Friday, November 16, 2012

Internet killed the slate mailer star

In recent elections, City Council seats have often been won by campaigns of glossy mailers backed by political parties, unions, and other interest groups. It was thought by the Cardiff and Leucadia "activists" that New Encinitas would generally vote based on mailers, signs, and endorsements.

Last week's landslide results certainly seem to have changed that. The sleeping giant of Middle Encinitas has awoken. Some of this can be attributed to the development threat of the General Plan Update, and the backlash it created in the Encinitas Right to Vote movement.

But are broader cultural and technological trends at work too?

Pew Research says the Internet is taking an increasingly important role in informing voters.


The Pew study is generally referring to national elections, but I think we're seeing even stronger trends in local elections. Coverage of Encinitas issues in the Union-Tribune, North County Times, and San Diego television stations is minimal. Even the Coast News has too little space in its weekly format to cover everything important in Encinitas city government.  Filling the void, perhaps for the first time for many Encinitas voters, is the Internet.

Some of the candidates understood the trend.  Lisa Shaffer's web site was the most informative, by far, of all the council candidates. Jerome Stocks didn't even have a web site until late in the campaign. Before that, his Internet presence was limited to occasional posts on County GOP blog SDRostra, and often ill-considered comment wars on Patch and other news sites and blogs. Teresa Barth's e-mail newsletter kept hundreds of subscribers informed on local issues with dozens of links in each issue to news and opinion sources.

The bigger impact, however, was likely not from the campaign sites, but from local news and opinion sites, both professional and amateur. This was the first campaign season that Encinitas Patch was in full swing, and it has been a heavily-trafficked forum for both news and opinion. Long-time civic watchdog Leucadia Blog is still going strong, and worth reading far beyond the borders of Leucadia. Without sites like Patch and LB, it would be hard to keep up with everything that's happening. And people might just be tempted to re-elect incumbents based on a 98% satisfaction survey.

In his farewell speech, Congressman Ron Paul called the Internet the alternative to the "government - media complex." Locally, he could have been referring to Papa Doug's Union-Tribune and its ties to powerful developers and their politicians. In an era of concentration of power and collusion between Big Business and Big Government, Small Internet remains a remarkably effective weapon of dissent.

33 comments:

  1. Great post W.C.

    It is so important that the internet is not chained by the Feds now that all the media outlets and newspapers are being hijacked by the two party system.

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    1. I agree with you but have to add..... its actually a one party system... there is no real difference between the Democrats and Republicans....

      Under both, they will lead to more unnecessary wars over keeping oil prices artificially low. More DEBT which is will be the collapse of our nation in the next 13 years, and less education for our youth.

      More people need to read our Constitution and Learn about Ron Paul's Platform.

      He speaks the Truth.

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  2. I also find the blogs Encinitas You Need Us and Our Mayor informative and thought provoking. Thanks for the mention of my eNewsletter. Anyone can sign up on my website BarthforEncinitas.com

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    1. Shame on me for omitting those two. But I think Our Mayor Stocks is about to hit its expiration date.

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    2. And of course, this blog, Encinitas Undercover, has done so much. I'm grateful to W.C. Varones! It's great that we can all comment here, which we can't do on Encinitas You Need Us and Our Mayor. However, I too very much appreciate those blogs, as well as Teresa Barth's Saturday morning newsletters! The links shared there are invaluable!

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  3. Our Mayor can shift to Gaspar and Muir.

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  4. I think you can't say too much about how inflamed and pissed Encinitans got about the way certain standing council members treated their constituency. About how they conducted their "business". There's a lot more to why we are where we are then what you can read in the newspapers. Too many behind the scenes deals and too much voter apathy in the past.
    People got stirred up this election. Let's hope they keep paying attention

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  5. I just think we have to thank Jerome for showing his true colors. His 2nd biggest mistake was hirering Mike Andreen as his Hit Man for his campaign. I still dont know who has a bigger mouth between them. But I know this, their mouths sank his ship. Goodbye Jerome

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  6. I hope now Mrs Barth gets her turn at being our Mayor. I know she will do a great job for the people of Encinitas. Im so glad Tony Kranz asked me to meet with Mrs Barth 2 years agos. Back then I did not understand Mrs Barths politics, until Tony asked me to sit down with her and talk to her and listen to her. I came out of that meeting with a new understanding of Mrs Barth. Im glad I had that meeting, and im also very happy I apologized to her for my past behavior at the 2 council meetings in 2010. Im proud today to say I back Mrs Barth 100%. Joe Corder

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  7. Mrs Gaspar will work out ok now that Jerome is gone. I believe. Mrs Gaspar cares about Encinitas, and I think with Jerome gone we will see a new Mrs Gaspar. She is very smart,and I believe she will work with the people of Encinitas. Just think of all the pressure she has had from that Idiot. Now that both Jerome and his pressure are gone, I think we will see a new council women. Lets give her a chance

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    1. Joe, you are putting your confidence in a woman that dresses as Wonder Woman to get elected. The only thing more pathetic than dressing as a super hero
      To be elected are those who find it acceptable as a form
      Of campaigning. Sorry there are no super heroes on the council.

