The California Presidential Primary Election booklets have arrived in the mail and it’s time to start making decisions as voters. Many voters who have not had a chance to get to know the candidates personally will rely on what’s written on candidate websites, stories written by the media, and friends who may have insight.

To my knowledge, there are no ‘candidate review’ sites equivalent to the ‘restaurant review’ sites like Yelp or ‘travel review’ sites like TripAdvisor, which people can rely on to judge a candidate based on the experience of others who have gone before them.

So, I’ll take a few minutes to share my experiences with two of the candidates in the San Diego Mayoral Election, Nathan Fletcher and Carl DeMaio. I’ve not had a chance to interact with two of the other main candidates in the race for San Diego Mayor, Bob Filner and Bonnie Dumanis so I’ll look forward to reading the reviews made by others who have interacted with them.

I’m someone who likes to get a detailed understanding of who wants to or is representing me in government. I try to see them in person so I can hear and see through body language and actions what they have to say without the filter of the media or their campaign’s carefully prepared advertising.

Since Nathan Fletcher is my State Assemblyman, I took the opportunity to attend town hall meetings he has held during his three years in office. He attracted good sized crowds, spoke well, carried a lot of energy, and appeared very polished despite being a novice in political office. The latter seemed to be explained when I learned his wife Mindy used to be the Deputy Campaign Manager and Deputy Chief of Staff for former governor Arnold Schwarzenneger. She apparently had worked with the 2004 re-election of George Bush for President as well. Thus, it appeared to me and with others I would speak to at events that considering his skills, connections, and his military experience in Afghanistan, he had the potential to rise up the political ladder to national attention.

However, the one thing I could never seem to do was break through to actually meet Nathan Fletcher in person. When the opportunity arises, I like to look a politician in the eye, shake their hand, and ask questions if time allows to get a better feel for the person. In year’s past I’d been able to do that with eventual President Bill Clinton, eventual Vice-President Joe Biden, and even exchange emails with the staff of Fletcher’s predecessor, Assemblyman George Plescia.

But for some reason, I sensed that a well-oiled political machine was already forming around the novice politician. It felt like unless I had money, connections, or a special cause, there was going to be no look in the eye and shake of the hand. He was already being sheltered and groomed for higher office.

Earlier in the mayoral campaign, before Fletcher left the Republican Party and made national headlines for doing so, it didn’t appear he was getting much support beyond those with money, connections, and special causes. He had many high profile name supporters who put big dollars into his campaign but very little traction among the voters in San Diego and more importantly among those he represented as Assemblyman.

Now, for the 2012 San Diego Mayoral Race, the only point of comparison I have is my City Councilman Carl DeMaio. I met DeMaio at a Mira Mesa Street Fair prior to him becoming City Councilman. When I went to introduce myself, not only did I get a look in the eye and shake of the hand but the opportunity to ask questions. Then he started asking about me and what I wanted out of city government. He certainly made a good first impression but it’s what he did afterwards that has compelled me to write this review of the San Diego Mayoral Candidates.

When I meet a politician, I don’t expect them to remember me since they meet lots of people. But, at least it gives me a chance to get to better know them so I can take that into account when I hear and read second hand stories about their activity. Not with Carl. He not only remembered our conversation but he followed up by email and phone seeking ideas and feedback, all the while asking me how I was doing with my endeavors and my health. (For those who haven’t seen my very first blog post, it was about my recovery from heart surgery in the Mother Theresa Room at Scripps.)

During his three years in office, I’ve learned others in my community have had the same experience with DeMaio. He’s very much a hands on person who seeks ideas from a wide-range of people, not just those with money, connections, or a cause.

I can understand when some perceive DeMaio as being a bit bombastic when it comes to pension issues, which has been his main issue and receives all of the media attention. But, beyond pensions, Carl has been very hands on in listening to what all of his residents want in terms of city services and working to find ways to make it happen. That is why I believe polls show DeMaio has a large lead over Fletcher in the areas where residents have be represented by both politicians.

Maybe DeMaio’s strong personality has something to do with his challenging upbringing but I’d like to let people know how much he cares about everyone he meets, how much he desires to do what is best to make San Diego government an entity we can trust once again to look out for the interests of everyone and not just the interest of those of influence, and that he is open to ideas from others on how to make San Diego a great city we can be proud of.

I look forward to reading about the experiences of others with our mayoral candidates. For now, if you are open to considering DeMaio for Mayor, I suggest taking a look at his ideas on how to make San Diego a great city.

On a final note, consider that DeMaio is not just someone full of ideas but also someone who has an excellent track record of executing on those ideas and turning them into reality.

A lot of famous actors and actresses got their start in San Diego. I’ll provide a background description on some of the more famous actors from San Diego and let you guess who they are.

1. After graduating from Julliard, I came out to San Diego to start my career with a three year internship performing at The Old Globe in Balboa Park. I would eventually become the star of my own TV sitcoms. Who am I?

2. My father was an aerospace engineer who moved us to La Jolla when I was two years old. I would eventually become Miss La Jolla, which was my first step to stardom. In 2010, I released my auto-biography and philosophy for life. Who am I?

3. We recently interviewed on ABC’s TV show, The View, during which we began reminiscing about first meeting at the Comedy Store in La Jolla. We’ve gone on to great success as stand-up comics and performing in major films. One of us used to work as a dishwasher at a venerable San Diego restaurant and then eventually help start the San Diego Repertory Theatre. Who am I? Extra bonus: Who was the other person on The View who occasionally returns to San Diego to ride a bike in charity events?

4. While growing up as a kid in La Jolla and watching so many planes flying around the area, I was inspired to become a pilot. I was personally selected by John F. Kennedy to fill an important movie role. In 1968, I won an Oscar. In 2005, my beachfront home in La Jolla sold for $16.5 million. Who am I?

5. My dad owned a pharmacy in La Jolla, right at the corner of Girard and Prospect. I made my way to Broadway before I eventually ended up in Hollywood. I would eventually win an Academy Award in 1962. While in Hollywood I missed performing on stage in front of a live audience. So, I brought my fellow Hollywood stars to La Jolla for the summers, where we started our own theatre company. Who am I?

6. I too grew up in La Jolla. I starred in such films as Forrest Gump and Princess Bride. Until 2010, I was married to another famous actor. Who am I?

7. I was voted ‘most likely to succeed’ at Helix High School. I interned as a stagehand at the La Jolla Playhouse and performed with the San Diego Junior Theatre and Old Globe Theatre. I went on to become a well-known actor, writer, and director, earning two Academy Award nominations, including one for supporting actor in Hoosiers. Who am I?

8. I moved to San Diego when I was 7 years old, attended Patrick Henry High School and Mesa College, during which time I performed with the San Diego Junior Theatre and Old Globe Theatre. I went on to earn four Academy Award nominations. I’m currently married to a famous actor, who I starred with in a movie remake about two star crossed lovers who had agreed to meet at the top of the Empire State Building. Who am I?

So, go ahead and post your guesses below. I’ll be curious to see if anyone can name all eight actors (and actresses) from San Diego described above.

Update: Thank you to the Facebook fans of the San Diego Junior Theatre, who came up with 5 of the 8 answers. Below, you will see Shannon correctly guessed all eight Hollywood Actors from San Diego. However, I’m still looking to see if anyone can answer the bonus question on #3. I reveal another hint in the comments below.