ocvote.com/track. While the act of voting is a keystone of civic duty, we ask that constituents go beyond just voting. Vote based on thorough research. Vote upon knowing the facts from trusted sources. Vote upon being informed and educated on the issues. Thank you for trusting San Clemente Times as your source for local news you can use.
The Trump campaign has praised the actions that the current administration has taken over the course of the pandemic. In a document released by the White House on Aug. 10, the administration listed these as the key takeaways from Trump’s response to the pandemic: “Took early action to cut off travel from China; Built the world’s leading testing system from nothing; Enacted mitigation measures to slow the spread; mobilized public and private sectors to secure needed supplies; Took action to protect vulnerable Americans; Launched effort to deliver a vaccine and therapeutics in record time; Provided support to workers and businesses; Paved way for reopening to get America working again; Surged resources to hotspots as they arose; Confronted China as origin of the virus while Democrats and media cowered.” Trump announced on Oct. 1 that he, along with First Lady Melania Trump, had tested positive for COVID-19.
BIDEN:
The Biden campaign focused on what its response to the pandemic would be should he take office. The campaign said Biden would listen to science, ensure public health decisions are informed by public health professionals and restore trust, transparency, common purpose and accountability to the government. The campaign website also outlined a seven-point plan for public health and economic recovery, points that include giving all Americans access to regular, reliable and free testing; fixing personal protective equipment problems; providing resources for schools, small businesses and families; effective and equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines; “rebuild and expand the defenses that Trump has dismantled to predict, prevent and mitigate pandemic threats”; and implement local mask mandates nationwide.
H E A LT H C A R E TRUMP:
The Republican campaign states that Trump has fought to increase access to affordable health care. The campaign website says, “As part of the landmark Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, President Trump repealed the individual mandate, which forced people to buy expensive insurance and taxed those who couldn’t afford it.” Trump also signed a six-year extension to Children’s Health Insurance Program to fund health care for nine million, the campaign says. With a hearing on Nov. 10, the Trump Administration, along with 18 Republican state attorneys general, are also asking the Supreme Court to deem the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional.
BIDEN:
The Democratic campaign has proposed building on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as “Obamacare.” Biden’s campaign website argues that the ACA has assuaged more than 100 million people who “no longer have to worry that an insurance company will deny coverage or charge higher premiums just because they have a pre-existing condition.” Biden’s campaign said that instead of tearing down the existing ACA or not allowing private insurance, the Democratic nominee would expand the ACA by providing more choices, reducing health care costs and making the health care system less complex.
D E B AT E S C H E D U L E These issues, the candidates’ records and much more were scheduled to be contended over the course of late September and October in three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. Incumbent Vice President Mike Pence, Trump’s Republican running mate, was set to square off with California Senator Kamala Harris, Biden’s Democratic running mate, in the vice presidential debate on Wednesday, Oct. 7, in Salt Lake City. Page 13
Following a contentious first debate on Sept. 29, Trump and Biden were scheduled to return to the debate stage in a town hall format on Oct. 15 in Miami. However, Trump’s positive coronavirus test and subsequent quarantine have put the status of this debate in question. The two presidential candidates were also scheduled to debate a third and final time on Oct. 22 in Nashville. sanclementetimes.com
Hear from the City Council Candidates Leading up to the San Clemente City Council General Election on Nov. 3, the San Clemente Times has published a series of questions that we’ve asked each candidate who is running for the two four-year seats and the one two-year seat. Because there’s a General Election and a Special Election this year, with a total of 18 candidates, we’ve rotated their responses to the first two questions. In this Election Guide, we present all 18 responses to the third and final question. The list of candidates is published according to the random alphabet the California Secretary of State recently drew. QUESTION 3
| What do you believe police services in San Clemente should look like? GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES *Incumbent
BILL HART
CHARLIE SMITH
CHRIS DUNCAN
The OC Sheriff’s Department provides more resources and better presence at lower cost than a local police department. However, we need to improve a few things. My action plan: 1. Continue to add more deputies; 2. Have Code Enforcement and Park Rangers enforce minor ordinance violations; 3. Perform deputy workload assessments regularly; 4. Fix the “us vs. them” mentality at city hall. Our police chief needs to be treated as a member of the city team; 5. Bring back the OCSD Citizens Academy to educate the public on OCSD; 6. Encourage citizens to organize a local foundation to support our Police Services.
As a former U.S. Army Ranger, protection of country and community is ingrained in me. While peaceful assembly and protest is well-founded under our Constitution, lawlessness has no place and must be dealt with swiftly and comprehensively—there is no rationalization that supports rioting. Considering this point, I believe OCSD has done a tremendous job in protecting our city. There are areas where we can further enhance our protective services. We need to pass smart ordinances to increase their capacity. Further, adding more deputies makes sense, especially deputies specially trained to work with our transient population.
The tragic death of Kurt Reinhold, a Black, homeless resident and father of two, serves as a wakeup call for our city. As a former prosecutor, I have tremendous respect for law enforcement officers and the sacrifices they make every day, and that is why I want to see the Orange County Sheriff’s Department take meaningful steps to prevent occurrences like these in the future. My plan, which I have discussed with Sheriff Barnes, involves augmenting the Psychiatric Emergency and Response Team (PERT) so mental health clinicians primarily engage with homeless individuals, allowing deputies to focus on criminal activity.
