San Diego County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price Thursday announced her endorsement of Dave Roberts, who is running for the Third District seat that she’ll step down from when she retires in January.
Slater-Price has filled that seat for nearly 20 years, making this the first race in recent years to not include an incumbent on the ballot. Slater-Price is a Republican and though the seat is nonpartisan, she decided to lend her support to Democrat Roberts, choosing him over the three Republican candidates in the running.
“I am certain that it has escaped no one’s attention that I am a Republican endorsing a Democrat. That’s because, like you, I strongly believe that partisan politics has no place in doing what is best for San Diego County,” she said. “I have friends running in this race, but I don’t base endorsements on friendship. I base them on merit and proven performance. And that’s why after careful consideration, I am supporting Dave Roberts.”
Slater-Price was not the only one to reach beyond party lines to lend support. Carlsbad Mayor Pro Tem Ann Kulchin told the audience that she too was supporting Roberts as a Republican, as did former Coronado Councilman Phil Monroe. Other supporters who turned out Thursday included Solana Beach City Councilwoman Lesa Heebner, Encinitas City Councilwoman Teresa Barth, Del Mar City Councilwoman Lee Haydu, Escondido City Councilwoman Olga Diaz, former state senator Dede Aplert, and former San Diego City Councilwoman Donna Frye.
The five-member Board of Supervisors has consisted of all Republicans since 1995. Thursday morning Roberts told supporters he was ready to be “the first member of that next generation of leaders on the San Diego Board of Supervisors.”
“I’m overwhelmed by the bipartisan support I’ve received, and Pam’s respect and belief in me, and what I stand for, means so very much.”
Roberts also publicly recognized Ian Thompson, husband of the Roberts told the audience he was so inspired by Houlihan, that he still carriers a card from her celebration of life event in his pocket with him every day.
“She was the most compassionate, caring, loving person I have ever know,” he said. “She taught me that there is always time for compassion, and that is what we need now.”
Encinitas Councilwoman Teresa Barth served alongside Houlihan and said she was happy to lend her support to Roberts, too.
“This isn’t just the next step in a political career for him. His heart’s in this, and he has a track record that proves he’s solution-based,” she said. “Dave will not forget about Encinitas when he moves on to County.”
The other candidates in this race include:
*Steve Danon, a Carmel Valley resident who has served as chief of staff for Congressman Brian Bilbray and has earned the support of Encinitas Mayor Jerome Stocks, Encinitas Deputy Mayor Kristin Gaspar and Encinitas City Councilmen James Bond and Mark Muir, along with a long list of other local political leaders.
*Carl Hilliard, the mayor of Del Mar, who has also earned the support of Del Mar Deputy Mayor Terry Sinnott, Carlsbad mayor Matt Hall, and former Del Mar mayors Crystal Crawford and Richard Earnest.
*Bryan Ziegler, an Encinitas attorney for county government who on his campaign website describes himself as an “Independent Republican that supports the Tea Party and Occupy San Diego.”
For more information about Dave Roberts, you can also visit his campagin website here.
The candidates will face off in a primary election June 5. If no candidate manages to get the majority of votes, then the top two contenders will advance to the November-run off election.
