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Education

Roundtable: Candidate For Judge Posted Racist Jokes On Facebook

Judicial candidate Shawn McMilllan at a forum Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, hosted by the San Diego chapter of the Black Political Association of California.
Matthew Bowler
Judicial candidate Shawn McMilllan at a forum Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, hosted by the San Diego chapter of the Black Political Association of California.
A candidate for Superior Court judge in San Diego has posted several racist and sexist photos and jokes. Plus, we've got the story of a former Navy SEAL who suffered a psychotic break after receiving an experimental treatment from a UCSD physician. And we look at Proposition 13, a statewide school bond.

Amita Sharma, KPBS News

Joe Hong, KPBS News

Jill Castellano, INewsource

Closer look at Superior Court judge candidate

Shawn McMillan, one of 11 judicial candidates for four San Diego Superior Court seats, has posted several jokes to his Facebook account that are racially charged, anti-immigrant and that also mock gender identity issues. McMillan is on the ballot in the March 3 primary. The situation recalls the 2012 election of Gary Kreep, an attorney who promoted "birther" conspiracies and was censured for misconduct during his one six-year term.

Related: San Diego Judicial Candidate Sparks Controversy With Facebook Posts

The new Prop 13

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Proposition 13, on the March primary ballot, would authorize $15 billion in bonds to improve school facilities. A “yes” vote on Prop. 13 would also mean higher property taxes for those districts. Commenters on social media outlets like Nextdoor are warning that the 2020 Proposition 13 will negate the 1978 Proposition 13, a constitutional amendment that changed the state’s property tax structure.

Related: Proposition 13 Would Issue $15 Billion In Bonds For School Renovations

Former Navy SEAL suffers a psychotic break after receiving experimental brain treatments from UC San Diego doctor

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a relatively new medical treatment that uses electromagnetism to change the brain’s neural networks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved TMS machines to treat major depressive disorder, migraines and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Dr. Kevin Murphy, an oncologist and vice-chair in UCSD’s School of Medicine, created his own version of TMS, which hasn’t been tested in scientific studies. Murphy supervised more than 200 TMS treatments given to ex-Navy SEAL Johnathan Surmont, who began showing signs of mania during treatment. Surmont eventually had a psychotic break that included a weeks-long breaking-and-entering spree in Los Angeles.

Related: The Navy SEAL and His Doctor: An experimental brain treatment blows up two lives

The 2024 primary election is March 5. Find in-depth reporting on each race to help you understand what's on your ballot.