Election 2020

This is an independent opinion. Have one of your own? Email it to hoa@ivn.us

In a country suffering from pandemic-induced time distortion, try to remember that national elections are held on the first Tuesday in November. You can do it.

If 2020 stays true to script, this will be a head-spinning Election Night. This year has brought us hardship and headscratchers large and small. Wildfires. Racial strife. Economic uncertainty. Deadly pandemic. Quibi. 

Represent San Diego and Independent Voter Project presented a screening of Daniel Falconer’s award-winning anti-corruption documentary, "UnRepresented," to an audience of 120 democracy reform advocates and concerned citizens on Oct. 10. The screening was followed by a lively and in-depth discussion of the challenges raised by the film’s unflinching look at the current state of American democracy.

The San Diego City Council on Tuesday discussed the option of filing a lawsuit that would allow the passage of Measure C — a special tax measure that would increase lodging taxes — despite it failing to receive a two-thirds majority vote in the March primary.

This is an independent opinion. Have one of your own? Email it to hoa@ivn.us

The first time I met City Council President Pro Tem Barbara Bry was on March 3, 2019 in the Council chambers. I was immediately impressed by her. When you listen to Barbara and hear her speak, you know exactly where she stands.

This is an independent opinion. Have one of your own? Write it! Email it to hoa@ivn.us‍

When I moved to San Diego more than 50 years ago, the mayor and entire City Council were made up of very conservative Republican white men and you could probably have counted all the police officers of color or female on both hands. Yes, the late Rev. George Walker Smith often called San Diego "the Confederacy of the West Coast" as our city was very segregated.

First-time voter Fernando Villarreal is looking forward to participating in the upcoming presidential election.

“I think it’s a really important election for democracy and I think young people have a lot at stake when it comes to education, healthcare and a lot of other issues,” said the Palomar College freshman.

When Californians approved Proposition 13 in 1978, critics of the landmark ballot measure say voters did not foresee many of the unintended consequences of capping property taxes on both residential and commercial land: lower school funding, cash-strapped cities, major corporate tax benefits.

For the first time in San Diego history, voters will only have the option of electing a Democrat in five city races: mayor, city attorney and in Districts 1, 3 and 9. 

With Democrats running against each other, we asked local registered voters how they feel about the campaign mailers they are receiving, whether it’s helping them define the differences between the candidates and whether it’s influencing their vote. 

This is an independent opinion. Have one of your own? Write it! Email it to hoa@ivn.us

Think fast. Can you name an idea that is supported by both Democrats and Republicans in 2020? In an era of extreme partisanship, finding common ground is increasingly hard. But there is one proposal on the November ballot that has gained support from across the political spectrum. 

Californians are voting on 12 propositions, but not all are funded equally. Just take a look at that fat slab of lilac in the graphic below.