San Clemente Election Guide 2022

San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

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San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

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2022 SAN CLEMENTE ELECTION GUIDE

Welcome to the ‘SC Times’ Election Guide

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n informed democracy—that’s what we as reporters and editors strive to shape ahead of every single election.

It’s our job to make sure you as readers and prospective voters know who it is you’re electing, what they stand for and how they plan to wield the power you’ve entrusted in them once in office.

With that in mind, every couple of years, we put together our Voters Guide, where readers can hopefully get a better idea of the candidates before you’ve marked your ballots and cast your votes by Nov. 8.

This year’s elections include numerous races that will be decided locally, including the state’s 49th Congressional, 36th and 38th State Senate, 74th State Assembly and the county’s Fifth Supervisorial districts.

Over the past few weeks, we talked to the candidates seeking your vote, asking them about their priorities and goals for office.

In this guide, you’ll also see that we’ve compiled the list of propositions and ballot initiatives, diving into the nuances of what voters are being asked to decide, as well as presenting the various arguments for and against.

To our readers, we thank you for trusting us and the information we’ve gathered, and hope this guide serves you well as you begin to fill out your ballots.

VOTE IN THE GENER AL ELECTION NOVEMBER 8, 2022

San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

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2022 SAN CLEMENTE ELECTION GUIDE

CONGRESS

49th District Candidates Look to Address Public Safety, Nuclear Storage

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his November, incumbent Rep. Mike Levin, who is looking to secure a third term representing California’s 49th District in the House of Representatives, will face a familiar Election Day foe in Brian Maryott.

Maryott, who earned 46.9% of the votes in the 2020 election for the district, sees his chance in 2022 as an opportunity to properly represent the communities of the 49th—something he doesn’t believe Levin has done.

“I don’t think he’s the right fit,” Maryott said. “I think he’s proven that with his voting record and his policy initiatives, and I think we need stronger and more effective representation.”

Maryott, a career businessman and former San Juan Capistrano councilmember, said he has experience in government that has prepared him to be a voice for more accountability and higher government performance in Congress.

Levin, a San Juan Capistrano resident, was raised in South Orange County before attending Stanford University and the Duke University School of Law, his campaign boasts. He also worked as an attorney and the executive director of the Democratic Party of Orange County before his election to the House.

In a phone interview last month, Levin addressed the current political climate regarding abortion and pregnancy loss following the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. He said the decision was “deeply disconcerting” and “appalling” to throw out decades of precedent, reasserting his support of a woman’s right to make personal health care decisions.

“In some states, we’re already seeing the horrifying consequences of criminalizing women’s reproductive health decisions,” said Levin, referring to incidents such as an Indiana attorney general threatening to revoke the license of a doctor who provided a 10-year-old rape victim an abortion.

He added that Republicans would enact a nationwide ban on abortions sponsored by Lindsey Graham if given the chance—although some reports indicate a party split on the legislation.

Maryott said he felt abortion services will inevitably remain safe and legal in San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

BY C . JAY D E N S MI T H

most states, and that he did not believe meaningful changes would occur to California’s current abortion legislation.

Regarding public schools, Levin mentioned that his children attend local public schools and expressed his gratitude for teachers and other staffs’ efforts throughout the pandemic. He added that he would continue to fight to fund public schools so they could attract high-quality teachers and reduce overcrowding.

Levin added that it was the nation’s constitutional duty to strive to become a more perfect union by learning from history, and said the current history being taught in schools adequately reflected that goal.

“I don’t think it’s right to divert all of our taxpayer dollars away from public schools and towards private schools, because they often leave certain kids behind,” he said.

Maryott said he favored school choice over an “archaic” system of using zip codes to determine where children go to government-run schools, and he added that he thought a school choice

model was inevitable in California.

“Parents want choice, they want influence, they want transparency, to see what’s happening with their children’s education,” he said. “I think the public school system, in particular, in many areas has kind of overstepped a little bit into areas that are more parenting than teaching.”

Levin cited his efforts in Congress to address the “scourge of fentanyl” coming into the U.S., including votes for legislation that would help law enforcement at the southern border near San Diego and sanction fentanyl traffickers and manufacturers.

He also said the country should expand treatment and treat addiction as a disease, rather than a moral failing.

According to Maryott, federal agencies, foreign policy, and enforcement of law and order should reflect a heavy-handed response to the “constant flow of fentanyl over our borders.”

“We’re losing (young people) in record numbers, and it’s tragic,” Maryott said.

“We have got to be willing to incarcerate people for long periods of time, if not

MIKE LEVIN

BRIAN MARYOTT Page 18

life, for being any part of the distribution network of fentanyl.”

On public safety and policing, Levin talked about the Invest to Protect Act that he cosponsored along with 85 others, which would provide grants to smaller police departments. The bill was one of four that passed in the House on Sept. 22, as part of a major package that would also provide grants to mental health professionals, fund nonprofit organizations that work to reduce crime, and give grants to police to solve gun crimes.

Levin said he hoped the Senate would also pass the package and pointed to other efforts to acquire funding for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Oceanside police.

“I’m extremely proud of working with our local law enforcement to do whatever I can,” Levin said of the legislation, which is currently waiting for Senate consideration.

Maryott, during his interview, was not able to address policing due to time constraints.

While both candidates agree that the spent nuclear waste needs to be removed from San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, both had differing takes on how to accomplish that goal.

