This Election Guide provides ballot statements and highlighted IVN coverage regarding critical Measures for voters to consider this November.
Table of Contents
Candidates
Congressional District 49
Congressional District 50
Measures
Measure D
Measure E
Measure G
Measure H
Measures E, G and H impact City of San Diego voters, Measures E and G focus specifically on the Mission Valley initiatives, Soccer City and SDSU West.
Measure H considers establishing term limits for San Diego Unified School Board Members. The Charter has not included term limits for School Board members since section 66 was enacted in 1931.
Measure D is for County of San Diego voters. The Full Voter Participation Act focuses on a charter amendment that would change elections for the county and mirrors what Measures K and L did for the City of San Diego in 2016.
Congressional District 49 - Mike Levin (D) v. Diane Harkey (R)
Why It Matters
Central to the Democrats desire to take back the house in November is a strong showing in California. California is home to seven GOP-held seats that Hillary Clinton carried in 2016. The 49th District, which includes parts of San Diego County and Orange counties, is one of them. Voters here backed Clinton by 7 points while re-electing GOP Rep. Darrell Issa by less than 1 point. Issa is retiring and going to work in the Trump administration.
Polling in the contest between Republican Diane Harkey and Mike Levin shows a very close race, some polls show Harkey up, others have Levin ahead.
Resources
- Polls Show Harkey, Levin In Tight Race For 49th District (IVN)
- Meet the candidates for the 49 District, U.S. House of Representatives (SDU-T)
- California's 49th Congressional District election, 2018 (Ballotpedia)
Congressional District 50 - Duncan Hunter Jr. (R) v. Ammar Campa-Najjar (D)
Why It Matters
Congressional District 50 grabbed national headlines when prosecutors charged Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr. and his wife with prohibited use of campaign contributions, wire fraud, conspiracy, falsification of records and aiding and abetting. Hunter and his wife have pleaded not guilty, the trial is expected to begin in December, after the election. Hunter has represented the 50th District since 2013. Ammar Campa-Najjar is a Democrat who worked as a deputy regional field director for Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign before joining the Obama administration as a White House official. He also worked for the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as a communications and marketing director and for the U.S. Department of Labor as a public affairs officer. The race has grabbed headlines and attack ads by both candidates.
Resources
- Duncan Hunter Jr. Trial Likely To Follow November Election (IVN)
- Place Your Bets: Predictit Offers Bettors Wager on Duncan Hunter Jr. (IVN)
- Poll: Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr. Maintains Big Lead (IVN)
- “Politically Motivated”: Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr. Responds To Indictment (IVN)
- Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr., Wife Indicted On Corruption Charges (IVN)
- California's 50th Congressional District election, 2018 (Ballotpedia)
Measure D - General Election Consolidation Initiative - FULL VOTER PARTICIPATION ACT
Ballot Statement
“INITIATIVE MEASURE PROPOSING CHARTER AMENDMENTS REQUIRING ALL ELECTIONS FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY ELECTIVE OFFICES TO BE HELD AT A GENERAL ELECTION AND REQUIRING ADOPTION OF LOCAL REGULATIONS RELATING TO WRITE-IN CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY ELECTIVE OFFICE Shall this initiative measure, proposing county charter amendments requiring all elections for San Diego County elective Offices to be held at a general election and requiring adoption of local regulations relating to write-in candidates for county elective office, be adopted?”
Why It Matters
IVN is covering Measure D because voter participation is a critical component to a healthy democracy. If passed, Measure D will do for the County of San Diego what Measures K and L did for the City of San Diego in 2016. Voters passed measures K and L with a comfortable margin. Currently in the County of San Diego, if a candidate or measure receives 50%+1 of the vote in the primary, the race is over, eliminating the possibility that the majority of the electorate, who participate in the November General election, do not get to weigh in on the race.
