The Republican Party of San Diego County (RPSDC) met last night to endorse a candidate in California's 52nd Congressional District (CD52). The 52nd Congressional District includes the cities of Poway, Coronado, most of the City of San Diego communities north of Interstate 8, and most of the City of San Diego communities west of Interstate 5. Please check the District map to see if you are registered in this District.
I am not registered in CD52 but, in my capacity as a regional chairman for RPSDC, I had an important interest in this race. My "region" includes many of the City of San Diego communites and the City of Coronado. As such, I spent a great deal of time intereviewing the candidates over the past six months.
The Executive Committee of RPSDC, of which I am a member, unanimously voted to recommend candidates for endorsement: former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio, Marine veteran and businessman Kirk Jorgensen, and trauma surgeon and businessman Fred Simon. The recommendations to endorse were consistent with the endorsement rules and procedures passed by the Committee in January, 2013; a two-thirds vote from the full committee would be required for endorsement.
A motion from the floor was made to suspend the endorsement in this race. That motion was defeated. I voted against this motion for the following reasons:
1-Scott Peters, an independently wealthy trial lawyer, currently holds this seat. A significant financial investment, from the RNCC, independent donors, and Republican voters, will be required to defeat his campaign for re-election,
2- Peters' record, for his short term in Congress, is abysmal. He voted for Obamacare and increased and damaging regulations to the financial services sector. He has no significant legislative accomplishments and votes the Pelosi/Reid agenda.
3- The RPSDC endorsement will be necessary to co-ordinate the resources required to defeat him.
The Committee interviewed and deliberated about the three candidates: DeMaio, Jorgensen, and Simon. The Committee voted to endorse Carl DeMaio with a 2/3 majority. I voted to endorse Carl DeMaio for the following reasons:
DeMaio has a proven record of government reform. While he was defeated in the City of San Diego Mayor's race, he outperformed his opponent in an overwhlemingly high number of San Diego communities which are in CD52. DeMaio's fundraising effort is off to a great start and he has secured endorsements from Congressman Issa House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, and most significantly, Congressman Tom McClintock.
I am not registered in CD52 but, in my capacity as a regional chairman for RPSDC, I had an important interest in this race. My "region" includes many of the City of San Diego communites and the City of Coronado. As such, I spent a great deal of time intereviewing the candidates over the past six months.
The Executive Committee of RPSDC, of which I am a member, unanimously voted to recommend candidates for endorsement: former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio, Marine veteran and businessman Kirk Jorgensen, and trauma surgeon and businessman Fred Simon. The recommendations to endorse were consistent with the endorsement rules and procedures passed by the Committee in January, 2013; a two-thirds vote from the full committee would be required for endorsement.
A motion from the floor was made to suspend the endorsement in this race. That motion was defeated. I voted against this motion for the following reasons:
1-Scott Peters, an independently wealthy trial lawyer, currently holds this seat. A significant financial investment, from the RNCC, independent donors, and Republican voters, will be required to defeat his campaign for re-election,
2- Peters' record, for his short term in Congress, is abysmal. He voted for Obamacare and increased and damaging regulations to the financial services sector. He has no significant legislative accomplishments and votes the Pelosi/Reid agenda.
3- The RPSDC endorsement will be necessary to co-ordinate the resources required to defeat him.
The Committee interviewed and deliberated about the three candidates: DeMaio, Jorgensen, and Simon. The Committee voted to endorse Carl DeMaio with a 2/3 majority. I voted to endorse Carl DeMaio for the following reasons:
DeMaio has a proven record of government reform. While he was defeated in the City of San Diego Mayor's race, he outperformed his opponent in an overwhlemingly high number of San Diego communities which are in CD52. DeMaio's fundraising effort is off to a great start and he has secured endorsements from Congressman Issa House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, and most significantly, Congressman Tom McClintock.