Levin said his efforts to listen to the feelings of communities that may temporarily host the waste before the federal government finds a permanent repository follows a model that has worked in Finland and Canada.

He also pointed to funding he had helped secure for the Department of Energy to restart a consent-based siting process, and noted his collaboration with other Democrats to try to establish a new nuclear waste administration to seek a repository through changing presidential administrations.

Maryott said that consent-based siting—which gains input from communities that will potentially host facilities to store spent nuclear waste—was a foolish concept, and that the federal government had originally and correctly concluded that Yucca Mountain in Nevada was the only answer for long-term nuclear storage.

Visit Levin’s and Maryott’s campaign websites for more of their perspectives on national and local issues. sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

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2022 SAN CLEMENTE ELECTION GUIDE

STATE ASSEMBLY

Davies Faces Challenge from Duncan for 74th Assembly Seat

BY B R E E A NA G R E E N B E RG

ASSEMBLYMEMBER

SAN CLEMENTE MAYOR PRO TEM

LAURIE DAVIES

CHRIS DUNCAN

Assemblymember Laurie Davies prides herself on always being a problem-solver—from her time as a general manager of two restaurants, to running her own event planning business, and now to tackling local and state issues as an elected official.

“That’s why I really enjoyed serving on (Laguna Niguel) City Council, trying to solve problems at the local level, and that’s where I’m at the state level, getting good bills, like I was able to do, passed,” said Davies, who won her State Assembly seat in 2020.

If elected to serve a second term, Davies noted she would like to focus on multiple issues, from inflation to housing, and coastal erosion to water infrastructure.

On inflation, she said she intends to crack down on the issue by supporting truck drivers and addressing supply chain issues at the Port of Long Beach.

As California cities and counties continue to work with the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development to update their Housing Elements and demonstrate adequate planning for their communities’ housing needs, Davies said she would like to see regional approaches to addressing the housing shortage.

With many California cities already developed out, Davies pointed to a need for cities to work together “because there are some cities that have the land, but they don’t have the money, and there’s other cities that have the means but don’t have the land.

We need to work together as a regional fix when it comes to housing, (rather) than trying to make each city do it separately.”

Another ongoing issue that many coastal cities in her district are facing is the eroding coastline. She said she supports cities such as San Clemente that have looked to secure funding from the federal level for sand replenishment efforts.

Other environmental focuses of hers, she said, are on energy resources, as well supporting efforts to build new desalination plants like the one South Coast Water District has proposed for Dana Point’s Doheny area or the recently rejected Brookfield-Poseidon plant in Huntington Beach.

“Desalination has proven to be a great way to help get clean water to people and clean our local ecosystems, yet unelected state bureaucrats shot down the proposed facility in Huntington Beach,” Davies said of California Coastal Commission’s (CCC) unanimous vote to deny permits. “I want to do legislation to put desalination projects as priority items for the state to consider approving.”

With the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project set to be presented to the CCC and State Lands Commission this year, Davies noted that she’s hoping to see the project move forward.

During her first term representing the 73rd Assembly District (now the 74th), Davies said she’s most proud of her ability to get legislation passed with bipartisan support, including Assembly Bill 381, which requires drug treatment centers to carry opioid overdose emergency medication, a bill co-authored by Democratic Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris.

“Something I promised when I ran in 2020 was that I was going to work across the aisle, and that’s something I was able to do and will continue to do, because we have to have balance here,” Davies said. “I think the best legislation that’s passed is when it’s passed by both parties.”

“I really enjoyed the opportunity to serve and make things better,” Davies continued. “I love this state; I moved to this state when I was 18, and I don’t plan on going anywhere else. So, I will continue to fight so that we can afford to live here, so we can live here and feel safe.”

San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

Prior to serving on the San Clemente City Council, Chris Duncan served as an assistant U.S. Attorney to the Department of Homeland Security—a career he pursued after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

While working with law enforcement officers and national security professionals at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, “advising the decision-makers” as a Homeland Security attorney, Duncan decided that he wanted to be the decision maker.

During his tenure with Homeland Security, Duncan came to realize that “to make a real difference in my community, it’s elected officials who really have that ability to improve people’s lives. Not 10 years from now—tomorrow.”

“I want to be in the room where the decisions are made,” Duncan continued. “I think I have something to offer, foundationally there; I am the type of person who’s willing to stand up for things that are right, even if it comes at personal cost to me, even if it’s politically unpopular, I’m still willing to do that if it’s the right thing for our community, for our district.”

Duncan, who lost his Primary Election campaign for the Assembly seat in 2020, said his top priorities, if elected, are addressing housing affordability and homelessness.

Duncan said he would like to see a program developed in which unhoused individuals are “connected with the services in a safe environment to address the underlying reason for homelessness—be that economic, health, mental health, substance abuse—instead of doing a one-size-fits-all and saying, ‘Hey, let’s just build a big shelter and put everybody in there.’”

Addressing the shortage of affordable housing, Duncan said that rather than pushing for state mandates on local communities, he would rather see the legislature provide incentives for cities to invest in the development with affordable housing.

Duncan added that he would also like to prioritize supporting residents during a time of high costs and rising inflation.

“I think the economics is really forefront in people’s minds,” Duncan said. “California is too expensive; I mean, everything costs more here. We’ve got to act at the state level to drive down these costs.”

To address rising gas prices, Duncan argued that the legislature should have suspended the gas tax in addition to implementing a rebate program for California drivers.

