We've got some tough races to look forward to next year. We're going to need all our resources to ensure that we retain/expand a majority on the San Diego City Council and we put San Diego back on the progressive path by electing a Mayor who brings good jobs back to the City instead of blocking a living wage - and by electing a City Attorney who helps to make the City work for it's citizens instead of one who carries water for the Lincoln Club.

San Diego Democrats for Equality will begin endorsing candidates at our meeting on Tuesday, June 30th in races where we can make a difference - where Democrats, rather than Republicans, are the likely Primary election majority. If we deal with these races now, we can concentrate on the more competitive races when they need it most. Specifically we will be considering endorsements in the San Diego City 3rd and 9th Council Districts as well as the 78th Assembly District and the Presidential race.

To be able to vote on endorsements for any of these races, members must be in good standing (i.e. membership paid) at least 25 days prior to the endorsement meeting. Members who join/renew after June 5, 2015 will not be eligible to vote at the June 30th endorsement meeting. The exception to this rule is that members whose membership has expired within the last 65 days prior to the meeting may pay their dues (either at, or before, the endorsement meeting) and be eligible to vote on whether, and who, we endorse at the June meeting.

Having your voice heard regarding candidate endorsements is one of the primary privileges of membership in San Diego Democrats for Equality. If you're not at the table, you're on the menu. Join, rejoin or renew and make sure you make a difference in 2016. You can join/renew online HERE.

Our May meeting was eventful. We elected a new Vice President for Political Action to replace Georgette Gomez who resigned in order to run for City Council. Susan Guinn was elected unanimously to the office. Guinn was our endorsed candidate for San Diego County Clerk in the last election.

Susan Guinn is an attorney with a practice dedicated to protecting and advancing consumer rights. Examples of her cases include school bus safety, tobacco litigation, tax and fee assessment fraud and insurance bad faith. She was a two time President for the Western Trial Lawyers and has been a member of the Consumer Attorneys of California ("CAOC"), the San Diego Trial Lawyers Association, the Western Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Attorneys Information Exchange Group, and Trial Lawyers for Public Justice. 

We're thrilled that Susan has joined the Board of San Diego Democrats for Equality and look forward to her contributions to the team

In addition to our officer election, we were honored to hear from Connor Maddocks, the Center's Project Trans Coordinator. Maddocks spoke to modest but engaged group of Club members about the transgender community in San Diego, it's place in the larger LGBT community and the successes, tragedies and ongoing issues confronting the community.

As a direct result of Connor's presentation, the Club was able to update our Candidate questionnaire with questions about easing official document (birth certificates, driver's license, etc.) changes, gender-neutral bathrooms and discrimination and bullying.

 Connor also requested help from Club members with ideas to better deal with the political aspects of advocating for members of the transgender family - and Club members responded. If you have ideas or questions, please contact him at  trans@thecentersd.org .

The Club depends on membership dues to keep the lights on and promote our candidates and issues to the community. A large number of community members depend on our Voters Guide to help them make an intelligent choice when marking their ballots so your membership renewal is critical to ensure those Guides get into those hands. At the risk of sounding like a Public Television pledge drive, if you depend on our endorsements, Voters Guide, newsletters, social media posts and programs, you should be a member!

If your membership has lapsed or if you know your membership is soon to expire, please re-up now. You might also consider upgrading your membership to a higher level.

2016 is shaping up to be a very important election year for us. Do we continue the progress we've made with marriage equality, transgender recognition and equality and defense of women's reproductive rights and economic equality, or do we allow the White House to fall to the enemies of liberty and equality as the leadership of Congress has already done. On the local level, our work is critical. We need to defend/expand our majority on the San Diego City Council and take back the City Attorney/Mayor offices and put them to work for the citizens of the City instead of the Republican status quo campaign contributors.