Taxing Issues
Printer-friendly versionLa Mesa Council candidates address budget gap, public safety and future growth By Miriam Raftery State budget cuts have left La Mesa facing a potential budget shortfall of several million dollars. In exclusive interviews with East County Magazine, challenger Shannon O’Dunn as well as incumbents David Allan and Ruth Sterling shared their views on bridging the budget gap as well as their visions for the long-term future of La Mesa. Printer-friendly version
Green Houses – Jamul Home is Green and Fire-Safe
Printer-friendly versionEco-friendly EAST COUNTY homes By Miriam Raftery After twice having to evacuate during wildfires, Keith and Danya Jolley decided to build a new, fire-safe and energy efficient “green” home on their Jamul property. The home was featured on last year’s GreenBuilt Homes Tour. One year later, the Jolleys remain thrilled with their new home. “The house turned out better than we imagined, and the savings have been a big boost,” Danya Jolley told East County Magazine. “Our new house is roughly twice the size of our old house that was on the same lot, same location, and so far our electric bills are about $70 a month cheaper.” She added, “We have not had to use our air conditioner at all this year.” Indoor temperatures have not exceeded 77 degrees, despite outdoor temperatures in the mid-90s . During the Harris Fire, the Jolleys had to evacuate their new home, grateful for the peace of mind that it was constructed with fire-safe materials, though fortunately the blaze didn’t reach their property. At a time when neighbors are losing insurance coverage because the area is in a high fire risk zone, the Jolleys insurance rates remain the same – on a house that’s double the size of their former residence. That’s because the Jolleys chose fire-safe materials including Perform Wall, an alternative framing material made from 86% recycled materials, including Styrofoam from the electronic industry, mixed with concrete. Blocks are covered with stucco, creating an exterior appearance similar to conventional construction. Perform Wall has a four-hour fire rating, making is superior to wood-framed walls, which have a one-hour rating. “After four hours, they stopped the test. No smoke or flames had spread,” said Wade Vernon of PW Sales and Consulting, marketing director for Perform Wall (www.performwall.com, or view video at www.performwall.com/video.sstg). Perform Wall is also resistant to mold and fungus. Termites will not eat it, Vernon added. It also meets high standards for indoor air quality, since it does not outgas toxins or release dangerous fibers. The American Lung Association utilized the material in a demonstration healthy home in Arizona. The material also allows flexibility in form, enabling the Jolleys’ architect, Kevin Pollem of Faktura Architecture in San Diego, to create many aesthetically-pleasing curves and angles. Blocks can even be cut with a chainsaw, as Vernon demonstrates. The home features other “green” and energy-saving features, such as a roof with metal radiant barrier sheathing, dual-pane, low-e windows, energy-saving and water-saving appliances, a tankless water heater, and energy efficient lighting. Overhanging eaves provide shade around the entire home. Decking was made with Perform Wall and CertainTeed Boardwalk composite decking, which has a zero flame index rating. Madrone wood floors utilize wood normally discarded when Douglas fir forests are clearcut, providing beauty and sustainability. The architect also designed the home to maximize breezes and preserve natural features, building around oak trees on the lot situated at the base of a canyon. “Pat Lawrence and his crew were amazing in getting the design features built beautifully,” Jolley said of the home’s builder. “We were also interested in using “green” products for our house, and eliminating waste wherever possible. “Pat Lawrence, our builder, carted off all the remaining block and odd leftover pieces to be ground down and reformed into new blocks.” Besides saving money on waste-hauling, recycling leftover building materials “gave us peace of mind that we weren’t contributing to filling up the landfill,” Jolley added. The eco-conscious homeowners even recycled their former residence, a manufactured home moved to a neighbor’s lot. Their new eco-friendly home, which measures 2,600 square feet, has ample room for the Jolley’s growing family. To view more “green” houses, check out the 2008 GreenBuilt Homes Tour October 4th and 5th. For information on the tour, visit www.earthdayweb.org. Green Homes features residences in East County that address any of the following areas: sustainability, energy efficiency, renewable energy resources, use of natural, recycled, or nontoxic materials, water-saving features, and environmental protection. If you know of a home you would like to see featured, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org. Our thanks to our “Green Home” sponsors: Printer-friendly version
Sylvia’s Soapbox – Duncan the great white Hunter
