If there was ever a time when we could actually use the term ‘worst ever,’ last night’s debate definitely applies.

Sure, it was good television viewing -- you half expected one of the candidates to pull out a sword and fall on it -- but that was the whole problem with the debate in a nutshell.

It was all too focused on the recent gaffes of both candidates, the damage control that has made it worse, and the ensuing finger pointing that was at a kindergartener’s level of ‘two wrongs making a right.’

Gerrymandering is nearly as old as America itself, named after James Madison’s vice president and governor of Massachusetts, Elbridge Gerry. The advantageous practice of drawing legislative districts along partisan lines may seem unfair, but thanks to the support from the two major parties it has remained part of the status quo for over 200 years. That has diminished the number of competitive races and creates more partisan legislatures, both on a state and national level.

Why stick with third party and independent candidates in November, if Clinton and Trump have a combined 80% of the electorate in all major polls? In an election season that is anything but usual, one trend is holding up: outside campaigns are losing support in the last months of the race.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision last week will keep an independent candidate in Illinois off the November ballot.

The high court denied independent David Gill's request to vacate an order by a lower appeals court to leave him off the ballot in Illinois' 13th congressional district. The ruling effectively ends Gill's campaign.

Opponents:

San Diego League of Women Voters

The San Diego Union-Tribune

The San Diego County Democratic Party

San Diego County Middle Class Taxpayers’ Association

There are many good reasons to oppose San Diego County’s Measure B – the Lilac Hills sprawl development project -- on the November 2016 ballot. All of them can be summed up like this: ballot-box planning allows developers to sidestep important public oversight that protects taxpayers and ensures orderly, responsible housing development.

San Diego, CALIF.- There is a battle brewing over election reform in the City of San Diego. Measure K would fundamentally change the way candidates are elected.

City Councilman Chris Cate, who helped in writing the ballot statement against Measure K stated, "San Diego deserves better. Measure K was rushed, has not undergone thorough legal review and will take millions away from streets and public safety. Vote No and support more effective alternatives to increase voter turnout."

The following is from a Voice of San Diego article that first appeared August 29, 2016:

San Diego, CALIF.- Measure B, the planned community known as Lilac Hills Ranch, was the subject of an editorial from the San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board this week.

The Editorial posted October 7, 2016.

The following is a sample of what was published:

San Diego, CALIF.- Support for the Chargers downtown stadium measure is gaining steam. Mayor Kevin Faulconer recently announced his support, as have a number of other key community businesses and stakeholders.

The following article first appeared on the San Diego Union-Tribune October 3, 2016:

San Diego, CALIF.- Opposition to the Chargers efforts to build a downtown stadium continue. The following Editorial first appeared on the website La Prensa.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer finally took a stand on the Charger stadium proposition, but his support could prove

On this week's Independent Voter Podcast: Beyond Party Politics we sit down with recent San Diego State grad Dillon Roark to discuss student engagement in the election, then interview with Rock The Vote’s VP of Civic Engagement where to delve into the millennial vote—will they vote, what will it mean, and why?