ELECTION 2020

Election 2020: Where North County Candidates Stand on Racial Justice

Our ballots have arrived and it's time to vote for the candidates who reflect our values. The SURJ NCSD Policy Group sent out a survey to all North County candidates for races including U.S. House Districts 49 and 50, State Legislative Districts 75 and 78, SD County Supervisor District 3, and the mayors who are up for re-election in North County cities. The purpose of the survey was to see where candidates stand on racial justice. Below, you'll find the results. In some cases, the candidate chose not to respond to the survey. In lieu of their response, we have included their campaign website address so that you can see where they stand on other issues.

Let's use our votes to take a stand against white supremacy and move towards a multi-racial majority for justice in North County!

US House of Representative - District 49

Survey Question	Mike Levin	Brian Maryott - This candidate chose not to respond.
Website	MikeLevin.org	maryottforcongress.com
Contact Person	Hunter Jones Phillips Hunter@mikelevin.org
How have you supported more equity & social/racial/criminal justice in your underserved communities? What specific social/racial/criminal justice bills do you plan to introduce/support in the coming term?	During my first term in office, I have supported a variety of legislation to help advance social, racial, and criminal justice reforms for underserved communities, including the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. I have also been focused on addressing the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on communities of color, in terms of public health and economically. In addition to the four bipartisan relief bills my colleagues and I passed through Congress since March that were signed into law, the Heroes Act, which we passed in the House in May, would go a long way towards supporting underserved communities and working families across the nation. The Heroes Act includes hazard pay for our essential workers, $875 billion in funding for state and local governments, funding for increased testing and contact tracing, increased funding for SNAP, and more substantial economic impact payments.
Which racial/criminal/social justice bills have you supported? Which laws would you like to make stronger?	I was proud to co-sponsor the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, to work towards ending racial profiling, banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants, requiring uniformed police officers to wear body cameras, investing in crucial community-based programs to change the culture of law enforcement, improving accountability, and fostering trust and integrity through the implementation of new training programs for public safety officers.
Which racial/criminal/social justice bills will you sponsor in the next legislative cycle?	I will continue to maintain an open line of communication and work alongside civil rights leaders in my district to advance legislation in the 117th Congress that will effectively address the social and economic inequities experienced by communities of color across the nation. We must reform our criminal justice system and implement laws to ensure transparency and justice in law enforcement, while fostering trust and communication between law enforcement and our communities through reformed training for officers and community-based programs and review boards.
Do you support shifting unneeded funding from the police and justice systems to restorative justice programs, crisis intervention services, and community-building? What steps are you prepared to take in Congress to do that?	I do not believe that police should be defunded. However, I do support significant reforms to law enforcement, including an end to the militarization of local police departments. I also support an increase in funding for community policing programs to improve relations between law enforcement and communities of color, as well as funding to help diversify police departments. I also support more funding for public schools, social services, and programs to lift up underserved communities.
Which policies do you support?	- A national decertification registry for police officers who have committed offenses that led to prosecution or firing. - National laws to de-criminalize peaceful citizen protests. - Truly independent community review boards of law enforcement practices. - An end to militarized training and use of militarized equipment by law enforcement Making police records more transparent and more readily available to the public - An end to Qualified Immunity - Making body cams mandatory across all law enforcement agencies and private security companies. - Transparent regulation of surveillance technology - Permanent Supportive Housing for homeless populations - A combination of affordable Housing assistance with voluntary support services for chronically homeless populations
Which policies do you not support?	- A ban on the practice of "stacking charges" often utilized by DAs to ensure conviction - Universal voting rights, to include currently incarcerated citizens - Surveillance technology as a way to collect citizen information - An end to the use of ketamine or other chemicals to sedate those being restrained by law enforcement
Have you ever accepted donations from a Law Enforcement Association or Union? Why or why not?	I have not accepted donations from law enforcement organizations.

us house of representative - district 50

Neither candidate chose to respond. Go to their webpage.
Ammar Campa-Najjar campacampaign.com
Darrell Issa darrellissa.com

