By Jim Miller
Last Friday evening, after five grueling hours of candidate interviews and spirited debate, the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council overwhelmingly endorsed David Alvarez for mayor.
This decision came after weeks of intense lobbying on the part of former labor leader Lorena Gonzalez, who, along with other powerful Democratic power brokers and money people were seeking to clear the field of genuinely progressive candidates in order to anoint Nathan Fletcher as the “only choice.”
Indeed, while Democratic money bundler Christine Forrester was writing to her well-heeled contacts praising Fletcher as “an astute business leader, worthy of representing and evolving Qualcomm’s business interests” and someone “well-suited to find common denominators between left and right” in order to create a “bipartisan platform from which San Diego can soar,” Gonzalez was repackaging him as a working class hero about whom she said to her list of labor folks, “the more he learned about economic justice issues, the better champion he became.”
And while the official Gonzalez blessing came the day before the formal Labor Council endorsement process, the fact is that she was consistently working labor leaders for Fletcher outside of the Labor Council endorsement process for a couple of months. And, as I have written here before, Gonzalez has been informally promoting Fletcher to folks in labor and Democratic circles for a few years over the strong objections of many in labor . Fortunately, it didn’t work. Hence, the “everybody knows” crowd was wrong again.
As a member of the Labor Council COPE committee, I can’t comment on the specifics of our discussion, but I can say that I am very proud of the way the rank and file union members listened to and evaluated a long list of worthy candidates, including Fletcher, and ultimately stood on principle rather than giving in to political expediency.
What all the criticism of labor as a cynical “special interest group” misses is that what folks in that room most cared about was not just picking the leading horse in the race who might toss them a favor in exchange for their work and money, but what the core values of the candidates were. And I am equally proud of the labor leaders who stood on principle and supported the decision of the COPE committee. It was a real democratic process where ideas and candidates’ records mattered. Win or lose, it speaks well of the future of labor in San Diego.
As for Alvarez, he does not just have an impeccable record on labor issues but has stood out as a solid progressive on a wide range of other issues affecting our city from transportation to planning and more. Alvarez has not been afraid to be the lone vote on the City Council when his core values were at stake, and he brings a solid history of tough votes to the table rather than a list of apologies, equivocations, and vague promises.
Alvarez does not need to repackage himself as a “neighborhoods first” candidate because he IS already a neighborhoods first leader. As a councilman representing one of San Diego’s historically neglected communities he has fought hard to bring resources to places like Barrio Logan. On the City Council, he supported Mayor Filner’s progressive policy agenda even when it was hard to do so. He will continue pushing for a “new San Diego” in a big, bold way, minus the tragic liabilities of our past mayor.
I do not know David Alvarez well personally but what stands out to me about him is that he speaks in terms of values and principles more than easy politics. He is married with children and is in his chosen vocation because he wants a better future for his family and community. He is earnest, principled, and dedicated to public service.
But let’s be honest, it won’t be easy. Alvarez has less name recognition than the other candidates and, as I have noted before, the electorate is less favorable for progressives in this kind of election. That said, Alvarez is an organizer who has hit the ground running and has already built a solid base of support outside of the Labor Council. And it should be remembered that as a young up and comer, Alvarez beat Felipe Hueso to win his current City Council seat, despite Hueso having full Labor Council support under the previous administration, by out organizing and out campaigning him.
What is exciting about Alvarez is that he has the potential to help build the progressive base in San Diego. He would be the first mayor of Mexican-American heritage and that should help inspire voters who might not otherwise come out to get engaged.
An Alvarez campaign also offers new opportunities for labor-community alliances and voter registration efforts that, win or lose, will build something for the future in a way that would not have been possible if labor had taken the less principled, expedient path. In sum, an Alvarez campaign is a chance for local labor to start deepening its commitment to a new direction that seeks broad-based social justice for the whole community rather than playing the same old tired political games.
So, let’s get to work!
Jim Miller
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It seems to me it is a little early to endorse a candidate. What’s the rush? Can’t wait until the deadline for filing is over? Too soon for me.
The rush is that “Democrat” carpetbagger Fletcher has a head start. Alvarez is the only realistic chance that progressives have of retaining the mayoral seat.
What about Bruce Coons?
A person of Mexican-American heritage would be great for San Diego. But it all comes down to demographics. Are there enough Mexican-Americans to swing the vote?
Let’s remember, with one Republican and some 20 Democrats in the race it’s going to be almost impossible to prevent some of the Dems from shooting at each other. We all should be trying to ensure that Coons, Alvarez and Aguirre, especially Aguirre, don’t get rewarded for shooting at other Demos.