Arguing that a gas-tax suspension would have a more immediate effect while the rebate program would have had a more long-term effect, Duncan said that “the situation was so severe, I thought we should have done both.”

As the state of California sees a nearly $100 billion surplus, Duncan would like to see the money directed back to taxpayers’ pockets.

“When you look at California’s budget, we’ve got a $100 billion surplus. To me, that means people were overtaxed,” Duncan said. “Let’s get that money back into the community, whether that’s through small businesses, tax breaks or credits, whether it’s through rebates to individuals.”

Pointing to his term on San Clemente’s City Council, Duncan added that he has been deeply involved in his community, “seeing what people care about every day.”

“They do care about individual choice,” Duncan said. “They care about protecting their kids, and they care about having a government that’s working for them to keep money in their pockets.”

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2022 SAN CLEMENTE ELECTION GUIDE

STATE SENATE

Candidates Vie for State Office in 36th, 38th Senate Districts

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BY CO LLIN B R EAUX

ome November, residents in South Orange County will vote on their local voices in the State Senate.

In the 36th District race, which represents those living in Dana Point and San Clemente, Democrat Kim Carr and Republican Janet Nguyen are running for office. Voters in the 38th District, covering San Juan Capistrano and Rancho Mission Viejo, will decide between Democrat Catherine Blakespear and Republican Matt Gunderson.

Carr said she is a third-generation Southern Californian who has lived in the district nearly her entire life.

She grew up in Garden Grove, got her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton and worked as a national sales manager for broadcast television stations.

“I’ve been active in local government for over a decade and have proudly served on Huntington Beach City Council since 2018,” Carr said. “I served as mayor in 2021, and during that time, I led efforts to respond to the 2021 oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach, strengthened public safety while reducing homelessness by 35% and helped workers and businesses stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

If elected to the Senate, Carr said she will fight inflation by fixing supply chains and cutting red tape for local businesses, reduce homelessness by increasing mental health and housing support, and defend reproductive freedom and the right of all people to control their bodies.

She is also campaigning to combat climate change and protect our beaches and coastal economy, while improving public education and lowering the financial barriers to college for students.

Nguyen, a state assemblymember, did not respond to requests for comment.

In campaign materials, she said she helped pass legislation expanding health care for the homeless, mentally ill and for lower-income families.

She also said she earned an “A” rating from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association because of her work to protect Proposition 13 and stop tax increases, and she wrote bipartisan legislation to increase a renters’ tax credit to help families deal with the high cost of living.

Nguyen has previously been a state senator and was also an Orange County board supervisor and Garden Grove councilmember.

“She is the first Vietnamese American elected to the State Senate, was the first woman Supervisor to represent the First District, the first Asian American and

San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

KIM CARR

JANET NGUYEN

the first Vietnamese American to serve on the Board of Supervisors, as well as the youngest Supervisor elected in Orange County history,” her website biography states.

“In addition, Sen. Nguyen was the highest-ranking Vietnamese American elected official in California and the highest-ranking Vietnamese American woman elected official in the United States.”

In response to a question about affordable housing, Carr said she championed efforts for Huntington Beach to participate in a statewide program allowing the city to purchase existing apartment buildings with zero-interest loans when she was mayor.

“These apartment units were then eligible to offer reduced rental rates for residents earning anywhere between 80-120% of the (Area Median Income). This program added 674 units of housing to help the needs of middle-income earners without having to build a single unit,” Carr said.

Carr said that she’s also been an advocate for Project Home Key, the state and county partnership that converted motels into permanent supportive housing units to help the homeless.

“I also believe a reevaluation of CEQA is needed so residents and developers have confidence in the process, and we are able to have sensible, sustainable growth without unnecessary and costly delays,” Carr continued.

CEQA, the California Environmental Quality Act, is a state requirement that municipalities often go through when considering new housing and developments.

As for candidates in the 38th District, Blakespear said her experience as a mayor of Encinitas, a small business owner and a mom makes her the “most qualified candidate to be the leader of our coastal district needs.”

“As your state senator, I will firmly support the reproductive rights of every woman in California, protect our communities from gun violence, champion small businesses, protect our natural resources and ensure a clean, reliable water supply for our state,” Blakespear said.

“During my three terms as mayor, I cut red tape and secured emergency grants to keep small businesses open during the pandemic, banned ghost guns and passed safe firearm storage requirements, provided 100% renewable energy to residents and businesses at no increased cost and improved transportation options, with a particular focus on biking and walking infraPage 21

CATHERINE BLAKESPEAR

MATT GUNDERSON

structure.”

Gunderson, who started and then sold auto dealerships in Orange County, did not respond to requests for comment.

On his campaign website, Gunderson said one of the reasons he is running is because of Californians facing issues with affordability and the cost of living.

“The state is quickly becoming a place for only the über-rich and the poor. We need to return economic opportunity for a golden California back to the middle class and stop the wave of our best people leaving the state for cheaper alternatives,” Gunderson said.

“The state has a $97 billion-dollar surplus, yet (refuses) to budge on our highest-in-the-nation gasoline taxes,” he continued. “We have the highest income tax and the highest sales tax. The state and SANDAG are exploring a double tax on vehicle usage, in addition to our gas taxes.”

Gunderson also wants to address homelessness.

“The state’s one-size-fits-all, just throw money blindly at a problem (approach) has netted zero results. We must tailor solutions that address individual level causes of homelessness and supports the local organizations that are reflective of the individual needs of each of our unique communities,” Gunderson said.