Public safety is a priority. We have struggled with securing more funding for OCSD and need to audit legal-related spending to free up more. I would also review the option to implement a police substation at North Beach, given the history of homeless issues. I am told we have provided e-bikes to officers to patrol areas like North Beach, the Pier Bowl, Del Mar and El Camino Real. However, we need to extend the e-bike patrol annually and not just during the summer. We must support our police with a secured minimum manning budget to always ensure the safety of residents.
Our citizens and law enforcement officers are facing formidable challenges in these unprecedented times. As your councilmember, I have been, and will continue to be, committed to law and order. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department, with their professional law enforcement officers and experienced leadership, are dedicated to serve everyone within our town. OCSD possesses vast resources that provide the absolute best options in keeping our neighborhoods, our families, and our businesses safe and secure. I will continue to have the backs of the great deputies who protect and serve this wonderful city. Your safety and security are my paramount concern.
JEFF PROVANCE JR.
PATRICK MINNEHAN
JOSEPH KENNEY
JEFF WELLMAN
THOR JOHNSON
First, I would like to say thank you to OCSD. You ladies and gentlemen work hard to keep San Clemente safe, and I appreciate everything OCSD does for SC. OCSD provides us with invaluable resources, as seen last month with the protest. I would like to see us strengthen our bond with the sheriff’s department and Sheriff Don Barnes. Work together for a safer community for all of us to live in. I would like to see officers who are assigned to SC engage with our citizens, our community. We need to work together as one town, one team, one heartbeat.
Our relationship with OCSD is fairly robust as it stands today. Fifty-three deputies assigned to San Clemente with varying specialties to protect and serve our community. As additional deputies are needed, OCSD has the resources to pivot and flex accordingly. City leadership must listen to our citizens and to our contracted agencies. Where gaps are identified or enhancements are necessary, solutions need to be developed, presented, discussed, agreed to and acted upon. City leadership must hold all accountable and communicate actions taken effectively and compassionately.
Law and order is paramount for any society to function properly. Every citizen deserves equal justice under the law. To achieve this, contrary to the popular media narrative to defund the police, we should, in fact, increase funding to police services. Increased funding can go towards better de-escalation training, and higher pay would make the job more desirable and competitive, leading to higher quality candidates. It would also be helpful to fund more events where the community can interact with local police and allow them to get to know the city’s citizens better, thereby reducing fear and stress all around.
San Clemente is currently contracted with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for police services. OCSD provides patrol services that include over 40 department personnel dedicated to San Clemente’s care and safety. OCSD has provided first-class service to the citizens of San Clemente. I believe the city of San Clemente is well served by the current contract and should remain with OCSD for the near future. I want to publicly thank the deputies and support staff from OCSD that serve San Clemente daily and put their lives on the line to keep our community and families safe. I am pro law enforcement!
I’m disappointed in the death of Mr. Reinhold. My vision for our police department is to reflect the culture, desires and goals of our community. Addressing property theft and homelessness encroachment are some of our community’s most urgent needs. As your councilman, I will strengthen our Neighborhood Watch, Citizen’s Patrol, R.S.V.P. and Ride-Along programs, and implement proactive programs to prevent crime, including Citizen’s Police Academy and Neighborhood Policing, to identify repeat offenders. For quality-of-life issues, I will hire a mental health clinician, an expert, to assist deputies, and help identify an individual’s type of mental health issue and needs.
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 14
AARON WASHINGTON
GENE JAMES*
sanclementetimes.com
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 15
sanclementetimes.com
City Council Candidates (Continued) QUESTION 3
| What do you believe police services in San Clemente should look like? SPECIAL ELECTION CANDIDATES
TYLER BODEN
GEORGE T. GREGORY
JIM DAHL
JERRY QUINLAN
The city of San Clemente has been served by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department since the mid-1990s, which I believe was a fiscally responsible transition. While there are benefits to having a local police department, I think we are well-served by OCSD, and should continue the county contract with at least as many deputies as we are staffed with today. I believe the city’s focus should be on supporting our sheriff’s deputies with more coordination between code compliance, park rangers, our local Neighborhood Watch groups, the RSVP program, and mental health and homeless outreach services. We should also organize ourselves more closely with San Juan and Dana Point to address issues that face our entire region. Public safety is a primary responsibility of our city government, and we should support our police services wherever possible.
I’d like to see a redevelopment or new police force. Not like the OCSD; their training in the jails have made them mean and harsh. They’ve lost their way. Imminent danger was not evident when the Marine was killed in the school yard or the hobo on the street. Please step back, wait for backup, control your weapon, let things calm down. Please stop being lawyers and councils— hence, men—by enforcing laws selectively or justifying abuse by someone a deputy perceives to have abusive rights like strong-arm extortion by tenants, drug rehab houses or council’s antiworkman laws just because workmen use a pickup truck. A local department that we may recognize each other and have some local knowledge of each other. Lastly, service officers, be safe and thank you. George Gregory two-year.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has done an exceptional job serving the city of San Clemente over the years. As the city has grown, we have not kept up with our deputy-to-citizen ratio. Comparing San Clemente with other cities in South Orange County, the deputy-to-citizen ratio is much higher. The new council majority should review our situation and find more funds to enhance our standards of service to our citizens.
