In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion rights have emerged as a central issue in North County races, even at the city council level.
In the race for state Senate District 38, the divergent views on abortion from Democratic Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear and Republican small business owner Matt Gunderson. are increasingly swamping issues like housing affordability and homelessness, which both candidates say are their top priorities.
Blakespear has focused much of her campaign on reproductive rights and has made it clear she is pro-choice, supports Planned Parenthood and supports Proposition 1 – a California ballot measure that would codify the right to abortion and contraception into the state constitution.
She has repeatedly claimed to be “the only pro-choice candidate,” even though Gunderson says he is a pro-choice Republican. Gunderson, however, does not support Proposition 1 because it doesn’t explicitly limit late-term abortions.
Blakespear insists that Gunderson is anti-choice – so much so that she recently declined Gunderson’s challenge to engage in a series of debates because she wanted him to take a more explicit stance on abortion rights.
“He’s lying to voters about his record,” said Kevin Sabellico, Blakespear’s campaign manager, via email.
He pointed out that Gunderson is endorsed by the California Pro-Life Council and Californians for Life, both anti-abortion groups.
“It’s important to elect pro-choice leaders who will make sure California remains a reproductive freedom state,” Sabellico said.
Gunderson told The Coast News in August he thinks Blakespear is avoiding having to answer for her “record of blocking her critics on social media and refusing to answer questions for SANDAG’s egregious misuse of taxpayer money.”
“She can’t stand on her own record, so she thinks her only chance of winning is to lie about Gunderson’s record on the issue of choice,” said Chris Marsh, Gunderson’s campaign manager.
District 38 encompasses some of North County’s coastal cities, with redistricting shifting the previously Republican-leaning district to a Democratic majority. The seat is currently held by termed-out Republican State Senator Pat Bates.
Local Councils Divided Over Prop 1 Support
Abortion is also taking center stage in local races, like those for the San Marcos City Council and the Vista City Council. Both of those councils recently rejected resolutions supporting Proposition 1.
In San Marcos, Councilmembers Randy Walton and María Nuñez introduced a resolution last week that would state the city’s support for Proposition 1 and urge local voters to support the measure.
Mayor Rebecca Jones said the measure was “divisive” and was outside’s the Council’s role as a nonpartisan body. The Council voted 3-2 to table the resolution indefinitely.
“I don’t accept the premise of the question that a woman’s reproductive rights, namely a right to privacy and a right to choose, are ‘partisan,’” Walton said via email. He said he didn’t introduce the resolution as a candidate for office, but as an elected official.
Jones and Walton are both running for mayor this November.
Vista’s City Council heard a similar resolution, introduced by Councilmember Katie Melendez, that would state the city’s support of Proposition 1. That was replaced by a resolution by Councilmember Joe Green stating city officials stand by California state law protecting reproductive freedoms.
Both resolutions failed.
Mayoral candidate Cipriano Vargas spoke at the meeting in support of the resolution. Councilmember John Franklin, who is also running for mayor, said the council shouldn’t take a stance on an issue that “voters have strong feelings about.”
In Other News
- ICYMI: Residents of an Escondido neighborhood say they’ve had to deal with the constant sounds of gunshots coming from a nearby property for more than six years. They say the gunshots are disturbing the neighborhood and causing fears of a fire hazard. (Voice of San Diego)
- State and Orange County transportation officials declared an emergency and approved $6 million for the construction of the railroad tracks at San Clemente. Officials suspended Amtrak passenger and Metrolink commuter rail service Friday until further notice between Orange and San Diego counties because of slope movement. The work is expected to take 30 to 45 days to complete. (Union-Tribune)
- The San Dieguito Union High School District will offer anti-bias training for staff and review its curriculum in response to criticism from parents and leaders in the Jewish community over a lesson that featured Adolf Hitler. (NBC 7)
- The Encinitas City Council will allow Pedal Ahead an organization that distributes e-bikes to low-income people, to expand into Encinitas. (Union-Tribune)
Memo to VOSD reporter Tigist Layne: The Supreme Court did not over turn the Roe vs. Wade decision, they returned the issue to the states. Abortion is legal in a number of states including California.
That’s wrong. Roe v. Wade was overturned. The original decision – that abortion is protected by the Due Process Clause and the “right to privacy” it provides – was reversed in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. It being up to the states now is indicative of it being overturned as it was previously protected at the federal level.