CA State Assembly - District 78

Survey Question	Sarah Davis	Chris Ward
Website	votesarahdavis.com	Voteforward.com
Contact Person	Danny Avitia campaign@votesarahdavis.com	Ansermio Jake Estrada ansermio@voteforward.com
Which social/racial/criminal justice laws would you like to make stronger? For instance, did you support AB392 in the original form before the amendment? If not, what was your reason?	Yes I support abolition as defined by Critical Resistance. From the state level, I support bills that standardize use of force guidelines, demilitarize law enforcement departments, fund restorative justice programs such as community courts, end prison incarceration for juveniles, fund vocational education as alternative to incarceration and during incarceration.	As the father of a mixed-race child and an elected official, I have a responsibility to improve criminal justice, economic, political, and educational systems that have systematically discriminated against communities of color. I was an adamant supporter of the City Council resolution for Dr. Weber’s AB 392 (as it was written) to ensure better standards for policing are in place across the state, and lives are saved – I was the only city council member to write a letter of support for her previous session’s version, AB 931. I support Proposition16, and will continue to be an advocate for strengthening long overdue reform. I supported San Diegans for Justice’s proposal to place the Commission on Police Practices on the November Ballot and look forward to it strengthening community trust.
Which racial/criminal/social justice bills will you sponsor in the next legislative cycle?	Pay incarcerated firefighters no less than minimum wage. Require ethnic studies component in K-12 education. Green New Deal packages that include good green jobs for formerly incarcerated people and for alternative to incarceration programs. Racial justice in healthcare including funding primary healthcare provider training in CSUs for BIPOC communities. A Bill of Rights in Childbirth including acknowledgement of persistent structural and interpersonal racism causing increased maternal and infant mortality for Black people. Other bills as presented to me by communities most impacted by racial injustice.	We have been seeing a trend of police officers being called to schools to deal with discipline for students for what amount to administrative issues, being allowed to interview students, and sometimes going as far as collecting finger prints or DNA without informing their parents/guardians. It is an unconscionable violation of the civil rights of our youth that results in criminal charges for school discipline, and even when charges are not brought, documenting youth in various databases that make them more vulnerable to being charged with crimes later on. I would like to see a bill that requires school districts to meet certain criteria before they call the police, and require that both the parents/guardians are informed and present before students are ever in the room with police officers. We should also require school districts to hire a youth legal advocate who can we present in high-discipline situations to inform students and their families of their rights.
Do you support shifting unneeded funding from the police and justice systems to restorative justice programs, crisis intervention services, and community-building? What steps are you prepared to take to do that?	Yes, as above.	We need to be proposing policies that dismantle the systems of intolerance that we all know exist. That is why I called for the reallocation of resources from the San Diego Police Department toward programs, policies, and initiatives that will support the work that will eventually come out of San Diego’s new Office of Race & Equity. I was the only councilmember to vote against this year’s City of San Diego’s budget, in part because I felt that we should be using the Federal CARES Act dollars assigned to the Police Department overtime for the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program I created instead. I also led the Regional Task Force on the Homeless to pass the Unsheltered Outreach Policy Guidelines last January to be implemented across San Diego County. These guidelines would begin restructuring how we focus resources and respond to calls pertaining to homelessness by prioritizing outreach workers first to engage and assists those in need and only having police help as appropriately.
What policies do you support?	- A state decertification registry for police officers who have committed offenses that led to prosecution or firing Statewide laws to de-criminalize peaceful citizen protests - An end to the Calgang list - A ban on the practice of "stacking charges" often utilized by DAs to ensure conviction - Universal voting rights, to include currently incarcerated citizens - An end to militarized training and use of militarized equipment by CA police/sheriffs - Making police records more transparent and more readily available in addition to SB1421 - An end to Qualified Immunity - Transparent regulation of surveillance technology - Permanent Supportive Housing for homeless populations - A combination of affordable Housing assistance with voluntary support services for chronically homeless populations - An end to the use of ketamine or other chemicals to sedate those being restrained by law enforcement - Surveillance technology is a broad category. I support some types of surveillance technology with privacy and confidentiality controls, such as wastewater surveillance for public health purposes.	- A state decertification registry for police officers who have committed offenses that led to prosecution or firing. - Statewide laws to de-criminalize peaceful citizen protests - An end to the Calgang list - A ban on the practice of "stacking charges" often utilized by DAs to ensure conviction - Truly independent community review boards of law enforcement practices - Officials need to rebuild their relationship with the Black San Diegans and communities of color across - California, only then will there be a foundation for a meaningful and lasting model for community-oriented public safety. - Universal voting rights, to include currently incarcerated citizens - An end to militarized training and use of militarized equipment by CA police/sheriffs - Making police records more transparent and more readily available in addition to SB1421 - An end to Qualified Immunity - Making body cams mandatory across all law enforcement agencies and private security companies - Transparent regulation of surveillance technology - Permanent Supportive Housing for homeless populations - A combination of affordable Housing assistance with voluntary support services for chronically homeless populations - An end to the use of ketamine or other chemicals to sedate those being restrained by law enforcement
Which policies do you not support?	- Truly independent community review boards of law enforcement practices - Community review boards, even if they are truly independent, do not have power to change policy. - Making body cams mandatory across all law enforcement agencies and private security companies - I am not opposed to requiring body cams, but I would want to know if this is a high priority of communities vulnerable to violence before investing the money required, and also understand the deficiencies of body cams (e.g. they aren't always turned on). - Surveillance technology as a way to collect citizen information	- Surveillance technology as a way to collect citizen information - I have always supported a surveillance policy that would outline the standards and protocol that law enforcement would be required to follow in the City of San Diego. After taking office in 2017, I issued a memo to the Chair of the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee requesting a surveillance policy: - “The committee should be briefed on the purchase, use policy, and deployment of technological law enforcement tools by SDPD including body-worn cameras, shot-spotters, license plate readers, etc. to ensure proper and responsible implementation.” - In October of 2019, I joined Council President Georgette Gomez and Councilmember Monica Montgomery to request Mayor Faulconer issue an immediate moratorium on further installation and use of the City’s smart streetlights until council adopts a comprehensive surveillance policy to regulate the technologies use. - Almost a year later, Mayor Faulconer finally ordered that the 3,000+ cameras installed throughout San Diego be shut down until the City Council crafts that policy. This was the right call. - San Diegans deserve a comprehensive and transparent discussion around the use of smart streetlight technology. I will continue to work with Council President Gomez and Councilmember Montgomery to make sure that happens. - The key to solving homelessness is through housing those struggling with it. That is why I authored and have successfully moved a $900 million local housing bond to this year’s November ballot to assist up to 7,500 low-income households and those struggling with homelessness or on the verge of homelessness. As the Chair of our Regional Task Force on the Homeless, I will continue advocating for best practices in all of our programs that focuses on housing-oriented outcomes, and diversion programs to keep families from falling into homelessness.
Have you ever accepted donations from a Law Enforcement Association or Union? Why or why not?	I have not.	In 2019, I received a contribution from the CCPOA PAC, and funds have been disbursed.