“My solutions focus on accountability, compassion, and above all, transparency,” he continued. “There is nothing compassionate about allowing our most vulnerable Californians to sleep on the streets, and it is a fundamental failure of our state that we have allowed this to become such commonplace.”

Blakespear addressed affordable housing when asked about the topic.

“A lot of politicians talk about providing more housing options—but I’ve actually done it as mayor. Less than one year after getting state approval for the city’s housing plan, the City of Encinitas has approved more than half of our total assigned goal for the next eight years,” Blakespear said.

“It’s worth noting that our Housing Element Update has resulted in 334 new affordable housing units that are already built or currently underway in Encinitas,” she added. “Our city has also led the way by cracking down on illegal vacation rentals, which are a consistent problem in South Orange County.” sanclementetimes.com

2022 SAN CLEMENTE ELECTION GUIDE

KATRINA FOLEY

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

PATRICIA BATES

Bates, Foley Discuss Coastal Erosion, Toll Roads, Dana Point Harbor

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emocratic incumbent Katrina Foley and Republican challenger Patricia Bates are facing off in the race for Fifth Supervisorial District of the Orange County Board of Supervisors this November.

The Fifth District represents the South County cities of San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point, as well as Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa, with parts of Lake Forest and Irvine.

Foley, who has served as the representative for the Second Supervisorial District since March 2021, is seeking reelection to now represent District 5 after last year’s redistricting put her home city of Costa Mesa in the newly redrawn District 5.

Foley previously served as a mayor and councilmember of Costa Mesa and was also a trustee on the Newport Mesa School District’s governing board.

Reflecting on her first term as supervisor, Foley said she is most proud of the audit she conducted on the county’s funding of homelessness and mental health treatment services, as well as the county’s response to the roughly 126,000 gallons of crude oil that leaked near Huntington Beach a year ago this month.

If reelected, four main issues that Foley would like to focus on are the harbor redevelopments; coastal erosion at Capistrano Beach; moving the spent nuclear San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

BY B R E E A NA G R E E N B E RG

waste out of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and completely closing down of the plant; and supporting the Orange County Sherriff’s Department in keeping the community safe.

As the first mayor of Laguna Niguel, Bates helped to incorporate the city in 1989 and served four terms as mayor.

Following her time on the City Council, Bates was elected to the State Assembly, representing the 73rd District.

Bates, who currently serves as a state senator for California’s 36th District, previously held the position of Fifth District supervisor from 2007 to 2014.

Following her term on the OC Board, Bates was elected to the State Senate in 2014. During her tenure as a senator, Bates is proud to have authored measures that crack down on sex offenders, distributors of fentanyl, and protecting those seeking addiction treatment.

If elected to represent the Fifth District once again, Bates has stated that she’d prioritize increasing public safety, protecting the county’s coastlines and protecting taxpayers from waste and fraud in government.

In addressing coastal erosion, Bates has previously stated that “bluff safety is crucial to save lives and preserve beach access, which is an integral part of the Fifth District’s economy and way of life.”

Bates noted that the county should apply for Senate Bill 1 funds, which are meant to financially support California’s coastal communities that are addressing sea-level rise. Such funds, she said, would

support sand replenishment efforts “to save beaches and protect vulnerable infrastructure such as our coastal rail lines and roadways.”

As residents, business owners and voters alike have voiced concerns with lack of transparency with the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization project, Foley says she’s spoken with the Harbor Partners to address the issue.

“I think that they do need to do a better job of communicating progress to the public,” Foley says. “I’m an open book when it comes to these kinds of projects; I like to communicate more, rather than less, so you’ll probably see a lot of communication coming out of my office related to status updates related to where the funding is coming from, the timeline for improvement.”

Residents have also voiced concern that the 241 Toll Road could still get extended despite the County Board, Orange County Transportation Authority and City of San Clemente entering into a cooperative agreement aimed at preventing such an occurrence.

In response, Foley noted that she is against a toll road expansion into neighborhoods.

“I have a record of protecting businesses and homes from eminent domain, and will fiercely defend the right of South County residents to self-determination,” Foley said. “I will continue to support the community cooperative agreement for road improvements, and reasonable measures to reduce traffic

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such as traffic light synchronization that is based on historic, as well as real-time traffic patterns.”

Bates has previously pushed for legislation to codify into law that the 241 end at Oso Parkway, which is where it presently stops and Los Patrones Parkway begins, essentially blocking an extension through San Clemente.

Per the cooperative agreement, Bates was asked by the City of San Clemente to withdraw the legislation. The agreement, which Bates supported, solidifies three ongoing traffic relief projects in South OC: extending Los Patrones as a free, non-tolled arterial road; adding carpool lanes on Interstate 5, between Avenida Pico and the San Diego County line; and widening Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano.

In an email, Bates wrote that ensuring local governments and community members have a say in where private toll roads are placed “must be a collaborative effort to ensure protections of existing structures and protected open space.”

“I worked tirelessly with Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Orange County Transportation Authority and the City of San Clemente to bring about the cooperative agreement on the toll road issue and demonstrated that working together brings beneficial solutions,” Bates said.

