VISTA – Partisan politics surfaced in two local, nonpartisan races yesterday, when a school board member criticized the incumbent mayor for endorsing two school board candidates, including one who is a registered Democrat.
Vista Unified School District trustee Stephen Guffanti said he sent an e-mail to more than 2,000 people yesterday, saying Mayor Morris Vance “promised” the Republican Party of San Diego County that he wouldn't endorse a Democratic candidate in Tuesday's election.
“Unfortunately, that was not a deal he kept,” Guffanti later said.
Ron Nehring, chairman of the Republican Party of San Diego County, said the party endorsed Vance for mayor but declined to comment on whether Vance made the pledge Guffanti claimed he did. But Nehring said “it's unhelpful” when Republican elected officials don't support Republican candidates.
“The overwhelming majority of Republican elected officials and candidates support fellow Republicans,” he said. “From time to time, that's not the case. And when that happens, it's not helpful.”
Vance, a registered Republican, endorsed incumbent Carol Weise Herrera, a registered Democrat, and Elizabeth Jaka, who is unaffiliated, for two available seats on the Vista Unified board.
Vance said he did make the pledge to the Republican Party but wasn't aware of Herrera's affiliation when he endorsed her. He noted the school board race is nonpartisan.
Vance backed Herrera and Jaka, who are running on the same slate, because they support the construction of dual magnet high schools near state Route 76 and Melrose Drive, he said.
“Politics set aside, I think that's what's best for the city of Vista,” Vance said. “I know that Mrs. Herrera is very anxious to see the high schools built.”
Herrera's response to the issue was to say, “It's very narrow of Dr. Guffanti to make that kind of statement.”
Other school board candidates include Patty Anderson, Cody Campbell, incumbent Jim Gibson, and Mickey Sanders.
Campbell, Herrera, Jaka, and Sanders support building the schools at the district's Melrose location; Anderson and Gibson want a more central site.
In the mayoral race, Vance is running for a second term against challengers Mark Anthony and George Mantor.
Matthew Rodriguez:
(760) 476-8239; matthew.rodriguez@uniontrib.com
