Hope everyone is appreciating the sun this April Fools. San Diegans waiting for warm spring weather, like me, aren’t ready for April showers to bring us May gray.
Take this spring break to get outside, talk to your neighbors and remind them that November is coming. Your vote locally and nationally make a difference. We can’t risk losing ground here in California – or anywhere. Let’s work to strengthen our community hope this summer so we are ready to work early fall.
Thank you for your continued support to keep the heart of San Diego blue. Sincerely, Nicole & the CDC Board
Sadly, we recently lost a dedicated Clairemont Democratic Club member, John Carston. John was a Clairemont resident for decades who was always enhancing his beautiful garden. He leaves behind his family and beloved wife Linda Carston, who served as this Club’s Treasurer for almost a decade. We know that he loved Linda and Linda misses him dearly.
Please keep Linda and her family in your thoughts.
We will have an opportunity at our general meeting to share memories of John and a moment of silence.
We are voting to elect our next Executive Board to serve you this election cycle – so PLEASE COME VOTE.
Look forward to a data driven discussion about: – How our endorsed candidates did. – What area turned out? – How Clairemont did? – What areas can we focus on in preparation for November?
We have a few outstanding endorsement considerations before ballots drop. Once we have this round final we will publish the Clairemont Democratic Club’s Voter Guide!
Consent Calendar
U.S. President - Joe Biden (Friendly Incumbent Endorsement)
County Board of Education, District 1 – Gregg Robinson (Friendly Incumbent Endorsement)
U.S. Senate, as recommended by the Executive Board - Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee as Qualified/Acceptable
Central Committee, Clairemont candidates as recommended by the Executive Board - Nicole Crosby, Indroneal Banerjee, Ryan Trabuco
Endorsement Considerations (Click the Proposition or Measure for more information!)
We will be considering judicial endorsements for two seats on the March ballot.
Seat 41 Jodi Cleesattle.
Jodi Cleesattle (she/her/hers) is a Supervising Deputy Attorney General in the Employment and Administrative Mandate Section of the California Department of Justice in its San Diego office. She oversees a team of litigators and manages her own caseload of employment litigation, workplace and Title IX investigations, and other civil litigation. She previously was a partner with a Washington, D.C.-based national law firm and, prior to her legal career, was a newspaper reporter and magazine editor.
Jodi is active in various bar associations as well as in community service. She currently serves as First Vice President of California Women Lawyers and chairs its Amicus Committee. She is a board member of the San Diego County Bar Association, having also served a previous term, and she is vice president of the Tom Homann LGBTQ+ Law Association, co-chairing both its Amicus Committee and its CLE & Community Service Committee. Jodi is a member of the National Association of Women Judges and serves on its LGBTQ+ Committee and its Judicial Independence Committee.
Jodi is also a past board member of Lawyers Club of San Diego, a bar association dedicated to the advancement of the status of women; a past chair of the California State Bar’s Public Law Section; and past co-chair of the Council of State Bar Sections. She volunteers with and serves as president of Juvenile Court Book Club, a nonprofit that provides tutoring and book clubs for teens incarcerated in San Diego County, and she is a longtime volunteer for Rachel’s Women’s Center, where she cooks meals once a month for the women served by the shelter.
She was named the 2021 Ronald M. George Public Lawyer of the Year by the California Lawyers Association, and she received Lawyers Club’s 2014 Community Service Award for her volunteer work.
Jodi received her B.A. in Communications, cum laude, from American University in Washington, D.C., and received her J.D., summa cum laude, from American University’s Washington College of Law.
She has two young adult children, three dogs, and two cats and lives in San Diego.
Seat 43 Koryn Sheppard
Throughout my 15 years of legal practice, I have dedicated myself to the pursuit of justice, fairness, and the rule of law. I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of our legal system and the impact it has on the lives of individuals and families. As a judge, I am committed to ensuring that every person who enters my courtroom is treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their background or circumstances.