“I remain committed to the cooperated agreement and the three-project plan of widening the I-5, widening Ortega Highway, and extending Los Patrones Parkway,” Bates said. sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

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2022 SAN CLEMENTE ELECTION GUIDE

SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCIL

Meet the Candidates Q&A—Week 4 With the race for three open seats on the San Clemente City Council approaching, the San Clemente Times posed a series of four questions to all 12 candidates. Over the past few weeks, we’ve published their responses—one per week—to give readers more insight before casting their votes by Nov. 8. Here, we present their responses to our final question. The list of candidates is published according to the random alphabet drawn by the California Secretary of State. *Incumbent

Question 4: The South Coast Water District’s long-standing efforts to build its Doheny Ocean Desalination Plant is starting to gain momentum while the agency continues searching for partners— potentially, the City of San Clemente. What are your thoughts on the area’s water infrastructure, and should the city consider a partnership with the SCWD?

San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

DONNA VIDRINE

VICTOR CABRAL

We’re in a drought, and water is a finite resource. We all need to conserve, but conservation alone is not a guarantee of access to water now and in the future.

The Doheny project, as I understand it, will draw water through the ocean, remove all the salt, and distribute clean drinking water throughout the district and with partnering entities. It’s been in the works for more than 15 years, so it’s not a quick fix.

That said, I support the interest of creating a local source for drinking water and reducing our dependency on imported water. We all want a more reliable water supply.

Unlike the Poseidon project, which has been permanently stopped, Doheny will use slant wells to draw water in from beneath the ocean floor—a safer alternative to Poseidon’s plan for open ocean intake, which would have posed a threat to any marine life that became trapped or sucked into its intake pipes.

They’ve learned from Poseidon’s mistakes.

A lot of factors still need to be understood and evaluated, but I am open-minded about the possibility of San Clemente partnering with the South Coast Water District on this project, especially given support by Coastkeeper and other groups, and the recent approvals by the San Diego Regional Water Control Board and support from nearby cities.

Finding solutions to water shortages requires a multi-pronged, multi-year approach. We, as citizens, must do our part by installing low-flow toilets, drip-watering systems, better positioned sprinkler heads, water-efficient appliances, and water-smart plants, as well as replacing lawns with turf or desert landscaping.

At the city level, we’ve imposed conservation efforts; we need to determine their impact on our city’s water consumption. A next step is to grow our use of recycled water. We are fortunate to be an exporter of recycled water.

However, preparing for extended droughts and future water shortages means considering other water sources, including desalination. The benefits of desalination need to outweigh environmental impacts.

The Coastal Commission recently rejected the proposed Huntington Beach plant, citing environmental concerns, but left the door open to the Doheny Ocean Desalination Plant, whose design appears to have significantly mitigated environmental impacts.

At this time, I’m not prepared to support a direct municipal investment or the use of a Joint Powers Authority where we join with the South Coast Water District in constructing the proposed privately run Doheny Plant.

My preference is for the use of private capital to develop, build and operate a desalination plant similar to the Poseidon-built plant in Carlsbad. Water from Metropolitan Water costs the city about $1,200 an acre-foot, with desalination water costing about $2,600 an acre-foot.

With a build cost in the tens of millions and desalination water costing more than double the cost of Metropolitan Water, we need to proceed very cautiously while recognizing the growing risk of severe water shortages.

(Continued)

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2022 SAN CLEMENTE ELECTION GUIDE

SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCIL

Meet the Candidates Q&A—Week 4 (continued) Question 4: The South Coast Water District’s long-standing efforts to build its Doheny Ocean Desalination Plant is starting to gain momentum while the agency continues searching for partners—potentially, the City of San Clemente.

What are your thoughts on the area’s water infrastructure, and should the city consider a partnership with the SCWD?

MARK ENMEIER

SHANE HIRSCHMAN

California is in the midst of a record drought. To address this, all those impacted need to work together.

The Doheny Ocean Desalination Plant is an example of a bipartisan city policy that benefits its residents and is environmentally responsible.

In terms of a San Clemente and Dana Point partnership, I would want to analyze a feasibility report before I made any permanent decision.

If financially and environmentally sound, I would be proud to partner with Dana Point in order to make sure that our residents have a reliable source of water.

I consider climate change the biggest threat to humanity, period. We are already entering into our third year of La Niña and extreme drought, so our water supply is being drained more rapidly than we’ve ever seen in any of our lifetimes.

Water is a finite resource, so we’re frantically racing against major scarcity, and we simply can’t rely solely on the Colorado River to fill our reservoirs and taps.

Desperate situations call for desperate measures, and while I think desalination is a longshot in getting our water supply levels to a comfortable volume, San Clemente should at the very least be engaging with not only the South Coast Water District, but an agency that has fresh technological solutions to deal with this impending water crisis we all may face in the next 20 or 30 years (later, if we’re lucky).

All that said, desalination is not without severe marine ecosystem risks, especially in the environmentally sensitive area around Doheny, but we should be studying and analyzing all options to increase our water supply.

I don’t necessarily feel that San Clemente should commit to any particular project just yet, at least not without comprehensive environmental considerations and consulting from key stakeholders, but we should hear out SCWD on their possible solutions.

There are always going to be tradeoffs with desalination, but the evolution of this technology enables the process to be hopefully more environmentally sound and cost-effective in providing much-needed supplemental fresh water.

San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

CHANEL FETTY Editor’s Note: This candidate did not respond to San Clemente Times’ requests to participate in the Q&A.

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AARON WASHINGTON As our clean water sources continue to be depleted, we must look for alternatives. The concept of a local desalinization plant is a valid option, but we must closely study all the details and make sure we understand the financial burden for our city.

