Young Couple Just Starting Out Offers Apologies to Encinitans

We’re young people just starting out. We’ve been married almost two years. We met in grad school. We both hold master’s degrees in biological sciences. After earning them, we saw the best research jobs going to MDs, so we continued in med school and earned those degrees. We’re not clinicians. We’re behind-the-scenes docs who do medical research. We try to find new and better ways to prevent or treat diseases.

Because we were in college, grad school and med school for 10 years each, we built up significant student debt despite scholarships and grants. Continuing to pay that off while looking to buy a house in Encinitas was tough, especially with today’s real estate prices and general inflation pressures.

We were very fortunate to get offers to help from our parents and grandparents. We came to understand what generational wealth means and how important it is for families. Our forebears are by no means wealthy in the popular sense, but they have accumulated assets they want to share. We hope to do the same for our kids and grandkids.

Speaking of kids, we’re ready to start a family. We’re hoping for two healthy kids. Of course, we realize that will add to our financial burden.

We know that many people in Encinitas are hyper-sensitive about gender, ethnicity, race and local politics. We apologize for being straight, of British and French heritage, white and in support of democracy. We also apologize for being highly educated, holding good, contributory jobs and having parents and grandparents who are willing to help us along.

We will remain nameless for fear of reprisals. We plan to participate in local government and public schools. We hope to have friendly, respectful encounters around town.

Does Primary 2nd Place Mean Blakespear Will Lose the General Election?

Considering the circumstances, the state Senate District 38 primary results so far are surprising. At end-of-day Friday, June 17, Gunderson’s lead over Blakespear had grown to 2.9% districtwide. With 536 votes left to process in Orange County and 4,600 projected outstanding in San Diego County, that lead is likely to hold or even increase.

Some 70% of District 38 voters are in San Diego County where Blakespear has been a prominent politician since 2014, but Gunderson was unknown until he entered the 2022 state Senate race as a candidate with no political experience.

Blakespear’s lead in San Diego County is 5.1%. Gunderson’s lead in Orange County is 22.8%

In the San Diego County portion of District 38, registered voters align as 42.7% Democrats, 30.6% Republicans and 26.6% no party preference. Orange County gives no figures for how their registered voters align. 

Some say that Democrat Joe Kerr’s voters (11.2% districtwide so far) will all switch to Blakespear and give her the win, but with her significant negatives and poor showing so far, that’s uncertain.

Turnout so far is 35% in Orange County and 34.8% in San Diego County. Certified results are due from the California secretary of state on July 15.

State Senate District 38: Gunderson Could Beat Blakespear

Democrat Catherine Blakespear must be running scared. In state Senate District 38, where more than 70% of the voters are in her home county, her neophyte Orange County Republican opponent is ahead by 1.8% in the districtwide primary race.

In his home county, Matt Gunderson leads by 21.6%. Blakespear’s home county lead is 6.1%.

Blakespear is in her third term as the elected mayor of Encinitas. Prior to that, she was an appointed Mobility and Traffic Safety Commission member and an elected City Council member for one term each, in sequence. She has been the unanimously elected chairwoman of SANDAG since January 1, 2021, having been vice chairwoman for two years before that. She has high name recognition in San Diego County.

Gunderson founded and owned three auto dealerships in southern Orange County. He has served on two foundation boards and in an auto dealers association. He has no experience in elective politics and prior to his state Senate candidacy was virtually unknown in San Diego County.

Turnout in San Diego County was 24.6% and 25.5% in Orange County. There are 195,000 ballots yet to be processed countywide in San Diego County and 133,109 in Orange County.

Of the 13,366 votes tallied so far for the 39 precincts in the city of Encinitas, Blakespear leads with 51.3% to Gunderson’s 34.8%. That’s a 16.5% margin.

Statistics cited in this post are as of June 11 at 5:01 p.m. for the California Secretary of State and Orange County Registrar of Voters, and as of June 9 at 5:04 p.m. for the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. The results are due to be certified on July 15.

All things considered, the tightness of the primary race is remarkable. With nearly five months until the November general election, District 38 should see some fascinating politicking. 

Tuesday, June 7, 2022 Is California Primary Elections Day

By the look of his hat and outfit, the old man exiting Ralphs supermarket was a rancher. He carried a stuffed brown plastic bag in each hand. He grimaced as he passed a woman standing outside the door holding up a Catherine Blakespear State Senate sign for him to see. The man walked about 20 feet toward the parking lot, turned sharply to the woman and snapped, “She’s a communist! She’s a damn communist!”

Meanwhile, across the parking lot at Trader Joe’s, a white Tesla sedan with an Elect Joe Kerr California State Senate sign in its passenger-side rear window sat waiting for its owner.

At Barnes & Noble about two miles away, a man stood outside the door holding up a Matt Gunderson State Senate sign for all to see.

It’s unusual to see such passionate political activity for a state Senate primary.

Go Joe!