SD County Board of Supervisors - District 3

Survey Questions	Kristin Gaspar - This Candidate chose not to respond.	Tara Lawson-Remer
Website	-	terralawsonremer.org
Contact Person	-	Spencer Katz spencer@terralawsonremer.com
How have you responded to the needs of your community's most underserved constituents? How do you plan to address their needs in the coming term?	-	The biggest immediate challenge facing our entire region, but especially the most vulnerable, is getting the pandemic under control, stemming and reversing the economic damage, and rebuilding stronger and fairer. The first step must be protecting our public health, as that is the foundation for everything else. The County has significant resources that it can deploy and should use much better, but we also will need to be very active in ensuring we pursue our share of any further State and Federal aid that we can direct to support our communities, from rent to food aid to small business assistance.
How will you work to bring more diversity to your district & what programs & funding will you ensure to support Black & Brown businesses?	.	Addressing disparities in access to loans is essential. Too often, lenders discriminate against businesses owned by people of color, whether deliberately or as an unintended byproduct of credit scoring algorithms. I will work to fight predatory lending and discrimination in lending terms to our Black and Brown businesses.
Which recent Board of Supervisors moves do you support?	.	- Strengthening of CLERB - Fast-tracking of the creation of MCRT teams - Creation of Office of Race and Equity
Law enforcement is a substantial part of our county budget. How are you prepared to advocate for moving funds away from services the police aren't suited for (mental health, homelessness, domestic disputes and drug crises) and toward the services that support those services and help to prevent those crises?	.	I will create a 911-style 24-hour response team composed of social service providers to be the first responders on the scene when there is a call about a homeless or mentally ill individual, so people in crisis can get immediate access to the social services they need instead of being locked-up in jail. And I will increase the county’s investment in mental health services and shelters with wraparound services, so treatment is available for our homeless in need.
As reported, the DA is getting more than twice the amount of funding than public defenders get. Do you agree that public defenders should get an equal share of the budget to ensure equitable access to legal services for those who can’t afford them, and to ensure the public an equal and fair chance in the justice system?		Yes
Which policies do you support?	.	- A combination of affordable Housing assistance with voluntary support services for our chronically homeless population - Decertification of police officers who have committed offenses that led to prosecution or firing? - Decriminalization of peaceful citizen protests - An end to the Calgang list - A ban on the practice of "stacking charges" often utilized by DAs to ensure conviction - Truly independent community review boards of law enforcement practices - An end to militarized training and use of militarized equipment by CA police/sheriffs - Making police records more transparent and more readily available in addition to SB1421 - An end to Qualified Immunity - Making body cams mandatory across all law enforcement agencies and private security companies
Which policies do you not support?	.	Universal voting rights, to include currently incarcerated citizens
Have you ever accepted donations from a Law Enforcement Association or Union? Why or why not?	.	No

