The Grand Jury's Big Flub

I can't understand why people don't admit it when they're wrong. Especially when it's obvious to everybody that they're wrong.

Morning Report: The Grand Jury's Big Flub
Jun 17, 2010
Voice of San Diego

It's a pretty stunning number: $679 million.

According to the San Diego County Grand Jury, that's how much the county has saved through outsourcing, managed competition and other cost-cutting strategies. A grand jury report implies that the savings came over 16 months in 2007 and 2008.

The Union-Tribune adapted the statistic in an editorial bashing the city for failing to more fully embrace outsourcing.

But there's a problem with using that number for the 16-month period: It's just plain wrong.

As we show in our latest Fact Check post, the savings actually refers to the period from 1998 to 2008.

The grand jury's forewoman responded to us with this head-scratcher: "I stand by what was written in the report. I have no response to give you, to correct or deny."

Ernie Dronenburg will be opposing county assessor David Butler

When he was on the San Diego County Office of Education board, Ernie Dronenburg was a firm supporter of Diane Croiser. He wouldn't even acknowledge a constituent's information about problems in the business office at SDCOE. (His attitude seemed to be the same as Sergeant Schultz on Hogan's Heroes: "I know nothing!") He stood shoulder to shoulder with Bob Watkins in refusing to question practices regarding the SDCOE Joint Powers Authority. What was the result of this attitude? Among other fiascos, Dronenburg's inaction resulted in the MiraCosta College Mess.

I figured Dronenburg just wasn't interested in politics. I thought he had been drafted to serve on the SDCOE board when it was being torn apart by crazies. But I was wrong. Dronenburg is interested in politics. Politics as usual. Shame on him.


More Intrigue in the Assessor's Race
David Butler is a 34-year veteran of the assessor's office and currently serves as assessor.
Kelly Bennett
Voice of San Diego
Jun 9, 2010

For the first time since the early 1980s, the county assessor/recorder/clerk post is up for grabs.

And in the obscure race, last night's results brought even more drama.

David Butler, the appointed assessor, garnered 36.8 percent of the vote last night. He'll face a runoff in November with longtime politician Ernie Dronenburg, who snagged 34.2 percent of the vote...