By Elizabeth Marie Himchak
Hotly contested San Diego County District Attorney and 52nd Congressional District primary races are among county, state and federal offices locals will be voting on June 3.
The filing period closed last Friday and with the exception of a few races, the candidate list is near finalization, according to San Diego County Registrar of Voters officials on Tuesday morning.
At the county level, incumbent Bonnie Dumanis will face two challengers for the District Attorney’s seat — attorney Bob Brewer and retired career prosecutor Terri Wyatt.
Also facing opposition is incumbent Ernest J. Dronenburg Jr. who has three challengers for his Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk office. The other candidates are financial analyst and business owner John Gordon, businesswoman and consumer advocate Susan Guinn plus author, educator and businessman George W. Mantor.
Sheriff Bill Gore and Treasurer/Tax Collector Dan McAllister are not facing opposition in their re-election campaigns.
The 52nd Congressional District race — which includes Rancho Bernardo, Poway and other Inland Corridor communities — will see two former San Diego city councilmen among those in the tight race, according to polls.
Incumbent Congressman Scott Peters, a Democrat from La Jolla and former city councilman who is finishing his first term in Congress, will potentially be challenged by three Republicans. Leading the effort is Rancho Bernardo resident and former City Councilman Carl DeMaio. Also qualified for the ballot is businessman and former military officer Kirk Jorgensen, a Black Mountain Ranch resident. As of Tuesday morning, Coronado resident Fred J. Simon Jr. — a trauma surgeon and businessman — had filed but had yet to qualify.
In the state Assembly’s 77th District race it will potentially be a rematch from the last election since incumbent Brian Maienschein — a Republican from Carmel Mountain Ranch — will likely be challenged by Ruben “RJ” Hernandez — a businessman and Democrat from 4S Ranch. As of Tuesday morning, Hernandez had filed but not yet qualified.
Redistricting has led to a change in state Senate district numbering, which goes into effect by early next year. Republican state Senator Joel Anderson — who represents the 36th District that includes Poway, Carmel Mountain Ranch and Sabre Springs — is running in the newly drawn 38th Senate District race, which still includes the three communities plus 4S Ranch and Del Sur. Anderson is being challenged by Democrat Fotios “Frank” Tsimboukakis, an investment manager and businessman.
Rancho Bernardo — part of the new 39th Senate District — will not have an election since this year even numbered seats are being decided.
Original link: http://www.pomeradonews.com/2014/03/12/da-52nd-congressional-among-primaries-to-watch/