CARLSBAD - MAYOR - Not up for election

ENCINITAS - MAYORAL CANDIDATES

Survey Questions	Catherine Blakespear	Julia Thunder This candidate chose not to respond.
Website	mayorblakespear.com	juliethunder.com
Contact Person	catherine@blakespear4encinitas.com	.
How have you responded to the needs of your community's most underserved constituents? How do you plan to address their needs in the coming term?	I have championed more programs to help those living unsheltered in the city and will continue to do so. We approved the first Safe Parking Lot for those who have lost their home but still have a car to stay safely overnight. This program has helped a lot of families and individuals who were struggling.	.
How will you work to bring more diversity to your community & what programs & funding will you ensure to support Black & Brown businesses?	The most important step we can take to increase diversity is to provide a diversity of housing opportunities for those at all income levels. We lack housing that would be attainable for many in our Black and Brown communities. This struggle is something I work on everyday.	.
The most important step we can take to increase diversity is to provide a diversity of housing opportunities for those at all income levels. We lack housing that would be attainable for many in our Black and Brown communities. This struggle is something I work on everyday.	Yes	.
Law enforcement is a substantial part of our city and county budgets. How are you prepared to advocate for moving funds away from services the police aren't suited for (mental health, homelessness, domestic disputes and drug crises) and toward the services that support those services and help to prevent those crises?	I would like to provide more resources for social service agencies that can provide help in our community to those suffering from homelessness, mental illness and domestic disputes.	.
As reported, the DA is getting more than twice the amount of funding than public defenders get. Do you agree that public defenders should get an equal share of the budget to ensure equitable access to legal services for those who can’t afford them, and to ensure the public an equal and fair chance in the justice system? Why or why not?	Yes. It's also important that the county avoid cutting the public defenders budget disproportionately if the county faces a budget reduction and needs to cut services.	.
Which policies do you support?	- Decertification of police officers who have committed offenses that led to prosecution or firing? - Decriminalization of peaceful citizen protests - An end to the Calgang list - A ban on the practice of "stacking charges" often utilized by DAs to ensure conviction - Truly independent community review boards of law enforcement practices - Universal voting rights, to include currently incarcerated citizens - An end to militarized training and use of militarized equipment by CA police/sheriffs - Making police records more transparent and more readily available in addition to SB1421 - Making body cams mandatory across all law enforcement agencies and private security companies	.
Which policies do you not support?	An end to Qualified Immunity. I don't have enough information about ending qualified immunity to have a position.	.
Which programs do you support?	- Transparent regulation of surveillance technology - Permanent Supportive Housing for homeless populations - A combination of affordable Housing assistance with voluntary support services for chronically homeless populations	.
Which programs do you not support?	- Surveillance technology as a way to collect citizen information - An end to the use of ketamine or other chemicals to sedate those being restrained by law enforcement. - I don't support mass surveillance. I don't have enough information about "other chemicals" to know if they should all be banned.	Value
Have you ever accepted donations from a Law Enforcement Association or Union? Please explain.	No. The firefighter's union supports me and has supported me in the past, but not the Sheriff's Association.	.