Printer-friendly version Wildebeest hunt bags a Congressman By Sylvia Hampton Our congressman Duncan Hunter (R-52nd district) is leaving his congressional seat to his son. Sort of an inheritance or royalty passed on to the next generation like in England. Since Duncan D. Hunter, the son, has the same name his election should be like shooting fish in a barrel. But before Hunter senior leaves that throne he hoped to squeeze in a great overseas exotic hunting trip paid for by the taxpayers. To do that the trip needs to be official government business. Like feeding the starving! That should do it! Oh, darn. Looks like that won’t work out, thanks to those big blabber mouths at the Embassy in Chad. As they say in the comic books, “Foiled again!” Hunter actually had his staff contact the U.S. Embassy in Chad to schedule a visit in order to (are you sitting down?) hunt and kill wildebeest and give the meat to the 230,000 starving refugees from Darfur who have spilled over the border. The embassy staff had the painful job of informing the congressman’s office that there are no wildebeest in Chad and furthermore hunting them is not allowed. The State Department told them that the embassy "welcomes Congressman Hunter’s interest in food assistance to Darfur refugees in Chad …..and would encourage the congressman to time his visit to coincide with an already scheduled food distribution." The embassy was, however, willing to make the necessary arrangements for Hunter to watch a food distribution in a camp. They said, “Regarding the Congressman’s desire to hunt wildebeest and distribute the cured meat to refugees, wildebeest are not present in Chad." If there were any in Chad they would be in a no-hunting wildlife refuge. The Government of Chad does not permit the hunting of large mammals. Gee, that doesn’t sound like fun at all. So Hunter has to go elsewhere to hunt. Evidently he is really interested in a private hunting trip. Perhaps he can find a place to hunt wild game with Dick Cheney where the animals are caged and then released to run in front of the “hunters” so it is quick and easy, like fish in a barrel. They are busy men, after all. If the apple doesn’t “fall far from the tree,” we can expect the next Duncan Hunter to be as ill-informed and arrogant as his father. So I plan to vote for Mike Lumpkin, the retired Navy Seal who is not interested in hunting wildebeest on the taxpayers’ dime for the sport of it. Lumpkin, a 43 year old Democrat is a retired Navy commander who served 21 years as a SEAL and a military liaison in Congress. It is time for a change for the better. No more hunters. Sylvia Hampton is a community activist inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of fame for 2008 for her work in the fields of healthcare reform, social justice and reproductive health. She is the past president of the League of Women Voters of San Diego County and served on President Nixon’s Title X Family Planning Council. Her monthly Community Forum column is published in the Rancho Bernardo Sun, Diamond Gateway Signature, and her “Soapbox” in the East County Magazine. Opinions are Sylvia’s alone and not to be interpreted as the policies of the League of Women Voters. Printer-friendly version
Presidential Candidates Address La Raza in San Diego
Printer-friendly versionBy E. A. Barrera Photo by E.A. Barrera/Photo courtesy of NCLR Obama Talks Health, Education, and Announces Plan to Help Small Business McCain Emphasizes Tax Issues, Trade with Latin America Printer-friendly version
Celebrating 100 Years: Cleveland National Forest Centennial
Printer-friendly version Fiddlin’ Foresters, Living History Week Cap Festivities in Local Mountain Parks By Miriam Raftery A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt signed a declaration to create the Cleveland National Forest–a 460,000 acre preserve that is home to golden eagles, mountain lions and other wildlife species. To celebrate the centennial, the U.S. Forest Service is hosting several free special events in San Diego’s East County mountain parks. On September 6, the Fiddlin’ Foresters will perform a concert from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dos Picos County Park, 17953 Dos Picos Road, Ramona. On September 20th and 21st, the Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association (LMVA) and Cleveland National Forest will host “Living History Weekend” at the LMVA visitors center on Laguna Mountain. Re-enactments of turn-of-the-century life on the mountain will feature costumed mountain men, cowboys, Native Americans, gold miners and more. “One of the things that makes our country great is that all of our citizens own this vast amount of public land–national forests and national parks. The rest of the world didn’t think of that,” said Lynn Young, a retired Forest Service employee and musician who performs with the Fiddlin’ Foresters. Founded in the 1970s and later disbanded, the Fiddlin’ Foresters formed a revival band in 1994 to perform at the 50th anniversary of Smokey the Bear in Washington, D.C. Since then, the