escondido politics

From climate change to road widening

Benefits of fixing climate change You think? North County Climate Change Alliance presents Dr. Tom English, a Carlsbad lecturer and scientist and Rolf Dorp, Alliance grass roots organizer discussing the benefits of fixing climate change. They’ll be at the Escondido Public Library’s upstairs Turrentine Room from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23. It’s open to the public and free. “Sponsored by The North…


Abed raising, not spending, supe race funds

San Diego County Supervisors (left to right) Ron Roberts, Dave Roberts and Bill Horn at 2014 State of the County Address. (Photo: Milan Kovacevic.) The latest campaign finance disclosures from candidates running for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors suggest an increasingly competitive race for Dave Roberts as he seeks re-election in District 3. Roberts, who was dogged last year by allegations he misused his…


Clark’s back with another hotel scheme and other Escondido City Council tales

Two items on Wednesday’s closed session of the Escondido City Council caught my attention, both property negotiations. First was the City’s property at 2269 East Valley Pkwy., and the negotiating party the American Heritage Charter Schools. That property is now leased by one of the Escondido Community Child Development Centers (ECCDC). I was concerned that, once again, the city was evicting a needy tenant to…


Outside groups seen as crucial for Joel Anderson in San Diego supervisor race

Republican State Senator Joel Anderson’s campaign to dislodge fellow GOPer Dianne Jacob from her seat on the county Board of Supervisors in next June’s election has struggled to attract significant local funds, according to an inewsourceanalysis of campaign finance data covering the first six months of the year. State senator Joel Anderson is challenging fellow Republican Dianne Jacob, who has represented East County on the county…


Big Escondido city manager salary reveal and more came Wednesday (spoiler alert)

Time for the big reveal on Wednesday, Nov. 18. That’s when the Escondido City Council members unanimously approved, with no practical discussion, the new $234,719 annual base salary with an additional, and lucrative, benefits package and contract for newly hired city manager Graham Mitchell who assumes office Dec. 18. It’s the same as outgoing city manager Clay Phillips got in his last three-year contract although Mitchell…


Blue View for Escondido: 10 more years for Escondido Research and Technology Center

‘That means 10 more years for the Escondido Research and Technology Center. Let’s hope it develops businesses a little more high tech than a hospital, a power plant, and a brewery.’ Things were pretty mundane for most of Wednesday’s (Nov. 4) Escondido City Council meeting. Everyone had a positive view of Westfield North County’s plans to build a theater complex. Well, Councilman Ed Gallo had…



There’s a new city manager in town (Breaking News)

As expected, Escondido assistant city manager Graham Mitchell was elevated in rank Wednesday,  following last week’s resignation of long-time city manager Clay Phillips. Phillips, 58, suddenly announced his retirement last week, effective Dec. 18. His $200,000-plus city pension begins at age 60. Mitchell, 46, was hired this summer as assistant city manager following the retirement of another longtime official, assistant city manager Charles Grimm. Mitchell…


Former Escondido Mayor Jim Rady dead of cancer at Age 73

‘He was an awesome dad and a wonderful grandfather.’ — Daughter Julie McKay. Known for his intellect and directness, former Escondido Mayor James Michael “Jim” Rady died at his home surrounded by loved ones following a long battle with cancer on Sept. 18. Mr. Rady served from 1976 to 1988 on the Escondido City Council, serving in the largely ceremonial post as mayor from 1982…