Name-calling is what you do when you can’t defend your ideas or engage in debate knowledgeably.
Full disclosure: The undersigned are Democrats, progressive liberals and left-leaning residents. No Republicans are among us.
We are fed up with the use of the single word “MAGA” to bypass informed discussion, so voters truly know what policies and candidates they will support. We are disgusted by the dog whistle that urges left-leaning voters to cede their vote based on the single word “MAGA,” which should offend voters of every stripe.
The ad from local developer attorney Marco Gonzalez’s “Conserve North County” PAC is part of a Trump-like strategy to sway voters into following blindly, one we reject.
Democrat Encinitas council candidates Rimga Viskanta, Arielle Golden and Brad Lefkowits rely heavily on this messaging. They must think we’re stupid.
Instead of being led by chants of “MAGA,” consider whether these candidates will represent you. From the Sept. 17, 2026, St. Andrews forum:
Viskanta — At 58:28, starting with “Imagine if we had local control…,” she laid out her vision. Except we don’t have local control free from state mandates. Meeting these mandates in a fictitious world is irresponsible, dangerous and does not align with reality.
Golden — At 13:50, she said her No. 1 priority is to raise fees commensurate with area cities. The current council did just that recently. Not known for prior engagement in city politics, even while campaigning, Golden remains disconnected.
Lefkowits — At 59:26, he proposes an affordable housing approach that only one city has used, Huntington Beach. Now the subject of multiple lawsuits, that city is on the hook for $400 million for a single site.
These are not one-off examples; they indicate personality types that will not change. Collectively, they don’t pay attention to current events or the issues we face. This is who they are and what we would get if they were elected.
The MAGA label goes far beyond lazy campaigning. Its use reveals an inability to improve on the current council’s policy and actions. It resorts to gaslighting and alternative facts to bring our good, honest council members down to the labeler’s inauthentic level, where they will say anything to win.
We, the undersigned, simply ask that you do your own homework and hear what all candidates have to offer. Do not fall for the single-word dog whistle “MAGA” as a shortcut to deciding your vote.
This commentary was submitted by Peter Stern, Denise Martin, Kathleen Lindemann, Jerry Sodomka, Ruben Flores, Joe Cooper, Sheila Cameron, Susan Turney, Sarah Lifton, Katrin Flechsig, Mary Fleener and Lynn Marr.