group has performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Smithsonian Folk Festival, Kennedy Center, various Forest Service events and other venues. “We’ve traveled to Alaska and taken float planes in to play on islands for Native Alaskans,” recalled Young, who plays fiddle, banjo, guitar, dobro (steel slide), and harmonica. “It is a lot of fun and we have wonderful experiences.” Besides providing rousing entertainment, Fiddlin’ Foresters also puts on a program to education the public about conservation, fire safety, and the value of public lands and water. The group recently cut a CD titled In the Long Run, which features rollicking tunes as well as poignant pieces such as “Cold Missouri Waters,” which honors smokejumpers who became trapped and died battling a fire on the Missouri River. Click below to hear excerpts of Fiddlin’ Foresters’ signature songs: Fire on the Mountain Cold Missouri Waters Smokey the Bear More music “We need a national lifestyle change when it comes to the condition of the forest,” said Young, a retired Forest Service official who spent many of his 38 years in fire management. “Awareness is going up and unfortunately it’s because of the terrible, tragic fires we’ve been having in places like San Diego.” Nationally, many forests are overcrowded, he explained. “We have tens of millions of acres of forests in the west that are in this condition. We haven’t allowed fires to burn,” he said, adding that historically, forest fires thinned out dense growth, preventing crown fires in treetops that can spread rapidly when forests become overgrown. “We very often don’t do the thinning and management of the forest that natural fire would have done…”It’s too late once these things get started, except to get out of the way.” Young calls for a coordinated effort between federal, state, and local governments as well as private landowners to thin out dry brush and dead trees, lessening the risk of severe wildfires in the wake of climate change that has created record dry, hot conditions. “It starts with public awareness and citizens demanding that we do these things,” he concluded. “One hundred years from now, will people be looking back on us and saying you did the right thing–or you didn’t do the right thing?” For more information on centennial events, visit the Cleveland National Forest website. Printer-friendly version
People Power – Magic Horse Miracles: Therapeutic Riding Program Benefits Disabled Kids
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Avery Titus rides tall in the saddle at The Magic Horse, guided by riding therapist/founder Robin Pawl. Before, he could not sit up on his own. September 2008 (Lakeside)–Ten-year-old Avery Titus squeals with delight, pressing his face against the sun-warmed backside of Iggy, a quarterhorse at the Magic Horse Therapeutic Riding program in Lakeside. “Before, he couldn’t sit up on his own,” recalled Avery’s father, Clay. “Now he can sit and not fall over.” Avery has cerebral palsy, brain damage and learning disabilities. But his older brother, Chandler, observed, “That doesn’t stop him from being this happy kid.” Magic Horse founder Robin Pawl has Avery demonstrate the exercises he’s learned to do on horseback. Motions of the horse beneath him simulate pelvic movement, helping Avery to improve his coordination skills, strengthen his back muscles and improve his sense of balance. “Reach for the stars!” instructs Pawl, as her pupil extends his arms skyward. Pawl walks on one side of the horse, Avery’s father on the other side. Anna Gahagen, a volunteer, leads the horse with a rope in front. Avery leans over to retrieve a stuffed alligator from a mailbox and plastic rings off a pole. Using handles on a vaulting sursingle (a soft saddle substitute), Avery swings his legs into a sidesaddle position, aided by his instructor. Later, he shifts seating again to ride backwards. “He rides forwards, backwards, sideways–everything but upside down,” quips Chandler, who recently begun taking riding lessons as well. Like many disabled children, Avery missed key developmental stages. “He never walked or crawled. He will scoot, like a combat crawl upright,” said Avery’s Dad. Riding therapy helps Avery use core muscles to build strength and coordination. Lessons also help children with proprioception, the concept of knowing where one’s body is in space. Laurel, 13, shows off hands-free exercises on horseback. “If the brain doesn’t develop, we try to develop new pathways,” said Pawl, a therapeutic riding instructor certified through NAHRA, the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, which provides referrals to therapeutic riding programs worldwide. Pawl is also a certified fitness trainer and life coach with a bachelor’s of science degree in biology. “I use all of those things together here,” she said. At lesson’s end, Avery uses his own form of sign language to signal Robin to open the gate. Communication, courtesy and cooperation are also taught here. Avery has been riding horses for seven years. His father did