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Congratulations and Thank You to Our Candidates
By Susan Marrinan, Public Policy Committee
Each member of the Coronado Democratic Club (CDC) should be proud of and grateful to the five club members currently running for local election. The deadline for our club newsletter is October 20th, so this comment is written before we know the election results. Regardless of whether these candidates succeed, each has taken an opportunity to contribute to the discussion of local issues and possible options for the future, and for this, we are grateful.
Congratulations and thank you to:
Casey Tanaka, candidate for Mayor
Shawnee Barton Merriman, candidate for CUSD Board of Trustees, endorsed by the San Diego County Democratic Party
Christine Mott, candidate for City Council, endorsed by CDC and the San Diego County Democratic Party
Amy Steward, candidate for City Council
Laura Wilkinson Sinton, candidate for City Council, endorsed by CDC and the San Diego County Democratic Party
A critical club mission is supporting democratic values, and running for office is a significant way to do this. Look at the DNC platform issued in 2023 for a refresher on our values. The DNC publishes our party platform during non-presidential election years. In contrast, look at the 2024 GOP Platform and Project 2025.
It takes courage to run for office. The Latin "Cor" is the root word for courage and means “to speak from the heart.“ In other words, to let others know your true mind. Once a person speaks their true mind, those who disagree can and usually do respond with opposing viewpoints, arguments and, sometimes, regrettable personal attacks. Knowing these possibilities, a courageous candidate speaks their truth regardless. Being brave and courageous doesn't mean being without fear; it means knowing that pain and heartache are probable and speaking up anyway.
We used to consider local elections as "non-partisan," but some of us recall that in the Obama election in 2008, unknown persons defaced Obama bumper stickers and stole Obama signs. Since then, political intimidation and personal attacks on Democratic candidates appear to have dramatically increased. Coronado elections are not the “non-partisan” kind of local elections we wish they could be; those times seem over. When the discussion of local issues shifts to personal attacks against candidates, the signs are clear that non-partisanship has been relegated to the back burner. In other words, winning appears more important than solutions to local problems.
In 2018, Coronado Cays resident Daron Case ran for Coronado City Council as a write-in candidate. His progressive platform focused on environmental issues, including the Tijuana River sewage crisis. He thought the City of Coronado should join the City of Imperial Beach and other South Bay cities in their lawsuit against the federal government. His platform was too progressive for some unidentified residents who chose to disagree with him by slashing his tires, leaving hate-filled voicemails, and making threatening phone calls to his home rather than debating his ideas. After the election, he and his family relocated to another community rather than stay in Coronado. The "dirty tricks" employed against him were a harbinger of the future. As a result, Coronado lost a thoughtful, progressive thinker who could have made a difference.
Whitney Antrim, a club member who ran as a Democrat for the CUSD Board of Trustees because she was proud of her democratic values, was personally attacked in the local media, threatened with physical violence by unknown social media account holders, and had her home address posted on social media, to list just a few of her frightening experiences.
Whitney persevered and won her election in 2020. She has given our community four years of outstanding service, and our Coronado school district has benefited from her exemplary hard work and vision. Thank you, Whitney, for your courage and outstanding service.
This election cycle is replete with continuing examples of "dirty tricks." We hope that after the election dust has settled, our club member candidates can compile a complete account of the "dirty tricks" of 2024 so future candidates can know what they will be facing and benefit from it.
Aware of this disturbing history, our club candidates courageously entered the 2024 race to support our democratic values, and we owe them our gratitude and respect. At this time, we do not know if any of their campaigns will succeed. What we do know, however, is that this is a battle for values and worth the effort.
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