ESCONDIDO - MAYOR - Not up for election

OCEANSIDE - MAYORAL CANDIDATES
only three candidates CHOSE to respond to our survey

Survey Questions	Fabio Marchi	Albin McGee	David Turgeon
Website	None	None	David Turgeon Oceanside Facebook
Contact Person	fabioforfifth@gmail.com	Osidefamily@gmail.com	david.j.turgeon@gmail.com
How have you responded to the needs of your community's most underserved constituents? How do you plan to address their needs in the coming term?	Open doors to all.	I've done community events in neighborhood where people are killed and murdered. My experience is I am a victim of violent crime. I had my brother and a cousin killed and no one has been brought to justice for these crimes	Affordable housing , Temporary facilities, restrooms, wash stations , Help with getting help, Mental , Drug Addiction , Food
How will you work to bring more diversity to your community & what programs & funding will you ensure to support Black & Brown businesses?	Reallocate the budget	I keep doing the things I already been doing community outreach having good rapport with people young and old	Classes on racial equality. Education.
Do you support truly independent citizen review boards like that in measure B on the San Diego City ballot this year? Explain.	Yes, Government for the people	Yes	F...ing Stupid literally.
Law enforcement is a substantial part of our city and county budgets. How are you prepared to advocate for moving funds away from services the police aren't suited for (mental health, homelessness, domestic disputes and drug crises) and toward the services that support those services and help to prevent those crises?	Retrain, relocate and make them accountable.	I would have no problem with doing that homeless and mental health is a big problem in our city	I am for defunding the police.
As reported, the DA is getting more than twice the amount of funding than public defenders get. Do you agree that public defenders should get an equal share of the budget to ensure equitable access to legal services for those who can’t afford them, and to ensure the public an equal and fair chance in the justice system? Why or why not?	Equality is a must	This is something that should have been done a long time ago I do agree	Yes I agree.
What policies do you support?	- Decertification of police officers who have committed offenses that led to prosecution or firing? - Decriminalization of peaceful citizen protests - A ban on the practice of "stacking charges" often utilized by DAs to ensure conviction - Truly independent community review boards of law enforcement practices - We have to keep tough on crime when making government accountability - Universal voting rights, to include currently incarcerated citizens - Making police records more transparent and more readily available in addition to SB1421 - An end to Qualified Immunity - Making body cams mandatory across all law enforcement agencies and private security companies	- Decertification of police officers who have committed offenses that led to prosecution or firing? - Decriminalization of peaceful citizen protests - An end to the Calgang list - A ban on the practice of "stacking charges" often utilized by DAs to ensure conviction - Truly independent community review boards of law enforcement practices - Decertification of police officers who have committed offenses that led to prosecution or firing? - Decriminalization of peaceful citizen protests - A ban on the practice of "stacking charges" often utilized by DAs to ensure conviction - Truly independent community review boards of law enforcement practices	- Decertification of police officers who have committed offenses that led to prosecution or firing? - Decriminalization of peaceful citizen protests - A ban on the practice of "stacking charges" often utilized by DAs to ensure conviction - Truly independent community review boards of law enforcement practices - Making police records more transparent and more readily available in addition to SB1421 - An end to Qualified Immunity
What policies do you not support?	- An end to the Calgang list - An end to militarized training and use of militarized equipment by CA police/sheriffs	- I support all of them.	- An end to the Calgang list - Universal voting rights, to include currently incarcerated citizens - An end to militarized training and use of militarized equipment by CA police/sheriffs - Making body cams mandatory across all law enforcement agencies and private security companies
What programs do you support?	- Transparent regulation of surveillance technology - Permanent Supportive Housing for homeless populations - A combination of affordable housing assistance with voluntary support services for chronically homeless populations - An end to the use of ketamine or other chemicals to sedate those being restrained by law enforcement	- Transparent regulation of surveillance technology - A combination of affordable Housing assistance with voluntary support services for chronically homeless populations - An end to the use of ketamine or other chemicals to sedate those being restrained by law enforcement	- Transparent regulation of surveillance technology - Permanent Supportive Housing for homeless populations - A combination of affordable Housing assistance with voluntary support services for chronically homeless populations
What programs do you not support?	- Surveillance technology as a way to collect citizen information	- Surveillance technology as a way to collect citizen information. - Permanent Supportive Housing for homeless populations - An end to the use of ketamine or other chemicals to sedate those being restrained by law enforcement	- Surveillance technology as a way to collect citizen information - An end to the use of ketamine or other chemicals to sedate those being restrained by law enforcement
Have you ever accepted donations from a Law Enforcement Association or Union? Please explain.	No. I'm not for sale	No	No