research on the Internet and first enrolled Avery in a hippotherapy program, working with a licensed hippotherapist in a horseback program for several disabled youngsters. Avery’s skills improved, but the center where he’d received help stopped its children’s programs. So Avery came to the Magic Horse two years ago, driving all the way from their home in Carmel Valley. Nine-year-old Lauren Heim of Rancho San Diego has also been a student at the Magic Horse for two years. She has Kabuki syndrome, which caused developmental delays and low muscle tone. “Riding horses is great because it strengthens up her muscle tone and especially her trunk,” said Lauren’s Dad, Mike Heim. “Before, she could walk but was prone to falling a lot. She’s made a lot of progress. They use a lot of fine motor skills here–taking up the reins, putting on the tack. Now she is able to buckle up the harness and put the reins on the horse…Once her family saw how much she could do here, they started having her do more at home, too. I try not to put limitations…We strive for as much independence as possible.” Hoisting a tool box, Lauren rushes to the corral, where she reaches on tiptoe to brush the mane, back and sides of Clem, an Appaloosa. Next she demonstrates her ability to put a blanker, riser (foam pad to raise the back of the saddle), saddle, girth, and reins on the horse. “She’s even starting to ride off lead with nobody touching the rope now,” said Pawl. “Lauren used to be afraid of merry-go-round horses. Now she’™s pretty fearless.”During today’s riding session, Lauren walks and trots the horse, performs the helicopter (extending arms out and twisting her torso) rings a bell and is later rewarded with a short trail ride. “Walk on!” she commands with the mastery of a seasoned equestrienne. “We can go up and down hills and into the brush, looking at native plants, animals and butterflies,” said Pawl, pointing out wild Indian tobacco growing alongside the trail. The next rider is 13-year-old Laurel Mackey from Lemon Grove, who has been enrolled in the program for a year. Laurel has epilepsy and other complications as a result of chemotherapy for leukemia when she was two years old. To overcome the cancer, she underwent 18 spinal taps. (New protocols since then have made chemotherapy much safer for young patients.) Laurel used to play soccer, but had to give up the sport because she suffered repeated seizures. Trained in first aid, CPR and emergency procedures, Pawl learned how to run a special magnet across the vagal nerve stimulator in Laurel’s chest and made sure everyone in the ring knows what to do if Laurel should ever have a seizure while riding. Like many kids, Laurel was initially afraid of large horses. So she started out on a low barrel vault “horse” covered with carpet and a tail. “She’s a lot more confident now,” said Laurel’s mother, Shelley. “It gives her something to talk about at school. This is her sport. She takes pictures to school and her friends all think it’s great.” Mounted astride the horse, Laurel tosses a ball to her brother, Bryan, who volunteers as side walker for her lesson. During a recent show held for students of The Magic Horse, Laurel maneuvered the horse through an obstacle course, guided the horse backwards, and showed off hands-free movements. “She got to perform in front of a lot of people, and there was a lot of applause,” her mother said.
Capitol Report – How They Voted
Printer-friendly version For more information on these and other bills, visit www.vote-smart.org or www.govtrack.us Printer-friendly version
East County Roundup – September
Printer-friendly versionLinks to top stories in other publications on East County issues WATER RATIONING GROWS INCREASINGLY LIKELY San Diego Union-Tribune (Sept. 26, 2008) —| For the first time since 1992, San Diego is facing the possibility of water rationing, a step that could happen as soon as January. The threat is expected to loom for years as Southern California readjusts to the tightest drinking water supplies it has experienced in almost two decades. The Metropolitan Water District, the Los Angeles-based wholesaler that provides about 75 percent of San Diego County’s supply, will consider as soon as January whether to cut deliveries to the 13 million people it serves — including the San Diego County Water Authority, which provides water to the city of San Diego and 23 other local agencies. REGION: STILL NOT READY TO FIGHT FIRE Move toward regional fire agency could be pivotal, some say North County Times (September 20, 2008) — As San Diego County moves into that scary time of year when hot, dry winds roar in from the desert and threaten to transform even the tiniest spark into an inferno, a question lingers: Could another deadly wildfire strike this fall? The answer, experts say, is yes. The disasters of 2003 and 2007 reduced much of the county to ashes. But two-thirds of the chaparral-carpeted backcountry remains and would provide plenty of fresh fuel for wind-fanned flames. FARMERS PREPARE FOR TERMINATION OF WATER PROGRAM California