Local Elections : 5th Supervisorial Race : Romney, MacDonald Take the Gloves Off

In a sharp escalation of what had been a low-key and friendly campaign, the two 5th District candidates for San Diego County supervisor traded charges Thursday, each trying to paint the other as more sympathetic to developers.

Clyde Romney, an Escondido lawyer and former aide to Rep. Ron Packard (R-Oceanside), called a press conference to denounce Oceanside Councilman John MacDonald’s voting record on growth, though Romney said he could not name any MacDonald votes with which he disagreed.

MacDonald was in Borrego on campaign appearances all day, but his political consultant, Nancy Allen, said MacDonald has voted against housing projects as a councilman, something that Romney, who has no municipal government experience, has never done.

Romney released research by his campaign staff that he said showed MacDonald had voted in favor of builders in 56 of 63 cases in which developers had sought zoning changes or building density increases in Oceanside.

“I’ve pledged to say no to developments that violate the county’s general plan,” Romney said. “It’s apparent that John has not been saying no to developers.”

Romney said Mission Avenue, one of Oceanside’s busiest east-west streets, is a dangerous road clogged with traffic because the Oceanside council approved developments without first ensuring that sufficient roads and other improvements were in place. He compared the street to the intersection of El Camino Real and Encinitas Boulevard, which in the primary election became a symbol of opposition to incumbent Paul Eckert, who finished third to MacDonald and Romney and thus lost his seat on the board.

“I’d rather go into office with a clean slate and no record on growth than to have to go in with a record like Mr. MacDonald’s,” Romney said.

But when reporters asked Romney which of MacDonald’s votes he differed with, he declined to name any. He also said he did not know how many of the projects, if any, MacDonald approved over the objections of community residents.

“I haven’t taken a look at any of them from that standpoint,” Romney said. “What’s important is whether his claim that he is an advocate of managed growth is borne out by his voting record.”

Allen, speaking for MacDonald, responded with harsh criticism of her own, pointing out that Romney represented several building contractors as an attorney in private practice. Romney disputed Allen’s characterization of his law practice. He said that while he did corporate work for building contractors, he never represented a developer on a land-use issue.

“John has a record in development,” Allen said. “He has voted for some projects and against some projects. But John has never put one dime of developers’ or contractors’ money in his own pocket.”

Allen said MacDonald has voted against projects totaling 2,300 housing units in the past year, and he supports a change in the city’s general plan that would reduce the projected population of Oceanside from 320,000 to less than 200,000.

Allen also took aim at Romney’s oft-repeated claim that he is “the only candidate in this race who has said he is willing to say no” to developers.

“John MacDonald is the only candidate who has said no to developers,” Allen said. “He’s voted against them. Clyde hasn’t.”

Also Thursday, both candidates released their latest campaign contribution reports, which show how much money they raised and spent between Oct. 1 and Oct. 18.

In that period, Romney raised $18,244 and spent $9,094, leaving him with $14,712 on hand for the remainder of the campaign. MacDonald raised $5,922 and spent $7,532, leaving him with $9,128 in the bank.

Since the primary, Romney has raised about $60,473, of which $34,345 has come in amounts of $100 or more. Of that, at least $6,800, or 19.7%, has come from developers, real estate agents, engineers, contractors and others whose livings depend on the housing industry.

During the same period, MacDonald has raised $53,554, with $47,084 in amounts of $100 or more. Of that, $13,770, or 29%, has come from people with development interests.