With the recent issues surrounding the Colorado River and Jackson, Mississippi, we need to be forward-thinking and ensure that our city’s water supply keeps flowing. We have an opportunity to be ahead of this.

Twenty-five years of my 35 years of service in the Navy was spent making fresh water from sea water, so this is an area I am very familiar with. There are still many questions that need to be answered.

I believe this should be an issue taken to our residents to vote upon. While there will inevitably be costs, it is a necessity that we cannot ignore. I will work to gain more knowledge and financial understanding so our city can make a well-informed decision.

sanclementetimes.com

2022 SAN CLEMENTE ELECTION GUIDE

SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCIL

Meet the Candidates Q&A—Week 4 (continued) Question 4: The South Coast Water District’s long-standing efforts to build its Doheny Ocean Desalination Plant is starting to gain momentum while the agency continues searching for partners—potentially, the City of San Clemente.

What are your thoughts on the area’s water infrastructure, and should the city consider a partnership with the SCWD?

ZHEN WU

THOR JOHNSON

DENNIS KAMP

STEVEN KNOBLOCK*

Whether the city should be a partner with the SCWD on the desalination plant project depends on the cost-benefit analysis for our city and residents.

The desalinated water is substantially more expensive than the current wholesale price the city pays. The claimed benefit of supply reliability needs to be carefully examined and evaluated.

Our power grid has its own reliability issue, which may affect the water production in the plant. Environmental impacts that may affect San Clemente should be mitigated.

Most importantly, we are in the middle of a painful inflationary era, and I’m very concerned about the rising cost of living for our residents and businesses.

There seem to be many other viable solutions to address the water shortage and reliability issues.

They include expanding recycled water system, upcoming San Juan Watershed groundwater recharge project, reinforcing water supply pipes through San Andreas Fault zone, increasing local emergency storage capacity, and using state water rights buyback program to divert water usage from Central Valley’s agricultural land to Southern California’s urban areas, etc.

All options should be studied, and I remain to be convinced.

It’s important to secure a locally controlled water source that reduces the reliance on imported water that continues to increase in price.

It may appear very expensive at this point in time due to the capital improvements necessary to bring this to fruition, but the viewpoint should look at what the cost will be long-term compared to where imported water is heading.

A majority of city water supply comes from the State Water Project through Metropolitan Water District, which has reduced their water allocations to water agencies by over 90% in 2022 due to the current drought.

Gaining more local control in water resources requires capital investment today for a sustainable future, but it must be measured and provide a return on investment long-term.

San Diego County Water Authority built a desalination plant in Carlsbad through a private-public partnership that now produces nearly 50 million gallons of water every day. Their rates consistently increase.

This water source and the proposed desalination plant with SCWD will be drought-proof and ensure we diversify our water sources. We all must be stewards of our precious water supplies and each agency, including the city, should have a seat at the table, promoting more local control to our way of life.

As city councilman, I will use my entrepreneurial skills to encourage federal and state funding for this project and get the best deal possible for San Clemente.

It is difficult to support a project that will increase our water rates and require a billion-dollar upfront investment. But what do we do when Sacramento cuts off our water? I’m prepared to lead.

Our area water infrastructure is aging, and it’s important to maintain city reserves to fund annual maintenance.

As treasurer of my HOA, I oversee millions of dollars in reserve funds allocated toward infrastructure maintenance, which, like any type of maintenance, extends the useful life of an asset.

Water delivery and recovery systems are becoming increasingly critical as our water supply is falling to meet supply demands. Therefore, it is imperative that we have a comprehensive audit on the current condition of our water infrastructure.

The audit results will provide the information needed to establish a basis for determining reserve funding requirements needed to ensure city funds are available to keep our water systems functioning for decades.

Yes, I strongly support considering a partnership in the effort to build a desalination plant. My caveat is that the city must carefully review and understand the agreement details to ensure the partnership will not transfer undue financial or operational risk to the city.

The availability of drinking and irrigation water is a staple to our survival.

Without solutions to our need for new water sources, our city’s water shortage will continue to decline.

Why wouldn’t we support a desalination solution which meets our environmental requirements as a new water supply?

I have been a longtime advocate for desalination of ocean water for San Clemente residents. I have written a number of articles and op-eds in the last few years in support of desalination.

The No. 1 obligation of local government, next to public safety, is to provide a clean, safe and reliable water supply.

San Clemente currently imports the large majority of our water from over 400 miles away.

This imported water is perpetually at risk from major droughts, earthquakes or man-made disasters. If interrupted, we could have limited or even no water for many months or longer.

Utilizing the unlimited water source we have right here at the beach is an obvious and logical solution. For many years, the cost of desalinated water was prohibitive. With increased technology, the cost is far more affordable, and the larger the plant, the less the cost.

I was successful in persuading our City Council to vote unanimously to begin the due diligence process of joining with the South Coast Water District in the development of the Doheny Desalination Project.

San Clemente should join Santa Barbara and Carlsbad in creating a potentially unlimited supply of fresh clean water for many generations to come.

San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

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Editor’s Note: Martina McBurney-Wheeler confirmed with San Clemente Times late last week that she has withdrawn from the race. sanclementetimes.com

2022 SAN CLEMENTE ELECTION GUIDE

California State Propositions and Local Measures PROPOSITION 26

Allows In-Person Roulette, Dice Games, Sports Wagering on Tribal Lands. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.

On the Ballot: Also allows sports wagering at certain horseracing tracks, private lawsuits to enforce certain gambling laws. Directs revenues to General Fund, problem-gambling programs, enforcement.