Farm Bureau (September 17, 2008) — In a move that will affect crop production across much of the region, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California plans to end its discount program for agricultural irrigation water. The move, expected to be approved in October, will open the door to increased water costs for many Southland farmers… ALPINE DEVELOPERS DELAY CASE TO 2009 The Alpine Sun (Septemer 18, 2008) — The fraud case against three Alpine developers and one former employee got delayed again, this time to March 2009, because one attorney had to replace his retained attorney with a public defender. … [David] Waitley, Paul Gonya, 64, Kenneth Stroud, 52, and Stroud’s ex-employee, Marie Frever, 39, all waived their right to have a speedy hearing. They have previously pleaded not guilty. The developers are charged with 113 counts of grand theft in allegations they embezzled more than $1.4 million from their companies for their own use. Frever is charged with three counts of grand theft. Gonya served on the Alpine Planning Group for four years as vice chairman and head of a subcommittee. He lost his re-election bid in November 2004. Waitley also served on the APG for four years and chaired the circulation subcommittee before he lost his seat in November 2006 election. The developers are accused of embezzling from their companies, Real Estate International, Inc., (REI-NC) for their own use. All three men are accused of working together to defraud companies that were formed to build 52 semi-custom homes in Alpine, which was called the Stagecoach development…. COUNTY EXPANDS RAMONA GRASSLANDS Ramona Sentinel (September 16, 2008 ) — The County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation has partnered with The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state to add more than 3,000 acres of high-quality habitat to the Ramona Grasslands Preserve, the county reported on Friday. The acquisition increases the county’s ownership within the preserve to 3,470 acres, more than seven times its current size of 460 acres, said Dennis Parker with the county parks department. The new acreage includes the areas of Gildred Ranch, Davis-Eagle Ranch and Oak Country, and was purchased with county, federal and state grant funds for $30.4 million… COUNTY ISSUES FOOD ALERT ABOUT RAW CREAM RECALL AND INFANT FORMULA FROM CHINA Ramona Sentinel (September 13, 2008) — San Diego County yesterday warned consumers about infant formula manufactured in China and about a specific raw cream from Fresno County. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Health Information Advisory about Chinese manufactured infant formula that may be contaminated with melamine. The action was in response to reports of contaminated milk-based infant formula manufactured in China… READY FOR THE SEASON: FIRE OFFICIALS PLAN AHEAD Ramona Journal (September 1, 2008 ) — It’s one thing for the local fire departments and other officials to advise residents on how to prepare for a fire, but are they taking their own advice? It seems that they are; the local departments are doing what they can to prepare for the eventuality of another large wildfire. RESIDENTS ADVISED ON WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS Ramona Journal (Septemer 1, 2008) — As the unpleasant anniversaries of the 2007 Witch Creek fire and the 2003 Cedar fire roll around, many residents are trying to become more prepared for the reality of life in a wildfire zone. Local fire officials have plenty of advice and suggestions to assist proactive citizens. Ramona Fire Marshal Calvin McVay advises everyone to have a personal family evacuation plan in place, along with a kit ready with a few days’ worth of food and water. MAN SENTENCED FOR DRIVING TOWARD WAR PROTESTERS IN RAMONA Union-Tribune (September 20, 2008) — A Ramona man who drove his pickup toward a group of war protesters in June was sentenced to probation yesterday, ordered to take anger-management classes and must perform 20 days of public service. FIRE DISTRICT EMPLOYEE ADMITS EMBEZZLEMENT Union-Tribune (September 9, 2008) — A former bookkeeper who was later promoted to executive administrative personnel officer of the Borrego Springs Fire Protection District has pleaded guilty to having embezzled $276,874. Cynthia Rena Parker, 45, entered her pleas Wednesday in San Diego Superior Court to charges of embezzlement of public funds and misappropriation of public money, Deputy District Attorney Richard Monroy said. GUHSD’S Prop 39 bond will be on November ballot: measure contains stipulation: no high school for Alpine unless district enrollment tops 25,000 The Alpine Sun (August 13) — Tensions were high at the Grossmont
Cool Places to Beat the Heat