Resources
- ACLU Jumps Into The “Full Voter Participation Act” Fray (IVN)
- Drafting Error Causing “Full Voter Participation Act” Confusion (IVN)
- Stunning Decision: Judge Forces Full Voter Participation Act To November Ballot (IVN)
- Judge Puts Major Change to County Elections on the Ballot (VOSD)
- Measure D, General Election Consolidation Initiative (Ballotpedia)
Measure E - Mission Valley Stadium - SOCCER CITY Initiative
Ballot Statement
“MISSION VALLEY STADIUM - SOCCER CITY INITIATIVE: Shall the City lease Mission Valley stadium property and the San Diego Chargers practice facility on Murphy Canyon Road to a private party for 99 years, with an option to buy some stadium property, consistent with price, terms, and conditions described in the measure; and adopt a specific plan and agreement allowing development of stadium, river park, recreational, residential, office, hotel, retail, and other uses; and amend related land use laws?”
Why It Matters
Mission Valley is a real estate jewel for San Diego. It’s an opportunity to re-envision 166 acres that for so many years, served primarily as a sports complex. Soccer City is one of the initiatives before voters. The team that crafted the initiative, FS Investors, promise the development of a new soccer stadium, MLS team, river park, residential and office space, and hotel and retail opportunities. Soccer City would also get access to the former San Diego Chargers practice facility on Murphy Canyon Road.
Resources
- SoccerCity Prevails Over City In Tentative Ruling (IVN)
- SoccerCity Blows The Whistle on SDSU West with New Ad Campaign (IVN)
- Measures On The Brink? SoccerCity and SDSU West Heading To Court (IVN)
- SoccerCity releases commercials for initiatives new Truth campaign (KUSI)
- Taxpayers association says SoccerCity has bigger tax benefit to city (SDU-T)
- Measure E, Mission Valley Stadium SoccerCity Lease and Redevelopment Initiative (Ballotpedia)
Measure G - Mission Valley Stadium - SDSU West Initiative
Ballot Statement
“MISSION VALLEY STADIUM - SDSU WEST INITIATIVE: Shall the City sell Mission Valley stadium property to San Diego State University or any SDSU auxiliary organization, entity, or affiliate, consistent with price, terms, and conditions described in the measure, to allow the California State University Board of Trustees to determine its development, which may include stadium, recreational, educational, residential, office, hotel, retail, and other uses; and if sold, shall the City set aside adjacent land for a river park?”
Why It Matters
Founded in 1897, San Diego State University has been a critical resource for the community for generations. By all accounts, the university is looking for room to expand, and have targeted the Mission Valley site as an opportunity for those growth plans. Supporters of the SDSU West initiative say their project comes at no cost to city taxpayers, would transform the existing stadium site into a walkable campus environment with housing, classrooms, a research park, hotels, retail and a stadium, featuring 90 acres of public open space and a river park.
Resources
- CSU Trustees Endorse SDSU West Plan (IVN)
- Sierra Club San Diego Announces Endorsement of SDSU West (IVN)
- SDSU West Gains Support from Labor, Police, Firefighters (Times of San Diego)
- Councilmember Lorie Zapf On Mission Valley, Signature Gathering, November Election (IVN)
- Elected officials rally behind SDSU West stadium plan (SDU-T)
- Measure G, Mission Valley Stadium Sale to San Diego State University (Ballotpedia)
Measure H - San Diego Term Limits for School Board Members - SAN DIEGO UNIFIED
Ballot Statement
“CHARTER AMENDMENT ENACTING TERM LIMITS FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. Shall City Charter section 66 be amended to limit a member of the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education from serving more than three four year terms, beginning in 2020, and not count prior or current terms for purposes of the term limit for those School Board members who hold office on the date of the Municipal General Election in 2020?”
Why It Matters
Measure H would amend the Charter to impose a term limit on School Board members beginning in 2020. The Charter amendments would limit School Board members to serving three four-year terms. The Charter has not included term limits for School Board members since section 66 was enacted in 1931. This ballot measure was proposed by a School Board member during a process where members of the public submitted ballot measure proposals for consideration by a Council standing committee and then the full City Council. The City Council voted to place the measure on the ballot.