Jan Goldsmith ousts San Diego City Atty. Michael Aguirre
CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS
Judge Goldsmith routs Aguirre after one controversial term. San Diego voters also ban alcohol on beaches. Four representatives are returned to Congress, and Duncan Hunter's son succeeds him.
The most high-profile of local elections in San Diego proved to be a rout as Superior Court Judge Jan Goldsmith soundly defeated incumbent Michael Aguirre to become the next city attorney.
Aguirre's one term had been marked by feuds with Mayor Jerry Sanders, the City Council, labor leaders and law enforcement officials. There were also doubts raised about his volatile temperament and legal acumen.
Goldsmith had taken a leave from the bench to challenge Aguirre.
In other results Tuesday, San Diego voters endorsed a ban on alcohol at city beaches. The measure was placed on the ballot in the wake of a booze-fueled brawl on Labor Day 2007.
Voters in the five cities that make up the San Diego Unified Port District defeated a proposal that would have permitted commercial development, possibly a football stadium, in the airspace above the 10th Avenue marine terminal. The proposal was opposed by the Navy and a long list of local officials.
In congressional races, Bob Filner (R-Chula Vista), Darrell Issa (R-Vista), and Susan Davis (D-San Diego) were easily reelected. First-term Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad) turned back a strong challenge from Democratic lawyer Nick Leibham in the 50th District, which covers much of northern San Diego County.
In the 52nd District in eastern San Diego County, Duncan D. Hunter, son of retiring Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine), defeated his Democratic opponent, retired Navy SEAL Mike Lumpkin, to succeed his father
In countywide voting, a measure to form a county fire agency funded by property taxes missed getting the two-thirds approval needed for passage. All seven bond measures submitted by the school district were successful.
In Encinitas, voters endorsed a sales tax on short-term summer rentals to raise funds to replenish the sand on local beaches.