As a graduate of the San Clemente Citizens Police Academy in 2014, and Vietnam combat veteran, I suggest fostering better professionally trained social outreach squads to deal with the social misfits that have, unfortunately, always been here in my 37 years of owning property and businesses in San Clemente. Then, we can let the sheriff focus on crime. As a city, we could also begin modifying and renegotiating our OC Sheriff’s contract, renewing in 2021. And, as for rioters, we could more stringently deny the violent prone access to our neighborhoods, than was allowed in the recent past. We citizens are ultimately responsible for our protection, through our agreed-upon professional law enforcement, and our elected city councilmembers. “We the people” of San Clemente would be smart to secure “peace through strength” before “rocks through our windows.”
DONNA VIDRINE
STEVEN KNOBLOCK
ZHEN WU
LARON RUSH
Now is definitely not the time to change police services. We are a safe community with the current police staffing. We will have budget limitations until after the epidemic eases, so I would favor retaining the current level of policing. We’ll need leadership from Sheriff Barnes and OCSD, as well as our city council. OCSD is clearly reforming itself, buying body cameras, building a facility for inmates with mental health issues, and staffing up on mental health specialists. We need to do our part, seek opportunities for the police to engage, be a presence, to build relationships, trust, and connections. I recommend monthly meetings rotating among neighborhoods. And, we need to deal with our homeless professionally, so that our police can, finally, bring them where they need to go. Serve and protect! Equal justice!
Police should be prompt, polite and efficient—and they are. Video of the recent shooting shows our police officers approaching the man in a respectful, patient and professional manner. The deputy’s request to move off the street was met with refusals to comply, yelling and aggressive shoving of the deputies. This ultimately resulted in a scuffle leading to the man’s death after he grabbed the deputy’s weapon. As one who has had to assist a CHP officer wrestling on the ground to gain control of a fighting suspect, I can tell you the split-second decisions they make daily are very difficult. Our police should be honored and appreciated for their brave service. Police staffing levels should require a minimum number of deputies to cover for those on vacation or sick leave.
Police services in San Clemente should look like an integral part of our community. Safety is fundamental in the hierarchy of human needs; therefore, police services is basic and essential. I consider our first responders the community’s guardians and protectors. I’m saddened by Mr. Reinhold’s death. As your councilmember, I will work to improve the collaboration among OCSD, code enforcement, and social services by formulating a protocol of engagement with homeless people and designating a lead agency. This will allow OCSD to redirect some resources to attend to other public safety issues. Meanwhile, we should refrain from making judgments before the investigation is concluded. In this difficult year of 2020, our community needs solidarity more than ever.
I believe that San Clemente should have their own police department, because people in San Clemente will get to know the police officers that are working for them. I would say that if San Clemente had the police department in place, things would have turned out a lot different, the residents would not have witnessed what they saw played out at all. If the police department is in place, maybe the officers would have been familiar with the homeless man and they would have known that he had mental issues that he was dealing with. It’s time to stop making excuses and figure a plan out together, because teamwork is important. So let’s ride this wave together.
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 16
sanclementetimes.com
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 17
sanclementetimes.com
73rd District Will See a Newcomer to State Assembly BY LILLIAN BOYD
For the first time in three terms, the 73rd District Assembly seat will be filled by one of two newcomers to the State Legislature. Scott Rhinehart, a Democrat, and Laurie Davies, a Republican, will face off on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Scott Rhinehart
Democrat It was the year 1978 when Scott Rhinehart was crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and heard the car radio report that Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the history of California, had been assassinated. That evening, Rhinehart attended a candlelight vigil that attracted thousands at city hall. Rhinehart says the tragedy played a pivotal role in the launch of his activism, which was emboldened by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. But the foundation of Rhinehart’s politics arguably was formed throughout his childhood, with his father’s involvement in labor organizing. “I was born into a working-class family in a small, coal-mining town in eastern Utah,” Rhinehart said. “My uncle was killed in a mine, and that led my dad toward labor organizing. I was raised in a union home, and my dad was involved with one of the first unions of this nation. I learned about the power in organizing and the importance of giving those who don’t have a voice, a voice.” Now, Rhinehart is vying for the 73rd California Assembly seat as a Democrat, just as he did unsuccessfully in the 2018 race. Then, he faced incumbent Assemblymember Bill Brough, who secured the seat for a third term and beat Rhinehart by nearly eight percentage points. However, in 2019, Brough faced a series of sexual misconduct allegations brought against him and was subsequently unseated for a fourth term during the March Primary San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Election. Laguna Niguel Mayor Laurie Davies, a Republican, took the majority of the votes with 27.3%, followed by Rhinehart, who took in 23.8%--qualifying them for the general election. There were five candidates total (three Democrats and two Republicans). Rhinehart’s platform calls for a singlepayer Medicare system in the state and the prioritizing of funding for education. “We are the fifth-largest economy in the world, and yet we are the 41st state in per-pupil-spending,” Rhinehart said. “In the Assembly, I will prioritize educational funding from Pre-K to our community and state colleges and universities. We must ensure our teachers are always supported, and our students have the resources and opportunities to thrive.” Since the state shutdown in response to COVID-19, Rhinehart says that his campaigning efforts have had to adapt but that the pandemic has reinforced his beliefs. “Grandmas and grandpas shouldn’t have to die. The number of deaths we’ve seen and the inadequate response . . . we need to learn from this pandemic and be prepared,” Rhinehart said. “We can take these lessons and apply it to climate change. We need to be prepared.” If previous elections are any indication of this year’s voter results, Rhinehart faces an uphill battle at the polls. In the 73rd District, there are 121,963 registered Republican voters, compared to the 86,027 voters registered as Democrats. Davies also is leading Rhinehart in fundraising dollars, having raised $257,353.63 in 230 contributions. Rhinehart has so far raised $197,428.74 in 319 contributions. Rhinehart counters that a Democrat in the 73rd district seat would better serve constituents, considering the state’s supermajority. “We live in a state that is Democratic; our Senate and Assembly are Democrat. Who will be more likely to bring in new jobs, more sources of funding since we are a donor state, who is going to be successful in leveraging that money back to us? It’s time for all people in the 73rd to be represented in Sacramento, not just for special interests to be represented.”
