OUR SEVEN STATE ASSEMBLY ENDORSEMENTS

For our endorsements for the California Assembly, where Democrats now hold 60 of the 80 seats, The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board’s inclination was to choose candidates, regardless of party, who grasp both the state’s strengths and weaknesses. Sacramento needs Democrats who can stand up to their party leaders and Republicans who can overcome the shortcomings of theirs.

In the end, in seven June 7 races, we recommend San Diego County voters tap four Democrats and three Republicans. The seven are united as candidates whose grasp of the issues and common sense indicate that they’re ready to get — or get back — to work in new districts shaped by the latest census data to ensure equitable regional representation.

Assembly District 74: Laurie Davies

Davies is a practical, pragmatic Republican Assembly member from Laguna Niguel in Orange County. She is a good fit for a district that stretches south to Camp Pendleton, Vista and Oceanside. She is running against San Clemente Councilmember Chris Duncan, a Democrat. In a survey for us, Duncan seemed clear-eyed and practical himself with a holistic approach to problem-solving. He’d smartly prefer to focus on local and regional transit systems over the state’s beleaguered high-speed rail project — and prioritize working families’ immediate economic needs as the state moves toward less dependence on fossil fuels. But it seems like Davies will turn plans into action. She has co-authored a bill to create a California Ocean Corps to empower young people to conserve the ocean. And she has authored a bill that would help students learn how to safely use scooters, signaling a comprehensive approach to problem-solving. She shows promise, offers specifics and won’t just take the party line. California — and the GOP — need more Republicans like her.

Assembly District 75: Marie Waldron

Because of the state’s redistricting, Waldron, R-Escondido, is running against fellow Assemblymember Randy Voepel, R-Santee, in a new district that includes Fallbrook, Valley Center, Ramona, Poway and Lakeside and borders Riverside and Imperial counties and Mexico. As the minority leader emeritus of the Assembly, she has established herself as a voice of reason in the GOP and in Sacramento and is more of a problem solver than Voepel, who has ably represented his conservative district for years but who praised seditious behavior after Jan. 6, 2021. Voepel says flatly — and foolishly — that California should not be reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. By contrast, Waldron talks about striking a “reasonable balance” between environmental and economic concerns and touts her support for alternative fuels and new technologies that add diversity to the state’s energy portfolio.

Assembly District 76: June Cutter

Two years ago, we endorsed Del Sur Republican June Cutter over San Diego incumbent Republicanturned-Democrat Brian Maienschein, and we do so again in a district that includes San Marcos, Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe and San Pasqual. Another candidate, Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane, declined to answer our questionnaire. Turning down free media with a wide reach argues against Bruce-Lane’s judgment, but regardless, Cutter’s responses to our survey would have been tough to beat. They showed a command of the issues, a commitment to solving problems and a consideration of nuance on matters that are often complex. By contrast, Maienschein’s replies were curt and cursory, almost as if he found it an obligation to explain once again why voters should choose him. Assembly District 77: Tasha Boerner Hor vath Boerner Horvath, D-Encinitas, deserves re-election over her Republican opponent, Dan Downey from Point Loma. A policy wonk, she has a deep understanding of important subjects that will only become more pressing in time, like rising ocean levels and collapsing coastal bluffs. She has pushed for legislative improvements on issues from housing to transit to working from home and is pursuing an audit that everyone should welcome, to learn why local utility rates are “spiraling out of control.”

Assembly District 78: Chris Ward

Ward, D-San Diego, is another easy pick. His Republican opponent, Eric Gonzales, didn’t respond to our survey requests and would have been hard-pressed to top Ward’s statewide contacts and comprehension of the central San Diego district’s issues. Ward was chief of staff to Marty Block for four years in the Assembly and four in the state Senate and also served on the San Diego City Council.

Assembly District 79: Akilah Weber

Weber, D-La Mesa, may be our easiest recommendation. Her two GOP foes in this East County district are climate doubters and vaccine skeptics, and she is a doctor who trusts and follows science and has a long, promising career ahead of her since winning the seat in a 2021 special election. We need more leaders like her and none like her challengers.

Assembly District 80: David Alvarez

On June 7, voters in this southern San Diego County district will choose between Democrats David Alvarez and Georgette Gómez twice — in a runoff for a partial term this year — and to serve the full two-year term that follows. If it’s confusing, the choice isn’t. We recommended Alvarez in the special election and endorse him again for the full term now, over Gómez and two Republicans they both leave in the dust. The two Democrats know the district like the backs of their hands, but we have concerns over Gómez’s failure to report any salary at all on her federal taxes in 2017 despite a council salary of $90,386, and believe Alvarez is better informed on the issues. And Gómez called the state’s pandemic response “good” while Alvarez labeled it “poor,” an indication he will be more critical of his own party, when necessary. Again, Sacramento could benefit from some self-reflection as well as some progress.