The musical chairs in Carlsbad’s political scene has come to a rest, at least for now.
Carlsbad moved to district elections this year with the exception of mayor, which is an at-large race and all residents can vote.
The shocking and unexpected announcement of incumbent Mark Packard’s withdrawal last week has opened up the race in District 1. In the field are Linda Breen, Tracy Carmichael, Barbara Hamilton and David McGee.
Packard pulled out last week saying “after careful consideration” with his wife and God, he opted not to run. He also said he hopes residents “stay the course,” as the city is on a great path forward.
In District 3, incumbent Michael Schumacher announced in March he would not seek re-election. With his absence, the race is between newcomers Priya Bhat-Patel and Corrine Busta.
However, the biggest race is for mayor, as incumbent Matt Hall takes on City Councilwoman Cori Schumacher (no relation to Michael Schumacher). The two were nearly identical in fundraising as Hall narrowly outraised Schumacher.
Hall tallied $37,375, while Schumacher collected $36,445 from the Jan. 1 through June 30 period. Hall, though, holds a significant advantage for overall funds, as his ending cash balance totaled $67,164 at the end of the period compared to $16,778 for Schumacher.
Bhat-Patel, meanwhile, raised $11,760 during the same period as the mayoral candidates with an ending cash balance of $8,476. Her opponent, however, did not file a Form 460, a financial disclosure document, for the period, according to the city’s website. In addition, all District 1 candidates did not file a Form 460.
Candidates, though, must file pre-election statements by Sept. 27 and Oct. 25.
In other races, incumbents Barbara Engleson and Craig Lindholm are running unopposed for city clerk and treasurer, respectively.
However, the city races are not the only ones concerning residents. Seats for three positions on the Carlsbad Unified School District board of trustees are also open.
Two areas (similar to districts but different boundaries) — Nos. 4 and 5 — have incumbents Kathy Rallings and Claudine Jones running unopposed. In Area 1, Dr. Melanie Burkholder will challenge incumbent Veronica Williams.
Another note, of the four competitive races, eight of the 10 candidates are women, or 80 percent of the field. National reports show more women are becoming candidates regardless of party.
Including the non-competitive races, women account for 11 of the 14 (78.5 percent) races. A minimum of five elected positions will be held by women with the possibility of mayor and District 1 also being held by women.
19 comments
Also interesting that Brusseau ALSO gave $1000 to Hall. Furthermore O’Day Consultants (who do lots of business with the City) has donated $10,000 to Hall!!!
Interesting to note that to date the ONLY campaign donation that Corinne Busta has received is $1000 given by Scott Brusseau of Newport Financial (a real estate developer) on August 23. Source: http://www.carlsbadca.gov Campaign Finance Disclosures
Amanda,
Why would you vote against Caruso’s mall and then vote for the man who was behind the whole thing by lying to us? You make no sense.
I’m voting for Cori. Be best!
I’m voting for Cori. She’s the best candidate and I should know.
I’m voting for Cori. She represents what Carlsbad needs…honesty and integrity coupled with a desire to work hard and dig deep into the details. something sadly missing from her fellow council members.
Good for you amanda. If you like corrupt, inept, uninformed politicians who do the bidding of their donor masters, go for it. And we don’t HATE Matt Hall (unlike the minions who create lying mailers attacking Cori). We just hate what he stands for. If he retires, we would wish him well. Just hurry up about it. And again, nothing you’ve said speaks to the FACTS that I have eludicated. Any intelligent person is free to explore the Campaign finance diclosures available on the city’s website.
It’s hard to see anything good coming if Addie gets her way. The hatred Cori’s supporters spew on here worries me. It’s endangering this community. Has anybody seen Cori’s film Waves of Destruction? She talks about how intolerant she is of anyone who disagrees with her. You can see right here what Cori means by that. When somebody tells you who they are, believe them. I did not like the Caruso deal and voted No. But that was not a vote for years of trashing Matt Hall and the rest of the City Council all over the internet every single day. A personality cult has formed around this person, aided by a small group of people who go after with anybody who dares to disagree. I’m going to vote for Mayor Mall because of it.
The most telling thing about some of these people posting in response to me is that NONE of them have ever disputed the facts of my assertion (ie that Hall takes corporate money and is beholden to developers, hotel owners, Sempra/SDGE, etc). He may be a nice guy but he is a horrible mayor. And as for the Rotary…nothing against their charitable work. I applaud it. But stay out of politics! It’s not in your mission statement. For too long most of us in Carlsbad were content to sit back and be passive and let it happen. But Hall’s bogus deal with Caruso woke us up! Hall and Caruso CREATED Cori and motivated us to mobilize and get involved. Matt Hall made his greatest political blunder by overreaching because he got complacent and greedy. Time to go. Cori is everything that Hall is not…dedicated, informed, intelligent, honest, open-minded, etc. Frank can complain that she takes money from the Democratic Party. Hah! Of course she does. So when will Matt stop taking money from the SD Republicans and Lincoln Club? Not the point…he also takes money from developers who have pending business. Cori RETURNED $6000 to Gerber. FACT! Now Al, Frank, Tom, et al…care to debate facts?