My professional career has been focused on serving the best interests of San Diego families. As a judicial officer, I will continue to dedicate myself to ensuring that San Diego is a safe and prosperous place for children, families, and all its hard-working citizens. San Diego is known as “America’s Finest City.” As such, San Diego deserves America’s finest public servants who are dedicated to following the law, ensuring public safety, protecting families and children, and fortifying community resources so that San Diegans can thrive.
San Diegans are profoundly impacted by the Family Law courts. Our citizens are far more likely to come into contact with the legal system via Family Court than any other area of the law. Children’s lives are shaped and changed in Family Court. This is why it is vital for Family Court judges to have experienced Family Law practitioners- so that families can be assured that the most important aspects of their lives are handled with care, understanding, and knowledge. I can offer that experience to San Diegans, who can rest assured that their Family Court matter is handled with expertise by someone who truly cares about this area of the law.
Our courts are in dire need of Judges who have substantial experience in Family Law. Your support can contribute to ensuring that qualified legal professionals with diverse legal backgrounds are elected to the Superior Court.
I am excited about the opportunity to bring my experience, dedication, and passion for justice to the role of a Superior Court judge in San Diego. Together, we can work towards a legal system that serves as a beacon of fairness, equality, and justice for all.
In the coming months, I look forward to meeting with members of our community, listening to your concerns, and earning your trust and support. With your help, we can ensure that our judicial system continues to uphold the values that make our society strong and just.
Thank you for your support, and I am eager to embark on this journey with all of you.
Although we will not be meeting this month, I’d like to mention that this November there are things to celebrate and things to mourn.
First, we lost a good one – Howard Wayne.
Howard Wayne served our communities as a member of the legislature, as a longtime community volunteer, and as a Democratic activist. Most recently, he volunteered at our club booth on Clairemont Family Day, before he had to rush off to watch SDSU play some football.
Howard’s heart was big and vision great. He is greatly missed.
Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe WON A BIG ONE!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLUB ENDORSED CANDIDATE San Diego City Councilmember and President Pro Tem MONICA MONTGOMERY-STEPPE
She is our Supervisor-elect for District 4! Although the race hasn’t been certified, it is pretty clear that she’s been ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE!!!!We look forward to supporting her work across the County!
ENDORSEMENT ALERTS!
DECEMBER EXCITEMENT
Stay tuned for details on the December Clairemont Democratic Club Holiday Fun. We will celebrate with a number of clubs from around the County. Save the date DECEMBER 9, 2023.
This October we will be considering an endorsement in the San Diego City Attorney race. The City Attorney serves as the chief legal advisor to the Mayor, City Council, and all City departments. In addition, the City Attorney serves as the City’s prosecutor, representing the People of the State of California in criminal court.
Also, we will consider a Friendly Incumbent Endorsement for School Board President Sabrina Bazzo!
Make your voice heard – it matters!
October 10, Tuesday at 7:00 PM – ZOOM Registration for the October 10 Clairemont Democratic Club VOTING Meeting: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
For our upcoming virtual meeting on September 12th at 7:00pm, we will make decisions on key elections including the November Special Election for Board of Supervisor’s District 4. Make your voice heard!
We will consider an official endorsement for Monica Montgomery Steppe, and consider an endorsement in the open State Senate District 39 seat (Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins is termed out).
Also, we will consider friendly incumbent endorsements for Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, Assemblymember Chris Ward, and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria!
Finally, we will hear a presentation on membership growth from Fallbrook Democratic Club President Ross Pike.
Join us for our next club meeting on Tuesday, March 14th at 7:00pm in-person at Denny’s Clairemont Town Square. Address is 4280 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92117.
We will be hosting our guest speaker Assemblymember Chris Ward, who now represents all of Clairemont in the 78th Assembly District, and was recently named as Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore.
Also, we will be conducting elections for our club’s executive board. The slate of candidates that were presented to our club at our previous meeting, include:
President: Nicole Crosby
Vice President: Rhoda Quate
Secretary: Ryan Trabuco
Treasurer: Indroneal Banerjee
Although nominations will be open from the floor, only candidates in good standing will be eligible to serve.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in-person soon!
Ryan Trabuco Club President Clairemont Democratic Club
Clairemont Democratic Club 