Primary election is Tuesday

In the June 7 primary election, Ramona voters will find candidates running for a number of elected offices, in addition to that of president of the United States.

Vying for the U.S. Senate seat held by Barbara Boxer, who is retiring at the end of her term, are 34 candidates, including seven Democrats and 12 Republicans. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, will advance to the general election in November.

Running against incumbent Duncan Hunter for U.S. Representative of the 50th Congressional District are Republican Scott Meisterlin, a businessman and retired attorney; Independent H. Fuji Shioura, a pastor; and Democrats David Secor, a retired Superior Court slerk, and Patrick Malloy, a business owner/Realtor.

For the 71st State Assembly seat held by Brian Jones who is termed out, three candidates are running: Randy Voepel, mayor of Santee; Leo Hamel, owner of Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers; and Tony Teora, a small business owner and science fiction writer. All are Republicans.

Voters will choose one of two judicial candidates vying for the Superior Court Office No. 25. Paul Ware is a senior attorney for the Department of Justice and was a judge for seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps. James Mangione is a Superior Court judge and teaches trial techniques as an adjunct professor.

For judge of the Superior Court Office No. 38, two candidates are running. Carla Keehn is a federal prosecutor and Keri Katz is a Superior Court Judge with 29 years of legal experience.

In the County Board of Education’s 4th District race, voters will choose between Paulette Donnellon, a school board member of Escondido Union School District, nonprofit director and military veteran, and Mark Anderson, incumbent on the county Board of Education and a community college instructor.

One candidate is running against incumbent Dianne Jacob for the District 2 County Board of Supervisors seat and that is Rudy Reyes, an archaeologist/educator.

Also on the ballot is Proposition 50, which states that it would allow the Legislature to terminate the salaries and benefits of suspended legislators and prohibit them from exercising any rights, privileges, duties or powers of office during the suspension.

An argument in favor says the California Constitution does not make it clear that the Legislature can suspend its members without pay, an issue that rose in 2014 when three state senators were charged with criminal offenses.

State Sen. Joel Anderson, who represents Ramona in District 38, calls Prop. 50, a scam. Anderson told Ramona constituents at a coffee in February that an elected representative who does not follow the law should not have the right to remain in office, and if he is suspended his constituents do not have representation.

For more about the primary election, see sdvote.com.