Oceanside - mayoral candidates contact information
These candidates chose not to respond.

Perry Alvarez perry.alvarez@sbcglobal.net
Rocky Chavez rockychavez@icloud.com
Jack Feller jackfeller2020@gmail.com
Fernando Garcia fer1@cox.net
Rob Howard rob@robhoward4mayor.com
Ruben Major campaign@rubenmajor.com
Christopher Rodriguez christopher@maxmre.com
Esther Sanchez yes4esther@gmail.com
Louis Uridel biglou@metroflexoceanside.com

SAN MARCOS - MAYOR - Not up for election

SOLANA BEACH - MAYORAL CANDIDATE

Survey Questions	Lesa Heebner - Running upopposed
How have you responded to the needs of your community's most underserved constituents? How do you plan to address their needs in the coming term?	Once back on City Council and serving as Mayor, I will join our current Council who has allocated much of the CARES Act money that we received for Food Distribution and rental assistance. Also, each year the Council provides Community Grants to organizations who serve our most underserved constituents. In years past, most have gone to serve those in our La Colonia de Eden Gardens community.
How will you work to bring more diversity to your community & what programs & funding will you ensure to support Black & Brown businesses?	The City Council does not provide taxpayer funds to individual businesses. The exception to this has been the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid pandemic where the current Council provided grants to all small businesses, regardless of color of owner, to assist them through these difficult circumstances. We have created a vibrant city in which we welcome all to operate their businesses.
Do you support truly independent citizen review boards like that in measure B on the San Diego City ballot this year? Explain.	I do support the concept of independent citizen review boards like that described in San Diego's Measure B. The culture of policing must change and to do that, truly independent individuals must observe and weigh in on current practices and make recommendations for meaningful changes.
Law enforcement is a substantial part of our city and county budgets. How are you prepared toadvocate for moving funds away from services the police aren't suited for (mental health, homelessness, domestic disputes and drug crises) and toward the services that support those services and help to prevent those crises?	Once back on Council, as Mayor I will be part of a group of Mayors discussing our upcoming Sheriff contract which is up in 2022. Within the discussions about the budget are clearly policy issues such as re-allocating funds for mental health and crisis intervention professionals within the Sheriff Contract for all the Cities that contract with them. I strongly support adding these services to our Contract.
As reported, the DA is getting more than twice the amount of funding than public defenders get. Do you agree that public defenders should get an equal share of the budget to ensure equitable access to legal services for those who can’t afford them, and to ensure the public anequal and fair chance in the justice system? Why or why not?	Yes. Fairness must prevail.
Which policies do you support?	- Decertification of police officers who have committed offenses that led to prosecution or firing? - Decriminalization of peaceful citizen protests - An end to the Calgang list - A ban on the practice of "stacking charges" often utilized by DAs to ensure conviction - Truly independent community review boards of law enforcement practices. - Universal voting rights, to include currently incarcerated citizens - An end to militarized training and use of militarized equipment by CA police/sheriffs - Making police records more transparent and more readily available in addition to SB1421 - An end to Qualified Immunity - Making body cams mandatory across all law enforcement agencies and private security companies
Which programs do you support?	- Transparent regulation of surveillance technology - Permanent Supportive Housing for homeless populations - A combination of affordable Housing assistance with voluntary support services for chronically homeless populations - An end to the use of ketamine or other chemicals to sedate those being restrained by law enforcement
Which programs do you not support?	Surveillance technology as a way to collect citizen information
Have you ever accepted donations from a Law Enforcement Association or Union? Please explain.	No. And I would not seek their endorsement either.

VISTA - MAYOR - Not up for election