Three days after the 2012 elections have ended is too soon to know what significant consequences are in store. In life, the decisions we make often have reverberations that follow us throughout our lives.
But it’s not too soon to make quick observations and snap judgments I’ll probably regret.
Council candidate Linda Wagner is this year’s version of Hollywood’s Tracy Flick, the fictional high school candidate who was so chipper and focussed during her student body campaign you almost couldn’t stand her. But unlike in the movie, Wagner’s dark side never emerged. Even when she was losing her bid to win, Wagner was all smiles (check out the video on our website). Conclusion, either Wagner is deserving of an Academy Award for her performance or she’s got enough pep to light the eastern seaboard after the next super storm strikes.
Familiar face Mary Salas is coming back to her place on the dais. In 2004 she left because she was termed out. And because Chula Vista is the city that can never seem to say goodbye, she’s back because there’s no law that says you can’t come back to your old job on the council even though you’ve had ample opportunity to a) destroy the city or b) make it bigger and better.
During her campaign Salas was accused by opponents of using the next two years on the council as a stepping stone to the mayor’s chair in 2014.
On election night Salas didn’t say she would run for mayor. And she didn’t say she wouldn’t. Like any politician, she’s keeping her options open. Let’s hope Salas keeps her opinionated mouth open, too, and is not muzzled by her colleagues for however long she’s on the council. Her predescessor/successor Steve Castaneda is famous for being direct and blunt, a characteristic appreciated by the people he served. And reporters who covered him.
Salas’s former opponent for State Senate and newly-elected Congressman Juan Vargas was at election central Tuesday.
While Vargas endorsed outgoing congressman Bob Filner in his bid for San Diego’s mayorship, Vargas and Filner are famous for their political battles.
Two years ago Filner and congressional candidate Nick Popaditch also had a nasty rivalry as Popaditch tried to unseat Filner.
As Vargas was leaving Golden Hall election night he stopped Popaditch — who now was losing his bid to unseat Congresswoman Susan Davis — looked him in the eye and told him he thought Popaditch would make a good congressman one day.
Vargas has to run for re-election in two years. Maybe Popaditch will take his words to heart and take a stab at his district. Those words of encouragment could just find themselves in a campaign ad opposing Vargas. Remember what I said about decisions coming back to find you?
