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Politics

#ShowUsYourMailers Roundup: Here Are The Mailers You Sent In

A campaign mailer sent by Democratic Voters Choice appears in this undated photo.
Reader Submission
A campaign mailer sent by Democratic Voters Choice appears in this undated photo.

KPBS has been asking listeners and readers to send in the mailers they've received for our ongoing #ShowUsYourMailers series. Here's a roundup of some we've received.

Democratic Voters Choice slate mailer

A campaign mailer sent by Democratic Voters Choice appears in this undated photo.
Reader Submission
A campaign mailer sent by Democratic Voters Choice appears in this undated photo.

A reader in Encinitas sent in a mailer that looks as if it comes from the Democratic Party. It has pictures of President Barack Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the top, but then endorses Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Orange County, for Senate.

"Unlike San Francisco leftist (Kamala) Harris, Sanchez is experienced and moderate," it says.

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The California Democratic Party and San Diego County Democratic Party have both endorsed Harris, not Sanchez, for Senate.

Also, while Harris served as San Francisco's district attorney, she was born in Oakland and lives in Los Angeles.

The mailer then goes on to describe "The Team for Democratic Voters," including Republican Congressman Darrel Issa.

The back of the mailer lists several endorsements on state propositions, including "No on Proposition 62" and "Yes on Proposition 66," both of which contradict Democratic Party endorsements.

Both statewide propositions concern the death penalty. Proposition 62 would repeal the death penalty in California, and the California Democratic Party urges a "yes" vote on it. Proposition 66 shortens the time for death penalty legal appeals to a maximum of five years, and the California Democratic Party urges a "no" vote on it.

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The mailer is not sent out by the local or state Democratic Party, but instead is a slate mailer sent by "Democratic Voters Choice," which is based in Covina, California. The candidates and campaigns paid to be included on the mailer, which does not actually represent the Democratic Party. The website opensecrets.org says the company collected almost $33,000 in the 2012 campaign.

Election Digest slate mailer

A campaign mailer sent by Election Digest appears in this undated photo.
Reader Submission
A campaign mailer sent by Election Digest appears in this undated photo.

Another reader sent in a similar slate mailer called Election Digest. It also has a big endorsement for Clinton up top, and then lists endorsements for state and local candidates and propositions on the back.

One item urges a "yes" vote on Measure B, the San Diego County ballot measure that would allow the construction of 1,700 homes in an area zoned for 110 homes in North County. The local Democratic Party endorses a "no" vote on Measure B.

This is also a slate mailer. It says in fine print that all of the candidates and measures marked with an asterisk paid to be included.

The mailer was sent by "Election Digest, a Project for the Coalition of Literacy." The company actually has nothing to do with literacy; the slate mailer has received thousands of dollars from campaigns this election cycle.

San Diego Teachers Recommendations mailer

A mailer from the American Federation of Teachers appears in this undated photo.
Reader Submission
A mailer from the American Federation of Teachers appears in this undated photo.
A mailer from the American Federation of Teachers appears in this undated photo.
Reader Submission
A mailer from the American Federation of Teachers appears in this undated photo.

Another mailer sent in by a reader says "San Diego Teachers Recommendations for November 8, 2016 Election" on the front and has a list of recommendations for local candidates and ballot measures inside.

Those include "no" votes on measures A and B in San Diego County and "yes" votes on measures F, I, K and L in the city of San Diego. It also recommends voting "yes" on repealing the death penalty and restricting gun sales at the state level.

The mailer says it was paid for by the "AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS GUILD, LOCAL 1931 SAN DIEGO AND GROSSMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGES COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION," a political committee that spends money to support candidates and measures.

So in this case, the mailer is not a slate mailer that candidates paid to be part of, but something sent out by a local union.

Read more of our #ShowUsYourMailers coverage:

How Much Money In Measure A Would Repair Roads?

Gomez Targets Flores’ Support From ‘Republican’ Group

What Is The Independent Voter Project?