One View: Summer political scrapbook

No contest? Although the June primary is less than a year away, no Democrat has stepped forward to challenge San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Some speculated that termed-out Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins might run. Although it’s hard to believe she would sit out four years, Toni has formed a fundraising committee to run for Marty Block’s state Senate seat when he is termed out in 2020. That would seem to rule Atkins out for the mayor’s race.

To have any chance of beating Faulconer in November 2016, the Democrats need two or more candidates in the June primary. Against a single challenger, the mayor could win election in June. A second or third challenger might prevent Faulconer from getting to 50 percent in the primary. The Democrat who survived would face Faulconer in November, when the allure of the presidential race will increase Democratic turnout. While San Diego County, historically a Republican stronghold, is 35 percent Democratic and 34 percent Republican, in the city of San Diego Dems enjoy a registration edge of 39 to 27 percent — and with independents (Decline to State, DTS) outnumbering Republicans at 29 percent.

Paseo not so grande. Community workshops have begun on the redesign of One Paseo. Be sure you voice is heard. If you want updates from Mitigate One Paseo, please contact Diana Scheffler dianascheffler1@gmail.com.

Here’s my idea.Since most of the One Paseo traffic will come from the west on Del Mar Heights Road, why not locate one entrance to the center at its northwest corner? As eastbound traffic crosses High Bluff Drive, a new right lane could take cars directly into the shopping center, allowing them to run parallel to DM Heights Road before turning right into the center. This would make it unnecessary for eastbound traffic to go one block further east where it would share a single entrance with westbound traffic turning left into the center.

Contrarian. Del Mar resident Peter Kaye died at home June 15. He was 87. Peter won an Emmy for his coverage of the 1974 Watergate hearings for public television. He was a reporter and editor at the San Diego Union-Tribune, retiring in 1993. He worked for Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Pete Wilson. Although we often were on different sides politically, I always enjoyed talking with Peter and held him in high regard because of his many accomplishments.

Gordon Clanton teaches sociology at San Diego State University. He welcomes comments at gclanton@mail.sdsu.edu.