Laurie Davies
Republican Laurie Davies says she can thank her parents for instilling within her the value of hard work—the work ethic that pushed her to attend college full-time while waitressing nights and weekends, start her own business and embark on a career in politics. After graduating, she relocated to Orange County, where she worked as the general manager for two restaurants and went on to handle the events at the private Monarch Bay Beach Club in Dana Point. In 2000, Davies started her own event planning business, Five Star Wedding & Events, which she still operates today. Being a small business owner, Davies said she knows firsthand the toll that COVID-19 has had on the economy. “As a small business owner, my business has taken a halt . . . as an event planner, you plan in advance. Basically everything is canceled. But it’s looking positive; it’s going to be a very busy year next year.” As Mayor of Laguna Niguel, Davies says she constantly gets calls from people who are worried about how the pandemic is shaping their lives. “As mayor, it’s devastating when people are calling me about how COVID is impacting them and they don’t know what to do. To hear the pain in their voices, that’s the hardest part,” Davies said. Davies says she’s had to think outside the box when it comes to campaigning and fundraising. “You have to be willing to try something new,” Davies said. “We took advantage of Zoom to build those relationships, and it’s worked.” With both houses in the legislature having a Democrat supermajority, San Clemente Times asked Davies how she anticipated working across the aisle to best represent the interests of the 73rd District. “I’ve always been someone who likes to build relationships, building trust, listening,” Davies said. “I’m one that likes to solve problems. We’ve got a lot in common.” During her time in office, Davies has served as a director on the Transportation
Page 18
Corridor Agencies, chaired the League of Cities Committee on Transportation, Communication and Public Works, and was elected to the Orange County Transportation Authority. Some San Clemente voters are weary of associations with the TCA, after a long history of contention the city has had with the agency over a proposed toll road being built through the area. In March, TCA officials confirmed that out of all of the proposals for South County traffic relief, an arterial, un-tolled road—also known as the Los Patrones extension—would be the sole alternative that staff would pursue. The action formally removed the possibility of extending the 241 Toll Road through San Clemente. TCA is now collaborating with Caltrans and OCTA to advance plans of having the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on the I-5 extend from Avenida Pico to the San Diego County line, as well as complete the project to widen Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano. “OCTA and TCA came together and listened to the people. Listen, no matter where you are, mobility is important. In the case of a disaster, to me that was always my first priority,” Davies said. “I would not put a toll road through a city; I think we’re going to see these three measures have some good results. It comes down to listening to residents, developers and stakeholders.” Davies says her top priorities, if elected, are to help small businesses and to repeal early release for felons. “Small businesses make up our community. I will work toward creating business-friendly laws and work toward repealing Assembly Bill (AB) 5,” Davies said. “Safety is a priority. When there is early release for repeat offenders, we are putting residents at risk and having impact on homelessness.” While speaking with voters, Davies emphasizes the importance of learning about propositions on the ballot, in addition to the candidates. “COVID has made all of us have to stop; we’re paying attention more,” Davies said. “But I really believe the blindfolds have been taken off. I’m seeing what my kids are being taught, I’m seeing what the governor is doing and how businesses are closing. People are waking up, and no matter how they’re going to vote, they’re going to be a lot more informed. We’ll just have to wait and see the results after Nov. 3.” The 73rd Assembly District stretches from the coast to the Santa Ana Mountains, and includes cities of Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. sanclementetimes.com
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 19
sanclementetimes.com
49TH CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES DISCUSS
Pandemic Business Relief, San Onofre Waste Removal Brian Maryott (Republican)
D
Rep. Mike Levin (Democrat)
By Collin Breaux emocratic incumbent Mike Levin and Republican challenger Brian Maryott are facing off in the race for the 49th Congressional District, which covers portions of Orange and San Diego counties. Levin and Maryott faced off earlier this year in the primary election, where Levin won overall with 56.6% of votes, compared to Maryott’s 43.4%. Maryott—currently a San Juan Capistrano City Councilmember—fared better in Orange County, where he picked up 53.51% of votes, compared to Levin’s 46.49%. The two candidates addressed a slew of issues heading into the general election, including challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental concerns and protests against police brutality. Levin said he has fought for working families and local small businesses during the health crisis, and his office assisted local small business owners and workers who needed help with federal programs. “Working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we’ve provided enhanced unemployment insurance, nutrition assistance, rental support and eviction moratoriums, and direct stimulus payments for those most in need,” Levin said. “I fought to improve the Paycheck Protection Program so that more mom-and-pop businesses here in our district received assistance and kept employees on their payrolls.” Maryott said state government has stood in the way of small and medium-sized business owners, while major corporations were allowed to remain open, and that employers of all sizes are going to require short-term payroll tax relief and protection from COVIDrelated liability. “In Congress, I will fight to further drop tax brackets for our low- and moderate-income earners, and make the doubling of the