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  8. I just hope we can have a couple of good years on the council. Just think if they all got along, Encinitas could have a great year. Im not sure what you mean about her dressing. And im not here to pick any fights with anybody. I just think she is a nice person inside and out. My bottom line is, 2013 is a great year for our council.

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  9. Jerome and his little fat bitch Andreen were poison to Encinitas. Its great to rid the poison!

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    Replies
    1. Please explain yourself.

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    2. Its like having a cure for cancer. Our society is free to live a wonderful life.

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  10. If Gaspar is so pliable as to morph into something substantially different for absence of Stock's immediate influence on the council, maybe she should go home and bake cookies. This would indicate that she acquiesces to the stongest personality around her. Her tantumatic tirades on the council to date appear to show the true nature of Gaspar - I doubt that she has much to offer Encinitas during her hopefully brief tenure.

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  11. This city will reunite behind Mrs Barth as our Mayor. Her time is over due, Mrs Shaffer will be a great addition to the council also. Tony will also be a great leader. And I think Mark will try and work with the other 4. If we all think good things, maybe good things will come out of it. Im a person that says what I believe, not what others want to hear. I really think Mrs Gaspar will work hard with the council, and she will be fair with the people of Encinitas. If she works out, and Im positive she will, that will be great for the city, if it goes south then I will apologize, but Im giving her a chance, again I just hope we have a council of 5 that can get along

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    Replies
    1. I appreciate your positive outlook, Joe. I sincerely hope you are psychic!

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    2. No im not a psychic, im just hoping we can have 2 good years on the council. Since we have the 5 seated now, we have them for 2 years. I would rather think positive, then start talking trash about one or two of them at the start of their new council. Nothing wrong with wishing, after 12 years of Jerome Stocks.

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  12. Remember the deceptive mailers using the phony Satisfaction Survey to support Jerome Stocks and paid for by the citizens of Encinitas? Scroll down and see who was behind it.


    Entity Name:
    WE LOVE ENCINITAS COMMUNITY ADVOCATES

    Entity Number:
    C3515796

    Date Filed:
    10/22/2012

    Status:
    ACTIVE

    Jurisdiction:
    CALIFORNIA

    Entity Address:
    140 ENCINITAS BLVD STE 105

    Entity City, State, Zip:
    ENCINITAS CA 92024

    Agent for Service of Process:
    PAUL GASPAR

    Agent Address:
    140 ENCINITAS BLVD STE 105

    Agent City, State, Zip:
    ENCINITAS CA 92024

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    Replies
    1. So what's your point???

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    2. Where did you find this? This is amazing if true.

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    3. The information is on the Secretary of State website:

      http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/

      Put in the entity number and the information will come up.

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  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  14. I moved to San Diego over 8 years ago from Chicago (talk about politics, HA!), and bought a house in Cardiff over 2 years ago. I hope and plan to stay a long time here and put down deep roots. As such, I started actively looking for local blogs and sources to learn about my new town and educate myself as much as possible. It was then that I 'stumbled' across both this blog and Leucadia Blog, and I honestly can't thank all of you enough for all of your information, investigation, questioning and overall effort. Not only did it tremendously help make me a much better informed voter than I would have been without reading your pieces (and comments!!), but it helps keep me motivated to to stay active and aware in local politics. I've wondered for years if I should get more involved in a very active fashion, and this cycle has likely convinced me to do just that. (And hopefully sooner rather than later.)

    Again, a sincere "Thank You" to each and every one of you, from a relative Cardiff newbie.

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  15. Next time Gaspar and Muir.... we should establish a 50% income tax for any retired public employee with a pension over $60,000. Since Muir is pulling in $170,000 per year or $14,200 per month per ever.... a 50% tax hit over 60k, would bring his pay down to $115,000 per year or $10,500.... still too much but the tax would help pay off the huge liabilities that you and I need to pay every month. Something about these huge pensions needs to be down.

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    1. Jon- what we should do is drive DOWN the cost of operating the city. When the new city staff contracts come up, offer everyone a contract at 50% of salary and pension. Any one that doesn't accept doesn't want to work in one of the most desirable cities in SD county. Replace them with workers that want sunny skies and balmy days and nights.

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  16. Gaspar hasn't changed - she is a Stocks mutant. Dump her next cycle.

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  17. Anon,

    Maybe in part. But..... what the citizens and State needs to do is undo the injustice that was done by Jerome Stocks over the last 12 years. The Tax payers should not have to pay a higher tax to support Mr. Muir's $14,000 per month retirement (forever). What the state needs to do is tax the pensions over 50% for anyone making over 30k per year. Now that would be fair.

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  18. Muir - slopping at the public trough!

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  19. Muir can be the new John Candy or Chris Farley on the council. Fat jokes can break the tension and everyone can take a pizza break. If climate change threatens to wash the beach sand away, he can sit on the shore and act as a wave barrier. Also, he can go and sit on the end of the San Andreas quake fault line and stabilize it. Go to Gaspar's clinic and buckle all the therapy tables! He will be the most utilitarian councilperson in years!

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