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Looking to cool off? No need to battle crowds at the beach. Check out our editor’s “cool picks” for places to beat the heat in San Diego’s eastern areas. MAKE A SPLASH AT THE SANTEE AQUATIC CENTER: Waterslide and in-pool playground, Santee Aquatic Center East County’s best-kept aquatic adventure area features a spiral slide plus children’s play equipment–all built into a swimming pool. The facility also offers water aerobics classes for adults. Great family fun! 10123 Riverwalk Drive, Santee Website CHILL OUT AT KROC CENTER ICE: Public ice skating, figure skating lessons, hockey and broomball are offered at the NFL-sized ice rink located at the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. Skating competitions and private party ice rentals are also available. 6737 University Ave., San Diego Website DIVE IN AT LA MESA RECREATION CENTER: Year-round swimming and aquatic exercise classes are available at La Mesa’s public pool, which features a diving board and large shallow area for kids. You can even rent out the entire swimming pool area at La Mesa Recreation Center for a private pool party! 5100 Memorial Drive, La Mesa Website SAMPLE A SUNDAE ATH THE MINER’S DINER: This old-fashioned soda fountain adjacent to the Julian drugstore offers malts, ice cream sundaes and more in a historic setting featuring the oldest marble-topped soda fountain in San Diego County. 2130 Main Street, Julian Website KEEP KIDS COOL AT SANTEE LAKES “SPRAYGROUND”. Kids 13 and under can frolic in the sprayground for $2 per person. There is also a vehicle entry fee for the park ($2 weekdays, $4 weekends). Pop-jet fountains and spray nozzles make this a hands-down favorite among youngsters seeking to beat the heat. Pedalboat rentals are also available at the lake for an additional fee. 9310 Fanita Parkway, Santee Website COOL ZONES FOR SENIORS: Cool places for senior citizens in East County and throughout San Diego County are listed at this website, which includes recreation centers, malls, senior centers, libraries and other “cool” locations: Website The City of La Mesa lists additional cool zones throughout East County, including the Mission Trails Regional Park visiting center which has a visitor center with spectacular views, museum, library/reading room and observation decks: Website GO JUMP IN THE LAKE: San Diego’s eastern region has many lakes offering a variety of fun activities. For a complete listing, see these three sites: Website Other Lakes in San Diego County Local and State Agencies Services and rules vary by location and season, so check the lake’s website before visiting. Rentals of some types of boats and equipment are available at certain lakes, others are open to private watercraft. Some lakes lack concession services, so bring water, snacks or a picnic lunch. Here are a few highlights of activities you can enjoy at our local lakes: Waterskiing, wakeboarding and float tubing at Lake Vicente: Website Jet ski at El Capitan Reservoir: Website Rent a sailboat, motorboat, pedal boat or rowboat at Poway Lake: Website Rent a canoe or rowboat at Lake Murray or Lake Miramar (Saturdays and Sundays only) or bring your float tube! Website CHECK INTO WELK RESORT AND RIDE THE WATER SLIDE: Vacationers staying at the Welk Resort can indulge in family fun at the Boulder Springs Club House and Waterslide — a 140 feet-long, rock-encased slide into a lavish swimming pool. There is a 42-inch minimum height requirement to use the waterslide. The resort also features a large clubhouse with plasma screen TV, library, Foosball, Air Hockey, and kids’ game room as well as golf, tennis and more outdoor activities. Click “tour the resort”and “photo gallery” to view the waterslide: 8868 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido Website POOLSIDE CABANAS AT PALA RESORT: Thee four-diamond Pala Casino Spa & Resort rents poolside cabanas for guests complete with ceiling fans, private mini-bars, pay-per-view movies, TV, Internet access, and complimentary fruit and cheese trays. 35008 Pala Temecula Road, Pala Website Printer-friendly version
Voter’s Watchdog – Protecting Your Right to Vote
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery “We know where the fix is in this year. If I were in San Diego, I’d be afraid. I’d be very afraid.” – Bob Fitrakis, national election integrity expert New law bans voting machines from being online Assembly Bill 3026 by Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) will prohibit Internet connections to voting machines, including wireless transmissions. “This law will help prevent hackers from attempting to alter the outcome of elections,” Saldaña said. In a prior interview with Voter’s Watchdog, San Diego’s former Registrar of Voters, Mikel Haas, admitted having the county’s central vote-tabulating machine hooked up to the Internet—a report confirmed by an eyewitness. While the new law is an important step, many believe it does not go far enough in protecting San Diego County residents’ votes. Lawsuit filed over San Diego election issues El Cajon resident Linda Poniktera, a member of San Diego voting rights group, Psephos, has filed a lawsuit August 8th asking a judge to order tougher enforcement of anti-fraud measures in San Diego County, after learning that County election workers accepted unsealed, unsigned boxes of ballots for