child tax credit and standard deduction permanent for our families,” Maryott said. “I will lead an effort to supercharge opportunity zones to attract investment in the district, and I will work collaboratively with either a Trump or Biden administration to leverage federal dollars in our communities.” Levin said pressing issues he tackled over the past two years included radioactive waste at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, raw sewage from the Tijuana River Valley and erosion of coastal bluffs. He introduced legislation that would expedite the removal of nuclear waste from decommissioned plants in areas with high population density and a seismic hazard, such as from San Onofre. “We’re also seeing coastal bluffs erode and collapse throughout our district, threatening lives and property,” Levin said. “That’s why I was proud to successfully secure $505,000 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stabilize the bluffs in San Clemente, and another $400,000 in federal funding for the Planning, Engineering & Design (PED) phase of the Encinitas-Solana Beach Coastal Storm Damage Reduction Project.” Maryott said he will join other California Representatives as part of legislation to restart the development of the Yucca Mountain Repository. Maryott said he additionally supports commercial providers developing interim storage solutions, since potential profit “may be the exact motivation” the area needs to get San Onofre waste off the beach. “Importantly, I will also work to oppose efforts to try and overhaul our energy system by government control and government mandate,” Maryott said. “This means opposing the Green New Deal, which if enacted, would quite simply destroy our way of life. Mike San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Levin is a co-sponsor of this naïve manifesto, joining with AOC and other members of his Progressive Caucus. It is extreme and dangerous, and putting it forward as a serious proposal is unhelpful to the dialogue.” The candidates also gave their perspectives on the national racial reckoning that arose after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Levin supports law enforcement and criminal justice system legislation that prohibits racial, religious, and discriminatory profiling; bans chokeholds and no-knock warrants at the federal level; limits the transfer of unnecessary militarygrade equipment to local police; expands the use of dashboard cameras and body cameras; and establishes a National Police Misconduct Registry. Levin said the majority of police officers are honorable people, and he does not support defunding the police. “However, I do support more funding for community policing programs to improve relations between law enforcement and communities of color, as well as funding to diversify police departments,” Levin said. “I also will continue to advocate for greater investments in our social services and programs to lift up underserved communities.” At the federal level, Maryott said he supports proper resources that allow communities to do the best and most thorough job possible of vetting new hires, training, and holding police officers accountable for their conduct on a daily basis. Maryott does not support defunding or reimagining policing. “I will not abandon our officers and any hope for safe communities here in our district,” Maryott said. “I will not vote to end qualified immunity. I enjoy this protection, as does Rep. Levin. We need to retain our best police officers, not strip them and their families of the needed peace of mind
Page 20
that helps them cope with a very stressful and demanding job.” Levin and Maryott also addressed health care and other topics. On health care, Levin said everyone in the district should have access to affordable, quality health care, and nobody should have to choose to pay for rent or groceries, instead of seeing a doctor or paying for a prescription. “I’ll continue to work to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and maintain protections for preexisting conditions that some are fighting to eliminate,” Levin said. Maryott said he will diligently oppose attempts to have the government running health care. “Through a robust private health care and health care insurance industry, we can provide choices and peace of mind to everyone in our communities, and never lose sight of the physically/financially vulnerable or anyone with preexisting conditions,” Maryott said. “We are a wealthy and dynamic enough country to have it all. We are not Great Britain—and we should never, ever socialize our health care system. It’s a life-and-death issue.” As for military and veteran issues, Levin said he introduced the Homeless Veteran Coronavirus Response Act to expand and strengthen Department of Veterans Affairs services for homeless veterans after the pandemic began, and he is concerned about reports that veterans are seeing delays in prescription deliveries as part of recent publicized troubles with the Postal Service. Maryott said he supports strong and predictable military spending, and will “strenuously debate” the Progressive Caucus on their “naïve ideas” about the world we live in and the “enormity of what we are asking from our servicemen and servicewomen around the world.” sanclementetimes.com
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 21
sanclementetimes.com
Five Candidates Running for Three Seats on South Coast Water District Board By Lillian Boyd, San Clemente Times This year could be the last at-large election for South Coast Water District (SCWD). The SCWD will hold its election for three available seats on Tuesday, Nov. 3— without any implementation of districts. On Jan. 14, SCWD received a letter from the Law Offices of Phillip B. Greer, expressing concern that voting for SCWD’s at-large system appears to be racially polarized. The letter argues that this results in minority vote dilution and is a violation of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001. “The Voting Rights Act disfavors the use of ‘at-large’ voting since this method allows voters in an entire jurisdiction to elect candidates to all open seats,” the letter states. “I refer you to Sanchez v Modesto (2006).” The letter asserts that at-large elections “dilute and impair minority voters and their ability to elect candidates more representative of their neighborhoods.”
