Morning Report: The GOP’s Power Struggle
EM - News Moderator 
San Diego County Republicans have a math problem.
A decade ago, Republicans in San Diego County were nearly even with Democrats in voter registration. Today, they’re down almost 13 points. Eleven cities once had more registered Republicans than Democrats. Now, only four do.
The Republicans that are left have started to cannibalize each other, writes contributor Mason Herron.
The split is between two major groups: the traditional Republican Party of San Diego County and Assemblymember Carl DeMaio’s Reform California. Both groups are powerful — and sometimes row in opposite directions.
Reform — which relies on small donors and an energized base — doesn’t need candidates to win to keep growing and raising money. The County Republican Party does. As elections become more competitive, the different incentive structures are becoming more of a tension point.
- Bonus reads: Former GOP chair Corey Gustafson claimed DeMaio’s group is a menace, wrecking the local party, in an opinion piece for Voice. In the Politics Report, Scott Lewis analyzed the divide and asked DeMaio for comment. He texted back, “LOL.”
Killing the Strong Mayor System?
A San Diego councilmember recently made a provocative suggestion: significantly reduce the mayor’s power.
Councilmember Henry Foster would like to see a ballot measure to get rid of the strong mayor form of government, he told our reporter Mariana Martínez Barba.
Foster has been critical of current Mayor Todd Gloria’s leadership.
Under the strong mayor system, the mayor acts as chief executive officer. Departments report to them. They have the power to hire and fire. Under a weak mayor system, the mayor serves on the City Council and act much like Council President acts now.
Border Report: Another Failed Attempt to Inspect a Detention Facility
Last week, three San Diego officials were barred from inspecting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center.
Officials blocked two county supervisors, Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre, as well as Sen. Alex Padilla, from inspecting the Otay Mesa Detention Center on Friday.
A county public health officer, along with an inspection contractor, were allowed entry, but were only given limited access.
In recent months, ICE officials have also denied members of Congress entry into the Otay Mesa Detention Center. In previous administrations, elected officials and journalists were granted far broader access to detention facilities, Voice contributor Kate Morrisey writes.
In Other News
- The number of police traffic stops in the city of San Diego have fallen by 57 percent since 2014, data shows. Meanwhile, since 2014, the number of traffic deaths have increased by about 47 percent. (KPBS)
- Thirty-three regional elected officials signed and sent a joint letter to Escondido officials on Monday urging them to find a way to cancel an Escondido Police Department contract allowing ICE to use one of the department’s shooting ranges for training. (Union-Tribune)
- The U.S. government is still urging U.S. citizens in several areas in Mexico to shelter in place after a joint U.S.-Mexico military operation killed cartel leader “El Mencho.” Violence quickly erupted in response to his death, leading to canceled and delayed flights that may not resume until next week. (Union-Tribune)
- After about a month of protests, the union that represents more than 30,000 Kaiser Permanente announced that their strike officially ends today. (Union-Tribune)
The Morning Report was written by Tigist Layne and Will Huntsberry. It was edited by Will Huntsberry.
The post Morning Report: The GOP’s Power Struggle appeared first on Voice of San Diego.