processing. In addition, the number of signatures in the voter log book at one precinct did not match the total number of ballots cast. Attorney Ken Karan, co-founder of Psephos along with Poniktera, filed the suit on her behalf. The County’s explanation was far from reassuring. “We goofed,” said a poll worker, Associated Press reported. San Diego Registrar of Voters Debra Seiler has acknowledged that mistakes were made but said there is no evidence of fraud, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. . National election expert believes “fix is in” for fall 2008 election in San Diego Your Voter’s Watchdog tracked down one of the country’s foremost election integrity experts for comments on this and other issues regarding San Diego’s Registrar of Voters. Bob Fitrakis is executive director of the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism, editor of the Columbus Free Press and winner of the Distinguished Teaching Award at Columbus State Community College. He is also the author of three books alleging theft of the 2004 presidential election including his most work, What Happened in Ohio? – A Documentary Record of Theft and Fraud in the 2004 Election. Another book, How the GOP Stole America’s 2004 Election & Is Rigging 2008, presents disquieting evidence suggesting that Americans’ votes are still not secure. Told of the lawsuit filed in San Diego, Fitrakis observed, “We had those same problems back in Ohio in 2004. We were told not to worry about those things.” One county reported a 95% voter turnout, but an inspection of voter log-in books revealed that far fewer people had signed in. “We found this pattern all over Southern Ohio,” said Fitrakis. Asked if this could be happening in San Diego, Fitrakis replied, “Yes.” He added that in some areas of Ohio, thousands of names were mysteriously added to voter rolls on election day – a full month after the registration deadline closed. Fitrakis express shock upon learning that Michael Vu, who oversaw elections in Cuyahoga County, Ohio during the disputed 2004 presidential election, has been named Assistant Registrar of Voters in San Diego County. San Diego also recently hired Debra Seiler, a former sales representative for Diebold Election Systems (now called Premier Election Systems), as our county’s Registrar of Voters. “We know where the fix is in this year,” Fitrakis said. “If I were in San Diego, I’d be afraid. I’d be very afraid. These are the key operatives who helped hijack the election, particularly in terms of Vu in Ohio.” [editor’s note: While Diebold has been implicated in questions involving the Ohio election, Seiler represented Diebold in California. The Registrar of Voters’ office did not response to an e-mailed request for comments from Vu and Seiler for this column.] Fitrakis offered additional comments on Vu’s tenure running elections in Ohio. “Two of his people were convicted for tampering with the [presidential] recount. Vu was run out of Cleveland,” the journalist/author recalled. “If somebody hires Vu, it’s a payoff for the dirty tricks in did in Ohio in 2004.” San Diego County Administrator Walt Eckart defended his hiring decisions at a May 22, 2007 Board of Supervisors’ meeting, stating that he believed Seiler and Vu “served honorably in their prior roles.” Eckart has refused prior requests from Voter’s Watchdog to answer additional questions on this topic. But Fitrakis countered, “What is his [Vu’s] qualification? Keeping people waiting in line for hours? Purging a quarter of the voters in Cleveland? And in some districts, he purged 51% of all the voters. Having chaos and confusion and emergencies where polling sites were moved with Cleveland Public Schools at the last second?” Vu has never provided a satisfactory explanation for the purgings, according to Fitrakis. Diebold “accidentally” purged 10,000 voters in Cleveland because Vu had contracted out the board of elections to run the County’s electronic poll list, he said. “It sounds like they’re probably going to play the same game out there,” Fitrakis cautioned San Diego voters. Fitrakis charges that purges were done systematically in precincts with mainly poor, minority and predominantly Democratic voters. “None of the GOP counties were purged,” he added. Asked what citizens can do to prevent such occurrences here, he replied, “Immediately go down to the Registrar of Voters and demand under the public records law to know who has been purged and why. You need to call these people and reregister them to vote immediately, because these are deliberate campaigns.” He questioned why anyone should be purged unless there is proof that a voter has died or moved out of the county. “In Ohio, we found 80% still lived in the county, and over 20% still lived at the same address,” he added. Fitrakis also urged election integrity advocates to seek records of which technicians have access to voting machines. McCain advisor/security expert turns whistleblower, alleges election tampering by GOP Leading cyber security expert Stephen Spoonamore has come forward as a