Background: Proposition 26 is one of two ballot initiatives with a focus on sports wagering. Prop 26 focuses on in-person wagering with the addition of roulette and dice games, all of which would be conducted at Native American Indian casinos. Sports betting would be conducted on a wide range of athletic events, with exceptions for high school sports and California college teams. Financially, this would potentially raise tens of millions of dollars annually from 10% of the profits from sports betting at racetracks. Of that generated revenue, 15% would go to problem gambling prevention and mental health, 15% would go to enforcement, and 70% would go to the General Fund. Supporters for Prop 26 include 25 American Indian tribes and the San Diego Police Officers Association. Opponents for Prop 26 include several corporate casinos and the Republican Party of California.

What Supporters Say: Proposition 26 offers responsible, safe, regulated and experienced locations for Californians to participate in new gambling activities.

What Opponents Say: Proposition 26 does not benefit residents or local communities and expands the tax-free monopoly of tribal casinos on gaming.

PROPOSITION 28

Provides Additional Funding for Arts and Music Education in Public Schools. Initiative Statute.

On the Ballot: Provides additional funding from state General Fund for arts and music education in all K-12 public schools (including charter schools).

Background: Proposition 28 would establish a minimum amount of funding for K-12 public school arts education programs from what was already established

San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

by Proposition 98 in 1988. That original proposition guaranteed either a minimum of 40% of the General Fund on K-14 education, plus or a minimum guarantee based on student attendance and change of cost of living. This year’s Prop 28 would guarantee a minimum of 1% of funding received from Prop 98, which would go specifically toward arts education programs. Proposition 28 would increase state costs by $800 million to $1 billion annually. Supporters for Proposition 28 include Los Angeles Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Universal Music Group, the Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the United States Secretary of Education and the California Teachers Association.

What Supporters Say: Proposition 28 would open up opportunities for low-income and diverse communities to benefit children with access and equity in art and music education.

What Opponents Say: No official opposition has been presented against Proposition 28.

PROPOSITION 29

Requires On-Site Licensed Medical Professional at Kidney Dialysis Clinics and Establishes Other State Requirements, Initiative Statute On the Ballot: Requires physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on-site during treatment. Requires clinics to disclose physicians’ ownership interests; report infection data.

Background: If passed by voters, Prop 29 would impose a series of new staffing and reporting requirements on dialysis clinics, which perform treatment for patients who have developed kidney failure.

Clinics would be required to have a physician, nurse practitioner or a physician assistant on-site during treatment hours; periodically report dialysis-related infection information to the California Department of Public Health; disclose to patients and CDPH a list of all physicians who have an ownership stake of a least 5%; get CDPH’s approval prior to closing or substantially reducing patient services. Prop 29 marks the third attempt in as many elections to change dialysis centers in California. Like Prop 29, Proposition 23 in 2020 intended to require clinics to have at least one licensed physician during patient treatments and to report data on dialysis-related infections. That proposal failed, with 63.42% of voters opposed. Proposition 8 in 2018, which failed with 59% of voters against it, would have required clinics to pay refunds to patients if their Page 28

profits exceeded 115% of the costs of direct patient care and health care improvements.

What Supporters Say: Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, the labor union pushing Prop 29—as well as Props 23 and 8 before that—claims the additional staff would help improve quality of care. Through the prop, the union intends to reform the industry and promote more transparency What Opponents Say: Those against the latest proposition, including Stop Yet Another Dangerous Dialysis Proposition, which raised millions of dollars in contributions from dialysis companies, argue that it’s a solution in search of a problem; there’s no clear evidence services are inadequate; the unions are using the measure to pressure clinics and organize workers.

PROPOSITION 31

Referendum on 2020 Law that Would Prohibit the Retail Sale of Certain Flavored Tobacco Products On the Ballot: A “Yes” vote approves, and a “No” vote rejects, a 2020 law prohibiting retail sale of certain flavored tobacco products.

Background: In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom enacted Senate Bill 793, a bipartisan measure banning the sale of most flavored tobacco products, which has been popular for teens. Following SB 793’s signing, opponents petitioned to let California’s voters decide whether the ban should go into effect or overturn the policy. Under Prop 31, flavored tobacco products would be defined as that which has a flavor, apart from regular tobacco flavor, such as fruit, mint or vanilla, among other things.

Stores or owners of vending machines that sell flavored tobacco could face a $250 penalty for each violation.

What Supporters Say: Supporters of the policy— including the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, and labor unions such as the California Teachers Association—claim that the tobacco industry has long targeted teens to purchase its products and believe the ban would help prevent underage tobacco use.

What Opponents Say: Tobacco advocacy groups, along with the California Republican Party, oppose the proposition on the basis that the policy would ban the sale of flavored tobacco to all California customers, including those legally old enough to purchase such products. Acknowledging that children shouldn’t be allowed to purchase tobacco—which is already illegal—the opponents believe restrictions can be achieved without prohibiting products to adults. sanclementetimes.com

2022 SAN CLEMENTE ELECTION GUIDE

PROPOSITION 1

Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom.

Legislative Constitutional Amendment On the Ballot: Amends California Constitution to expressly include an individual’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which includes the fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and the fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives. This amendment does not narrow or limit the existing rights to privacy and equal protection under the California Constitution.

