Encinitas Election Voter Guide

More than 1,400 polling places are scheduled to open at 7 a.m. Tuesday for a primary election in which San Diegans will vote for mayor, decide between two ballot measures and choose among numerous legislative and congressional candidates.

Registrar of Voters Deborah Seiler told City News Service that early indications point to a low turnout—in the neighborhood of 40 percent.

Up to last Saturday, 2,212 residents took advantage of a few weeks of early voting at the registrar's office, compared to 8,535 in a similar period two years ago, Seiler said. Roughly 32 percent of the 761,000 or so mail-in ballots that had been sent out were returned by midday Monday, she said.

Polls will be open until 8 p.m., and the first batch of results—from the early voters and mail-in ballots—is expected to be released soon after, according to Seiler. She said the first results from precincts should be available by 10 p.m.

Here's a rundown of the elections affecting Encinitas:

California 76th Assembly District

In the 76th Assembly District, which includes Encinitas, Assemblyman Martin Garrick can’t run because of term limits. Three Republicans—and no Democrats—are battling for his seat. Voters will pick between: Rocky Chavez, a former Oceanside city councilman and a retired Marine Corps officer; Sherry Hodges, a former school board member and a longtime staffer for state legislators; and Farrah Douglas is a Carlsbad city councilwoman who left Iran in 1979 during the Islamic Revolution.

California 49th Congressional District

Encinitas also recently became part of the state’s 49th Congressional District, where incumbent Darrell Issa, R-Vista, is up for reelection. He faces challenges from: Democrat Jerry Tetalman, a real estate investor and entrepreneur; Dick Eiden, a former lawyer who is independent and describes himself at “progressive”; and independent Albin Novinec, a retired US Marines First Sergeant who is now a Realtor.

San Diego County District 3

Encinitas voters will also get their first chance to vote for a new San Diego County District 3 Supervisor. Five candidates are vying in Tuesday's election for the first open San Diego County supervisor seat in nearly two decades.

Longtime Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, whose District 3 stretches from Encinitas to Escondido, is retiring, guaranteeing that for the first time since the 1990s, a new supervisor will join the panel.

Running to replace her are: Dave Roberts, deputy mayor of Solana Beach and the only Democrat in the race; Del Mar Mayor Carl Hilliard; Steve Danon, chief of staff to Rep. Brian Bilbray; Bryan Ziegler, deputy county counsel; and Stephen Pate, a transportation coordinator in the film industry.

If one of the candidates receives more than 50 percent of the vote today, he will take the seat. If no one receives more than 50 percent, the top two vote-getters will advance to a November runoff.