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Political Fix by Gloria Penner

The Races for Supervisor: A Hot Contest or a Slam Dunk?

If you were asked to list jobs that could last for an adult lifetime thanks to the support or disinterest of hundreds of thousands of people, San Diego County Supervisor would probably make your short list. Once elected, supervisors tend to stay in office unless they get too sick to work, die, move on to higher office, or pull an “ Eliot Spitzer .” Yes, we had one supervisor who attracted some attention when he was involved in a prostitution scandal , and as a result, lost his seat. He had served two terms (eight years).

This year, three of the five supervisors are up for re-election . They are Greg Cox (1st District – South County), Dianne Jacob (2nd District – East County), and Pam Slater-Price (3rd District – mostly North Coastal plus Escondido). Together, they represent close to half a century in office. And, there’s no sign that any of them wants to leave. Nor is there any sign that the voters are excited about an opportunity to bring in some fresh faces. Slater-Price and Jacob are running for their fifth four-year term which might be a record for the 150-year-old board. I did a fast check and it appeared to me that 16 years was the old record – held by Slater-Price and Jacob, and someone named Austin de Graff from 60 years ago. Cox is a relative newcomer with only 12 years in the county catbird seat.

What accounts for this impressive longevity which translates into impressive pensions upon retirement? (The salary plus benefits and perquisites are handsome as well.)

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Lorenzo Carrillo from barona, ca
May 28, 2008 at 01:03 AM
I beleive its time for a change in our county government system.

Gregory Duch from Gaslamp Quarter
June 06, 2008 at 04:28 AM
Oh Gloria! I thought you knew that Greg, Ronnie, Billy, Pam, and Diane rule by that old democratic concept of the "DIVINE RIGHT OF SUPERVISORS". ONCE A SUPE, ALWAYS A SUPE..... WOULD YOU KICK QUEEN ELIZABETH II OFF OF HER THRONE? Greg