UT San Diego - Congressional Challengers: Hope in Discontent

News Article

By Mark Walker

They're running against more than 40 years of combined incumbency, each is drastically underfunded and none is getting much help from their party.

The four first-time candidates running against Democratic Reps. Susan Davis and Juan Vargas and Republican Reps. Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa know they're big-time underdogs, but they say voters have a golden opportunity to vent frustration with Congress and toss out the San Diego County incumbents.

One challenger is proposing a "fourth-generation" nuclear plant on the city's bayfront, one is a nearly 90-year-old Republican man who dresses and appears in public as a woman, and there's also a three-decade Navy SEAL and a former Navy medical corpsman.

The races have received little attention in the shadow of the multi-million dollar campaign between Democratic incumbent Scott Peters and former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio in the 52nd Congressional District.

DISTRICT DISCONNECT?

In North County, Democrat Dave Peiser is trying to unseat Issa, who has spent the last four years as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Peiser said Issa hasn't focused on his district.

"I want to bring the voice of the people to Washington and that's been completely lacking with Darrell Issa," he said. "He goes back to Washington and represents himself and his rich friends."

An information technology consultant, Peiser has raised about $80,000 while Issa, whose financial disclosure shows he is the richest man in Congress, has millions of dollars in his campaign account.

Vista's Issa says he remains the right choice for the majority-Republican 49th Congressional District covering the Carlsbad-Vista-Oceanside area and a portion of coastal Orange County.

"I'm not afraid to stand up for what's right, even if it ruffles a few feathers," he said. "It's not OK when government fails or that it can't seem to carry out its most basic functions, but constantly seeks to expand its reach rather than addressing it's shortcomings."

Peiser's priorities include increased spending on education, infrastructure and clean energy and comprehensive immigration reform, all areas he contends the seven-term Issa is out of step with district wishes.

DIFFERENT AGENDAS

Moving inland, Republican Hunter in the 50th Congressional District stretching from East County to southern Riverside County faces James Kimber, a Democrat.

"Mr. Hunter will talk a lot about things he says he believes in, but he doesn't follow through," Kimber said. "I'm frustrated with the lack of action on the environment and green energy and no getting to the solutions."

Hunter's chief priorities are restoring the nation's manufacturing base and cutting taxes and regulations on business.

"I'm working to end wasteful spending, reduce the debt and hold government accountable for how it spends our money," said the Alpine resident seeking his fourth term.

Hunter opposes immigration reform until he's convinced the border with Mexico is secure, and he favors opening up more of the country to energy exploration.

Like his father who held the seat for two decades, the younger Hunter has centered much of congressional work on defense issues. He is a Marine Corps veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; Kimber is a former Navy medical corpsman.

NUKE ON THE BAY

Another former member of the military, 30-year Navy SEAL veteran Larry Wilske, is taking on eight-term Democratic incumbent Susan Davis in San Diego's 53rd Congressional District.

Wilske, a Republican who bested several other GOP candidates in the June primary with 20 percent of the vote, cites blue-collar job creation, the economy, national security and energy as top concerns. But he cites leadership before those issues.

"There's a huge void in leadership in Washington, and Susan Davis offers no leadership in building our county delegation to go after things important for San Diego," he argues.

Davis said she deserves to continue her work making sure all district residents "have a voice and a chance at the American dream."

"I do so by striving to create a strong economy through innovation and hard work, fighting for pay equality, the best education possible, and by taking care of our military families and veterans."

She favors the Affordable Care Act, is a regular advocate for improving access to student loans, and has a reputation as one of the leading advocates of equal pay for equal work, friendly to the LGBT community and supportive of veterans issues.

Wilske said he wants to lead efforts in Washington to develop more industry in the region, expand rail, expand the San Diego port district and bring more Navy ships to the city. And he also envisions a small nuclear generating station adjacent to the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge.

While he believes marriage is a union between a man and a woman and generally opposes abortion, he said he doesn't believe the federal government should have any involvement in either, including any funding for abortion access.

MOST TALKED ABOUT

Of these four races, the one that has received the most attention is the re-election bid by first-term Rep. Juan Vargas, a San Diego Democrat who represents the 51st Congressional District that stretches from South County along the border to include all of Imperial County.

That's because of his opponent.

In what is apparently a first in a congressional general election, Vargas' opponent is a man who prefers to dress in women's clothing, Stephen "Stephanie" Mead.

Mead, 88, has failed to get any traction and was unable to secure the endorsement of the county Republican Party.

"It's as if people are shying away from me like they would poison," said Meade, who claims to be the only transgender congressional candidate in the nation running on the fall ballot.

Meade is a fiscal conservative who wants to lower the minimum wage and limit union power.

Vargas' chief concerns remain public education, equality and services for the poor, and keeping Medicare and Social Security intact.

"I am committed to ensuring quality public education, preserving equality, and protecting vital services for children, the poor, and the elderly," he said.

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