Cori will not have to tolerate fools like the people posting here for long. They’ll have to get over it and get with the program. It’s payback time. She will stop the growth. She will chase out the tourists. The greedy business people and landowners of Carlsbad have only a few weeks left to cash in. Maybe they will all move. Everything Cori says is the epitome of transparency. She is a saint for putting up with all these questions. Cori is a genius. Have you ever read her newsletters? Great changes are coming whether the Hi-Noon Rotary likes it or not. A new sheriff is coming to town, I hope they hate it so much they just leave. Cori has extremely progressive ideas to transform Carlsbad forever. You will not recognize this place when she gets done.
Frank,
Just one post would be sufficient for us to understand that you have no idea what you are talking about. Obviously you are one of Hall’s buddies (or a paid operative of the Lincoln Club).
And Tom, I wholeheartedly agree. Why don’t you tell all of the two-faced liars who claim to be “good” people when they keep trying to smear Cori with all the “name-calling”? You can’t have it both ways. I’m happy to engage in “civil” discourse just as soon as people like Hall and his supporters start acting in a civil fashion. Instead Hall shuts down speakers at meetings in an attempt to silence opposition and his supprters resort to phony mailers filled with lies.
Cori Schumacher is beholden to Sacramento politics and the activist progress Democratic agenda. Cori takes her money from the Democratic Party and their activist lawyers and law. firm affiliates. Cori is a San Diego County Democratic Party coastal puppet. Her activist lawyer friends don’t add value to cities, in fact, they are blood suckers ready to litigate while lining their pockets and depriving the hard working lower and middle class I to whom they purportedly support.
Cori is dangerous for Carlsbad and Carlsbad City Government.
Thanks Addie for bringing up Rotary as well. The nearly 200 strong Carlsbad Rotary members are always happy to serve the local Carlsbad community with thousands of volunteer hours and hundreds of thousand dollars to improve the lives of the homeless, to support shelters, to support scholarships , to support Military families and people provide equipment for the Fire Department.
Cori is not who she appears to be in public. She’s a political opportunist and a party bully. Just ask a former and current Council Candidates who don’t tow the line. She will eat her own with no ethical or moral qualms. Cori’s transparency platform should be challenged and questioned.
Addie, why resort to name calling, don’t we all want what’s best for Carlsbad. I find that dialogue and discussion is much more productive. I am a native San Diegan and understand the value of good growth management and local control. I chose to move to Carlsbad some thirty years ago because we are a close community with a good growth management plan and overall vision. Some will bury their heads in the sand and try to stop all development but this is not realistic. We need more housing in California and Carlsbad consistently strives for a balanced approach to development, including housing, commercial and retail growth. We are a model to many other cities nationally, let’s not be so quick to throw that all away. Now, I am off to watch the sunset and grab a bite at one of our new dining establishments . . .
Oh, and Al, say Hi to all your buddies with the Hi-Noon Rotary who think they run Carlsbad. After November, they won’t be calling the shots any longer.
And another thing…anyone who lists Milo Yiannoapoulos on his Facebook simply provides evidence that he is incapable of discerning the difference between facts and lies.
I’ll admit one thing about Matt Hall. He’s a better man than Trump (but that’s not saying much)
Addie, why resort to name calling, don’t we all want what’s best for Carlsbad. I find that dialogue and discussion is much more productive. I am a native San Diegan and understand the value of good growth management and local control. I chose to move to Carlsbad some thirty years ago because we are a close community with a good growth management plan and overall vision. Some will bury their heads in the sand and try to stop all development but this is not realistic. We need more housing in California and Carlsbad consistently strives for a balanced approach to development, including housing, commercial and retail growth. We are a model to many other cities nationally, let’s not be so quick to throw that all away. Now, I am off to watch the sunset and grab a bite at one of our new dining establishments . . .
Addie, what with the name calling? Aren’t we all residents of Carlsbad and pretty much want the same thing; I find dialogue and conversation works best. There are those who would bury their heads in the sand and hope ‘nothing changes’ but that is not reality. I am a San Diego native and understand the value of controlled growth and management. I chose to live in Carlsbad some thirty years ago partly because it is a well governed, planned and welcoming community. Deny it if you want, but the entire state is in need of housing and the right mix of housing, commercial and retail development ensures a solid tax base and engaged citizens. Now I am off to watch the sunset and than grab a little dinner in the village . . .
Al,
If you’re too lazy to go to the Carlsbad website and look them up, that’s too bad. If you’re too stupid to do it, I’m not surprised. But for starters how about Chuckie Smith who just had a huge building project approved downtown? How about Shopoff Realty from the OC who want to build the Ponto Beach Project? How about all the other out-of-town money? How about all the thousands that come from the hotel people, either directly or through their spouses and employees? Shall I go on or is that enough for you? Then look at Cori’s donors….mostly small amounts and nearly 100% local. But since you must support Hall you really don’t care, do you? The FACTS speak for themselves. Cori has the support of people who live in Carlsbad. Hall has the support of the local big money establishment and outside interests who want to turn Carlsbad into THEIR vision (OUR nightmare) aka Huntington Beach South. No thanks! I’m voting for Cori and honesty, sanity, transparency, and integrity.
addie, care to name names?
Don’t pay attention to the amounts. Pay attention to where the money comes from. You’ll see a very striking difference between who supports Cori and who supports Hall. It’s not very hard to figure out why.
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