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Latinos make up nearly 18% of the Dana Point population, nearly 37% of the San Juan Capistrano population and nearly 17% of the San Clemente population. According to Greer, not a single Latino has been elected to the Board of Directors in the past 20 years. On Feb. 27, the board of directors instructed legal counsel to meet with Greer in attempt to negotiate a settlement. A resolution stemming from the meeting was brought back to the board, and on April 23, the board approved the settlement. The settlement documents require two processes. One relates to the CVRA process leading to By-Division Elections; the other relates to evaluating whether a feasible pathway exists to overcome the asserted “disenfranchisement” of certain District customers who are ineligible to vote in District elections. The CVRA requires a total of five public hearings. During the final public hearing, the board will decide whether to change to
The proposed Doheny Ocean Desalination Project in Dana Point has been a major project and priority for South Coast Water District. SCWD has overseen a smaller-scale desalination facility in Dana Point since 2008. Photo: Adam Gilles
by-division elections and the boundaries of any such divisions. In accordance with the resolution, the board of directors conducted the first of five public hearings on June 11. When the results of the 2020 United States Census are released, the four additional CVRA hearings are to be conducted in 2021, with the final hearing on or before Oct. 31, 2021, when an ordinance establishing the director election division boundaries is expected to be adopted. Under the settlement, deadlines will be flexible to allow for unknown limitations on public hearings due to COVID-19. As for the 2020 election, voters in the district’s service area, which includes the communities of Dana Point, South Laguna Beach, and areas of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, will select three directors from five qualified candidates. Incumbent Director Rick Erkeneff, a Dana Point resident and vice chairman of the South Orange County Chapter of Surfrider Foundation, is running for reelection. “As SCWD Vice President, I have worked with our directors and staff to prioritize repair and maintenance of aging infrastructure through cost-effective solutions,” Erkeneff said in his statement. “I support the continued study of the viability of environmentally sensitive, responsible ocean desalination. My leadership has been evident through my voting record, and I will continue the path forward, helping our community navigate future drought and shrinking water supply issues.” Incumbent Director Douglas Erdman, a civil engineer, is also seeking reelection. According to his statement, he aims to maintain SCWD’s infrastructure and deliver quality water and sewer services while being mindful of the customer’s pocketbook. “SCWD has several ongoing projects that would require a significant investment and directly impact the amount you pay for water and sewer services,” Erdman said. “Some of these projects may have alternatives that could accomplish the same goals more efficiently with reduced costs.” SCWD is currently pursuing the proposed Doheny Desalination Project in Dana Point. The project would cost $120 million, and the agency is currently strug-
Page 22
gling to garner partnerships to absorb the costs. If implemented, the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project would provide locally controlled water supply. Currently, SCWD imports 85-100% of its drinking water, causing vulnerability during droughts, supply shortages and potentially during natural disasters. A third incumbent director, Wayne Rayfield, will also appear on the ballot. Rayfield is a retired engineer who is seeking to “build upon the work” that has been done and to continue fostering cost-saving partnerships with other agencies. “As we face the financial issues that the pandemic has created for many of us, I pledge to you that I will be extra diligent as we seek increased efficiencies and continue to ensure that every expense is necessary and cost-effective,” Rayfield said. “We must also continue our efforts to protect our environment and expand the use of recycled water wherever possible.” Scott Goldman, an environmental engineer, echoes the importance of partnering with neighboring agencies. “My goals as a SCWD Director will be to assist the District, maintain existing infrastructure and to further ‘drought-proof’ supplies where it makes economic sense,” Goldman said in his campaign statement. “My established relationships with management and directors of surrounding agencies, and thorough understanding of the issues, will benefit the District and its rate payers.” Markus Lenger, the fifth candidate to appear on the ballot, is a nine-year resident of Capistrano Beach and 29-year resident of South Orange County. He is the founder of CleanBlu, a company focused on water reuse solutions. “I am disturbed by the relentless pursuit of a single ‘solution’—a prohibitively expensive, power-guzzling desalination plant dependent on untried technology,” Lenger said. “The key to robust solutions is thoughtful consideration, independent analysis and an unbiased peer review of all practical, right-sized alternatives.” A sixth candidate, Deborah Johnson, indicated her intent to run, but according to Orange County Registrar’s filing log, she did not qualify to appear on the ballot. Voters will determine who will fill the at-large seats on November 3. sanclementetimes.com
South Orange County Community College District Governing Board Races
C
onstituents in San Clemente will also vote on three Board of Trustees seats for the South Orange County Community College District, which comprises a total of seven members who are elected at-large to four-year terms. The district, representing more than 900,000 residents in 26 communities, oversees Saddleback College, Irvine Valley College and the Advanced Technology & Education Park. This November, the seats for Areas 1, 6 and 7 are up for election. The city of Irvine is represented in both Areas 1 and 6, which also includes Lake Forest. Area 7 represents both Mission
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita. Four candidates—Helen Lock, a retired administrative manager; Carolyn Inmon, a retired teacher; Aarti Kaushal, a teacher and city commissioner; and Matt Waid, a student conduct investigator—are vying for the Area 1 seat. In the Area 6 race, there are two candidates—Ryan Dack, an educator, who is challenging the incumbent, James R. Wright, for the seat. And in Area 7, three candidates, including one incumbent, are running for the seat. Mo Entezampour, a college professor, and Sean Gawne, a retired training manager, are looking to unseat incumbent Timothy Jemal, who currently serves as the board’s vice president.
