It’s unfortunate but true that many local races aren’t given the close scrutiny they deserve. But once elected, these people make decisions that affect our daily lives in just as many ways as politicians higher up the political food chain. Many voters brush off county races because they don’t realize the scope of the county’s power. For example, the County Board of Supervisors has a huge impact on how and where HIV/AIDS monies are dispersed, whether or not to increase social services for underserved populations (such as GLBT youth, people of color and the elderly) and where the latest landfill will be placed or redevelopment project built. The San Diego District Attorney’s Office has the authority to investigate and prosecute all criminal acts committed within the county in violation of state laws and county ordinances. And the County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk’s Office counts among its many responsibilities issuing birth and death certificates, divorce papers, property taxes and assessment, and managing the bulk of licensing issues – including marriage licenses. When put into context, it’s easy to understand the importance, in every race, of getting the right candidate into the driver’s seat.

Though Democratic challenger Richard Barrera has received endorsements in this race from a number of politicians we respect, we’re standing by the incumbent. Barrera’s background in community and union organizing and his longtime push for affordable housing is admirable, as is his helping-hand-up vs. handout vision of change for the Board of Supervisors; we just wish he was vying for, say, Supervisor Bill Horn’s Fifth District seat instead. Ron Roberts has long been our one trusted ally on the board. He has helped secure funding for HIV/AIDS organizations like Being Alive, Special Delivery, Townspeople and Mama’s Kitchen, GLBT organizations such as Stepping Stone, The Center, Ordinary Miracles and the Hillcrest History Guild, and recognized early on the importance of tackling the crystal meth epidemic, obtaining funds for Family Health Centers’ meth public awareness campaign. He was the only supervisor who supported medicinal marijuana, and worked to implement domestic partnership benefits at the county level. He regularly marches in the San Diego Pride parade, and was one of the first elected officials to endorse openly gay City Council candidate Christine Kehoe in 1993. As a moderate Republican, Roberts may have better luck swaying the opinions of the conservative Republicans on the board than Barrera would. Roberts knows the game, and has played it to our community’s benefit since the beginning.

Ever since Bonnie Dumanis defeated Paul Pfingst in the 2002 race for San Diego district attorney, making her the first openly gay or lesbian district attorney elected in the country, she has stuck by her campaign promise to turn the troubled office around, and has by all counts succeeded. In the last four years, Dumanis has increased the overall efficiency of the office in the face of budget cuts, increased diversity among staff and promoted merit-based appointments, and created specialized units in the areas of narcotics, cold homicide, and sexual assault and stalking. With endorsements from every major law enforcement agency in the state and a stellar track record, it’s no wonder she’s running unopposed. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Five-term incumbent Gregory Smith is in no danger of losing his bid for re-election this year. Though the Republican, whose office issues marriage licenses throughout San Diego County, shied away from giving his personal stance on same-sex marriage when we asked him directly, he indicated to us that he follows the law and would willingly comply if same-sex marriage was legalized in the state. He indicated the same thing back in 2004, following San Francisco’s same-sex marriage license spree, when he met with members of San Diegans Against Marriage Discrimination and The Center. Though we commend Smith’s challenger, Democrat Howard Johnson, for openly supporting same-sex marriage, the imaging technician who works in Smith’s office just isn’t qualified for the job. Johnson’s platform is scattered at best, and his reasons for running fall somewhere between wanting to see change within the office and “no one else was running for the seat.” Johnson does not have the experience to oversee the complex legalities and millions of dollars the office oversees. Tellingly, he has not garnered any endorsements thus far. This is one of those times when our community shouldn’t go out of its way to support a candidate even though they support gay rights and a progressive agenda. The real question is who is the most qualified for the position, and the answer is Smith.