All politics are local – May Day

The fireworks and skullduggery have only begun in the 5th Supervisor District. This office is spring-loaded or rigged for development. Have you ever wondered who benefits most from real estate developments? North county is a “development colony” for “big bucks” from Southern California and overseas. Candidates Kern and Desmond are candidates, and both are more than pro development; they’ll get help from developers and the building industry. There’s a newbie on scene, though, who has no strings attached – Jacqueline Arsivaud. The board is racing to beat likely the November passage of the Save Our Countryside initiative which would require a county wide vote on each amendment to the county’s General Plan. There are five to eight amendments that will be reviewed in June, potentially as a bundle.

Reche Road is becoming lined with campaign signs. From the political watch drone, the open door 49th Congressional District is jammed with candidates. State Sen. Joel Anderson’s next waypoint is the state Board of Equalization seat, which is now occupied by Diane Harkey. He has launched four bills he calls the “Middle Class Prosperity Package” in time for primary season. Harkey is competing in the 49th primary along with Kristin Gaspar, who only in 2016 took the 3rd District seat in a most expensive campaign. So much for the musical chairs. Marie Waldron has serious competition from Alan Geraci in the 75th Assembly District. The real campaign in our schizophrenic 50th Congressional District has yet to come.

John Watson