City Treasurer and Clerk Races This year’s elections also include races for San Clemente City Clerk and City Treasurer. Both incumbents, City Clerk Joanne Baade and City Treasurer Mark Taylor, are running unopposed. Baade, who was first elected in 2008, is running for her fourth consecutive term. Taylor is looking to be reelected after first taking office in 2016.
Page 23
sanclementetimes.com
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 24
sanclementetimes.com
Virtual Learning and Fixing Infrastructure
T
By Collin Breaux he candidates running in this year’s Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees elections will have plenty of issues to attend to when they get in office—handling education and student safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, what to do about aging school buildings and more. Incumbent and Board President Jim Reardon and challenger Pamela Braunstein are running in Area 2, which includes portions of San Juan Capistrano. Sue Hill, Adrienne Silva and Lisa Davis are running in Area 3, which covers San Clemente.Incumbent Krista Castellanos and challengers Jasmine Funes and Paul Hebbardare running in Area 5, which covers a portion of Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel. Current Area 3 Trustee Patricia Holloway is not running for reelection. The quality of virtual learning has been on many parents’ minds during the health crisis. Braunstein said the district’s premature rollout of the virtual learning management system “Canvas” without proper training or technological support was a mistake. “Superintendent Kirsten Vital and President Reardon (my opponent) need to be held accountable for these missteps,” Braunstein said. “Under their leadership, CUSD has become a district of reaction instead of thoughtful and well-researched proactive educational plans and policies.” Reopening campuses for in-person student instruction, which recently began, is another major topic. Reardon said he is eager to see schools reopen in the “conventional sense,” and the matter is especially important at the elementary level, where schools serve a wide variety of community needs. “At the same time, I’m advocating for a gentle reopening that is timed to keep the community safe,” Reardon said. “Schools are intrinsically large ‘gatherings’ of people, and without effective protective measures, reopening could lead to trouble, not just for students and teachers, but for the community as a whole.” Candidates also addressed school renovations. Regional bond measures for facility improvements were voted down earlier this year. “We need to address the trust issue between the district and communities they San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
A LOOK AT THE CUSD BOARD ELECTIONS
serve,” Hill said. “Past attempts by the district to rebuild trust with the city have focused largely on the city mayors. All city leadership and the community at large must be engaged in this process.” Hill said earlier proposals for joint use partnership opportunities for some of the larger infrastructure projects should be revisited, and funding should be demanded from state legislators. Funding is an issue the district faces, particularly as the pandemic causes economic challenges. Silva said CUSD officials should evaluate where money is going, and used the analogy of a household tightening the belt on its budget to explain her perspective. Silva also said the district can look at revenue streams and ways to help underperforming schools. “What can be done to get them into the median range?” Silva said. Davis said the district needs to ensure that students are supported and receive
meals in the school lunch program, and schools need to be open for in-person instruction to allow parents the ability to work their jobs. “Some students lack support at home, some lack support from friends, and some lack school support,” Davis said. “We need to address the needs of afterschool care and provide options. We can implement policies that pave a way for school support to help safeguard a student if they lack support from other areas.” Student-led, anti-racism protests calling for diversity in curriculum and accountability of racism have occurred within the district, which candidates also reflected on. Castellanos created a resolution passed by the board that denounced racism, intolerance and discrimination. “Our school sites need to be places of inclusion, where all students are safe and appreciated!” Castellanos said. “Our students are asking the district to take action
Page 25
and denounce racism. It is important to listen and involve them in this process.” Funes, a Black woman, is running because of the protests. Funes said it is her responsibility as a qualified candidate to be a representation for minority voices since that is isn’t currently seen. “My priority in education is ensuring that we are considering the well-being of the whole child,” Funes said. “This means actively taking care of their physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and mental health. In order to do this, teachers must be supported, as well as engaging and connecting with parents and building strong relationships with and between those in the community.” Hebbard said racism should be stamped out, but he does have some “genuine concerns about certain groups” wanting to modify the curriculum that may seem hostile to a specific nationality or race. Hebbard does advocate for expanded cultural studies courses on an elective basis and would revisit the issue if UC and CSU admissions require mandatory classes in this topic. “First of all, our school year is only 37 weeks, and in order to delve deeply into the coursework that is required for college-bound students, we can ill afford to make wholesale changes in the curriculum,” Hebbard said. “Right now, CUSD meets and exceeds state standards, and (California) standards are among the most rigorous in the nation. There is scant little more that needs to be added to the mix.”