Background: This proposed measure that looks to enshrine in the state’s constitution the right to abortion and contraception follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision this June to overturn Roe v. Wade— the long-standing SCOTUS ruling that found the U.S. Constitutional protection to privacy included the right to an abortion. Under state law, abortions are legal in California up to fetal viability (roughly 24 weeks). Abortions can be performed after the age of viability only if the pregnancy poses a health risk to the mother. Currently, the California Constitution guarantees the right to privacy. Though the Constitution doesn’t explicitly define what’s included in that protection, the California Supreme Court previously found that such protection includes reproductive rights on abortions and whether to use contraceptives.

What Supporters Say: Those advocating for the constitutional amendment argue that doing so would unquestionably protect a person’s right to an abortion, prevent it from being up to interpretation and make reproductive rights a health care issue rather than a political one.

What Opponents Say: Groups such as the No on Prop 1 Committee argue that a woman’s right to choose an abortion is already protected in the California Constitution and that the amendment would give politicians more power of health care policies. The California Catholic Conference further argues that the language in the measure is too broad and unrestrictive, protecting late-term abortions.

PROPOSITION 27

Allows Online and Mobile Sports Wagering Outside Tribal Lands. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.

On the Ballot: Allows Indian tribes and affiliated businesses to operate online/mobile sports wagering outside tribal lands. Directs revenues to regulatory costs, homelessness programs, nonparticipating tribes.

Background: Proposition 27 is the second ballot initiative to focus on sports wagering, with a specific focus of online or mobile betting. Prop 27 says it would authorize gaming tribes and online sports betting or qualified gaming companies with agreements with gaming San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

tribes to operate online sports betting outside Indian lands. Betting on youth sports would be prohibited. Of the possible hundreds of millions of dollars generated by fees and taxes, 85% of the revenues would go toward permanent and interim housing for the homeless and mental health support, and 15% would go to the Tribal Economic Development Account. Supporters include Major League Baseball, three American Indian tribes and the mayors of Fresno, Long Beach, Oakland and Sacramento. Opponents include the state Democratic and Republican parties, five American Indian tribes, the state Senate and Assembly minority leaders and lieutenant governor.

What Supporters Say: Proposition 27 is an important step toward combating homelessness in California and would provide a regulated and sustainable source of funding for those programs.

What Opponents Say: Proposition 27 will only benefit out-of-state gambling corporations and harm the rights of California tribes, which have provided trusted and responsible gambling limited to in-person locations.

sion Vehicle and Clean Mobility Sub-Fund, and the other 20% would go to the Wildfire Green House Gas Emissions Reduction Sub-Funds. The sub-funds would also fund the hiring and training of firefighters. Supporters include ride-share corporation Lyft and the California Democratic Party. Opponents include Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Republican Party of California.

What Supporters Say: Proposition 30 will put more zero-emission vehicles on the road earlier than expected, which will help the fight against pollution and climate change, and put that responsibility on those able to afford it.

What Opponents Say: Proposition 30 will raise taxes in a state that already has some of the highest taxes in the country and benefits special interests, specifically those of supporting corporation Lyft, where the state has already committed $10 billion to electric vehicles and infrastructure.

SAN CLEMENTE

MEASURES U & V

Appointive City Clerk / Appointive City Treasurer

PROPOSITION 30

Provides Funding for Programs to Reduce Air Pollution and Prevent Wildfires by Increasing Tax on Personal Income over $2 Million. Initiative Statute.

On the Ballot: Allocates tax revenues to zero-emission vehicle purchase incentives, vehicle charging stations and wildfire prevention.

Background: Proposition 30 would increase income tax on incomes over $2 million by 1.75%, and the increase would continue until 2043 or if there are three consecutive years after 2030 with statewide emissions reduced by 80% of 1990 levels. Income tax for those individuals over $2 million is currently 13.3%. The tax revenue would be put into a clean air trust fund with the money divided up into sub-funds. From the trust, 35% would go to an investment plan for zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, 45% would go to the Zero-EmisPage 29

On the Ballot: Shall the office of the City Clerk be appointive? / Shall the office of City Treasurer be appointive?

Background: City clerks have a host of administrative duties including, but not limited to, keeping detailed accounts of council meetings, overseeing municipal elections and managing the city’s records, ordinances and resolutions. Generally speaking, a city treasurer is tasked with managing the city’s flow of money from taxes and other revenue sources. Currently, the offices of the city clerk and city treasurer are elected by the public to four-year terms. A yes vote on either of these measures would support a new process by which the San Clemente City Council would appoint applicants to the positions of city clerk and treasurer, removing them as elected positions. A no vote would maintain the status-quo. A council majority this past June voted to include these two ballot measures in the Nov. 8 election after a concern had been raised over whether the city clerk position operating under the city manager’s authority posed a potential conflict.

What Supporters Say: In Argument in Favor summaries that Mayor Pro Tem Chris Duncan and Councilmember Kathy Ward authored on the behalf of the council, transitioning the roles of the city clerk and treasurer to appointive ones would mean the selections would be based on qualifications and skills, “not the results of a political campaign.” Furthermore, the council argues that most California cities use appointed clerks and treasurers, and any registered voter over the age of 18 can run for office, meaning the two positions could be elected without any professional qualifications required. By making the positions appointive, the council claims, the clerk and treasurer can be selected through a recruitment and hiring process based on technical and professional skills.

What Opponents Say: Arguments against either measure were not submitted.

Editor’s Note: Our complete breakdown of the propositions and ballot measures in this November’s elections can be found on sanclementetimes.com. sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times October 13-19, 2022

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