Democrats for Equality,
First off, our club members voted overwhelmingly to endorse David Dodson for Board of Equalization District 4.
Recently, the San Diego Union-Tribune endorsed David Dodson highlighting Dodson's 30-year service with the Board of Equalization as a property appraiser, instructor, and supervisor. Dodson has also been a Coast Guard reservist.
Unfortunately, incumbent office holder Mike Schaefer has what could be charitably described as a checkered past. With that knowledge, club members voted with a 90% majority to rate incumbent Mike Schaefer as "unacceptable."
An "unacceptable" rating for our club is given in the event that a candidate has a poor position or record on one or more critical issues, and/or the candidate has demonstrated a lack of responsiveness or sensitivity to the LGBTQ+ community.
If you type 'Mike Schaefer' and 'Los Angeles Times' into a Google search, that should tell you everything you need to know about how absolutely awful his record has been on the Board of Equalization, and his even worse history as a convicted wife-beating slumlord, perennial candidate in multiple cities and states, disbarments in California and Nevada, and the cherry-on-top having had a restraining order filed against him several years ago by 3-time Emmy-winning actor and comedian Brad Garrett.
Earlier this year, he was caught lying about having endorsements from the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Last month, it was reported that Schaefer's re-election campaign committee gave $30,000 to a conservative-aligned group that also recently donated a large chunk to the Republican Party of San Diego County.
According to the Voice of San Diego, reporter Jesse Marx documented Schaefer in 2015 discussing his new girlfriend and then sliding Marx a card for an escort service.
Did we mention Schaefer was one of the most notorious slumlords in Los Angeles during the 1980s? He was ordered to pay his former tenants $1.83 million due to an infestation of rats and cockroaches.
In 2018, Reddit users -- known for their restraint on controversial topics and toxicity -- had a field day over a racist Facebook post by Mike Schaefer.
In 2011, after former Baltimore Mayor and Maryland Governor William Donald Schaefer (no relation) passed away, in a wild story reported by The Baltimore Sun, Mike Schaefer filed a claim stating he should get $28,000 from Gov. Schaefer's estate.
The San Diego Union-Tribune, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and other publications have posited Schaefer's unfitness for office.
It's our hope that voters finally boot him from office for, presumably, the last time and send him packing into whatever slumlord retirement he wants for himself.
Thankfully, there is an absolutely qualified individual running: David Dodson. Vote for David Dodson, and spare us the public embarrassment of Mike Schaefer as a public official.
Latest posts
Virtual Club Meeting: April 18th, 2024
Please join us for our next virtual club meeting on Thursday, April 18th at 6:30pm.
We will re-consider our friendly incumbent consideration for both seats on the Chula Vista Elementary School Board, and will entertain club members' Q&A with Cipriano Vargas about his re-election to Vista Unified School Board. Also, we will consider a friendly incumbent endorsement for North County Fire Protection District's Ross Pike. We will also consider an endorsement for Poway Unified School Board Area A, and depending on candidate availability, we may consider an early endorsement for Governor.
Virtual Club Meeting: March 21st, 2024
Join us for our next virtual club meeting on Thursday, March 21st at 6:30pm.
We will swear-in our newly elected and re-elected executive board members, and we'll review updated election results from local contests and highlight high-profile races happening across the state. As mentioned in our election update yesterday, we will consider consolidating our club's support for Adam Schiff for U.S. Senate.
Also, we'll consider friendly incumbent endorsements for both Chula Vista Elementary School Board seats, San Marcos Unified Area A, Vista Unified School Board, and will re-consider a formal endorsement for Lemon Grove Mayor.
Voter Guide: 2024 Presidential Primary Election
Ballots have been mailed out, and early voting starts Monday, February 5th!
Our voter guide is being mailed out to our club members and is a handy and trusted guide for our recommendations and endorsed candidates that will primarily (no pun intended) be on the ballot for the Presidential Primary Election on March 5th, 2024.
We have a no-frills, printer-friendly version of our voter guide available as well for your convenience.