sanclementetimes.com
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 26
sanclementetimes.com
Statewide Ballot Measures
Proposition 14: Authorizes Bonds Continuing Stem Cell Research This initiative, if passed, would authorize $5.5 billion in state bonds to primarily fund additional grants supporting stem cell research and development of treatments, construction for research facilities and administrative costs. Of those funds, $1.5 billion would be dedicated toward research on brain-related and central nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Proposition 15: Increases Funding Sources for Public Schools, Community Colleges and Local Government Services by Changing Tax Assessment of Commercial and Industrial Property If passed, commercial and industrial properties would be taxed based on current market value rather than purchase price. The change would be put in place by 2022, or 2025 for properties that meet certain rules or have 50 or fewer employees. The increase in property taxes on commercial properties worth more than $3 million is expected to provide $6.5 billion to $11.5 billion in new funding for local governments and schools.
Proposition 16: Allows Diversity as a Factor in Public Employment, Education and Contracting Decisions This measure aims to repeal Proposition 209, eliminating a ban on state and local entities from considering race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in public education, public employees and public contracting. If passed, state and local entities would be allowed to establish a range of policies and programs that remain consistent with federal and state laws on equal protection.
Proposition 17: Restores Right to Vote After Completion of Prison Term Formerly incarcerated people who were disqualified from voting during their prison sentence would have their voting rights restored upon completion of their prison term, should this measure pass. By allowing such individuals to register to vote, they could also be eligible to run for elective office, as long as they meet existing qualifications such as not having been convicted of perjury or bribery. (Cont. on page 28) San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 27
sanclementetimes.com
(Cont. from page 27)
Proposition 18: Amends California Constitution to Permit 17-Year-Olds to Vote in Primary and Special Elections if They Will Turn 18 by the Next General Election and to Be Otherwise Eligible to Vote Seventeen-year-olds who will be 18 years old by the November date of a General Election would be allowed to vote in any Special or Primary Election occurring before the General Election if the measure passes. Because registered voters are allowed to run for elective office, passage of this measure would give such qualifying 17-year-olds the opportunity to do so as well.
Proposition 19: Changes Certain Property Tax Rules Starting on April 1, 2021, homeowners who are 55 and older, disabled, or a victim of a wildfire or disaster would be able to transfer their primary residence’s property tax base value to a replacement residence of any value. The initiative would change taxation of family-property transfers and establish a fire protection services fund. San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Proposition 20: Restricts Parole for Certain Offenses Currently Considered to Be Non-Violent; Authorizes Felony Sentences for Certain Offenses Currently Treated Only as Misdemeanors If passed, various changes would be made to the Proposition 57 release consideration process, such as excluding some inmates—those convicted of some types of assault and domestic violence—from the process, requiring inmates denied releases to wait two years before being reconsidered, and requiring the Board of Parole Hearings to consider additional factors such as the inmates’ attitudes about their crimes when deciding on their release.
Proposition 21: Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property This measure looks to allow cities and counties to apply rent control measures to most housing that is older than 15 years, but does not include single-family homes owned by people with two or fewer properties. The local governments could also limit how much a landlord can increase rents when there is a new renter.
Proposition 22: Exempts App-Based Transportation and Delivery Companies from Providing Employee Benefits to Certain Drivers Rideshare and delivery drivers would be independent contractors, while the new state law that limits the ability of companies to hire such workers would not apply to the drivers, if this measure passes. The measure would also give drivers certain benefits, such as an earnings minimum of 120% of the local minimum wage for each hour spent driving, a health insurance stipend, and pay for costs when a driver gets hurt on the job.
Proposition 23: Establishes State Requirements for Kidney Dialysis Clinics; Requires On-Site Medical Professional If passed, the measure would include several provisions affecting chronic dialysis clinics (CDC), such as requiring each CDC to have a doctor on-site, report infectionrelated information to the state’s health department, charge penalties for failure to report infection-related info and prohibit a CDC from refusing care to a patient based on who is paying for a patient’s treatment.
Page 28
Proposition 24: Amends Consumer Privacy Laws This measure would provide new consumer privacy rights, amend existing penalties and limit the use of penalty revenue, as well as create a new state agency with oversight and enforcement of consumer data privacy laws. Most of the provisions would go into effect in January 2023.
Proposition 25: Referendum on Law that Replaced Money Bail with System Based on Public Safety and Flight Risk The measure, if passed, would determine whether Senate Bill 10 goes into effect. Approval of SB 10 would eliminate release on bail, create a new process for release before arraignment, and change the existing process for release at arraignment.
Measure BB: City Council Term Limits for City of San Clemente If passed, elected city councilmembers would be limited to serving two consecutive four-year terms, with the ability to again serve on the council after remaining out of local office for no fewer than two years. sanclementetimes.com
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 29
sanclementetimes.com
San Clemente Times October 8-14, 2020
Page 30
sanclementetimes.com