I don’t know, Bob. I like Aguirre. I know virtually nothing about Alvarez and just because he is of Latino descent doesn’t mean that he is right for the job. As a former Principal in San Ysidro I met some great people, and there were some that were not so great. I know just as much about Coons and I do about Alvarez – wouldn’t recognize either on the street. The results shouldn’t be dependent on whether or not there are enough Mexican Americans to swing the vote. What should be the factor is which candidate is the best candidate and will do the best for the Citizens of San Diego. Another factor is who can been Faulkner? But I want to know more about Alvarez than the Labor Council supports him: Where does he stand on the new Stadium; where does he stand on the “Jack in the Box” fiasco? Where does he stand on a zillion other problems of San Diego? I just wish there was more known about him before giving him the endorsement.
Judi, I tend to agree with this point of view.
Democrat Latina Lori Saldana is gathering signatures to run for Mayor as we speak.
The more Dems the better, it seems to me, as their supporters will prevent a sweep by the Noveau Democratic candidate being fronted by bundler Christine Forester, Irwin Jacobs et al. The candidate who wins 50% of the voters plus one wins on November 19th.
It is a non-partisan race and a special election which likely will have a low turnout of voters — except for those high-propensity-voter folks who may fall for a pretty face backed by big bucks or a familiar face backed by the U-T.
The more we know about all candidates the better. It would be helpful to see here some classic bios of the main candidates once all the bids are in. Aguirre, Alvarez, Coons, Faulconer, Fletcher and Saldana. Length of time affiliated with political party, education, work experience, personal-best accomplishment(s), intended official focus.
Thank you, Frances, for putting the candidates in alphabetical order. A nice touch of detachment. It looks as three of them have Hispanic roots, and when the bios come out we can check their respective points of view.
“The more Dems the better” wins Best Short Post of the Day (so far). More
candidates, more political weather created.
Let Faulconer stand alone with his visionary pol-chat about stadiums and more
steel-and-glass on the harbor. The Dems should realize that Filner’s small scale programs for the park, defense of the neighborhoods and good planning was
popular with real people, who found it sensible. The Democratic candidates just
have to avoid the temptation of defeating the guy in front of them, rather than the
mahdis and grand panjandrums of glass and steel.
The way I see it, the race is now a three-way affair between Faulconer, Fletcher, with Alvarez bringing up the rear. Aguirre is far too hot-headed and volatile to be considered a frontrunner candidate, as demonstrated by his years as our City Attorney. Bruce Coons? No name recognition, and not nearly enough backing. Not a legitimate mayoral candidate.
Republicans typically fare much better in low turnout elections, so expect Faulconer to move on. The runoff now comes down to Fletcher and Alvarez. The question is whether Alvarez can bring his name recognition close to Fletcher’s level, and whether he can find a way to make the money he raises work harder and smarter for him than Fletcher can. He certainly won’t be able to raise the kind of money that Faulconer and Fletcher will. Doesn’t mean he can’t win, it just means it a bit more of an uphill battle for him.
Jim:
David Alvarez talks about putting neighborhoods first but he doesn’t walk that walk very well. He voted for the Convention Center expansion and the Tourism Marketing District taxes–both involving transfers of hundreds of millions of dollars from outside downtown to downtown. He was AWOL in the fight of the Sherman Heights community against the Walmart at the Farmers Market. He ignored the neighbors when he voted for the Shawnee project in Tierrasanta near Mission Trails Regional Park.
Yes, he has cast a few votes that are consistent with the “neighborhoods first” agenda, but those matters would have passed even without David’s vote. If the question is about “leadership,” David hasn’t yet proven that he’s willing to fight for what’s right. He seems to like to go along to get along.
And where is your boy Fletcher in regards to your points? At least we know that Alvarez is not a chameleon willing to change his colors to get elected. We also know that he has dedicated himself to bettering a community, Barrio Logan, that has been crapped on for decades. I’ll take my barrio brother over someone who rarely, if ever, has stepped inside one.
The up to 3% Special Tax for the Convention Center Expansion and the 2% TMD do not “transfers of hundreds of millions of dollars from outside downtown to downtown.” If Special Tax and TMD were not collected, then visitors would just return home with more money. At least now the effective 5% TOT increase keeps more money in San Diego.
The solution is to put the issue of a 5% TOT increase, from 10.5% to 15.5% through a public vote.
Since we will be paying $6 million for a citywide Special Election for Mayor we should put the pre-approved 5% TOT on the Ballot for infrastructure. Plus another ballot measure for a multi-purpose NFL Stadium and contiguous Convention Center Expansion on the Waterfront.
It is wondrous that SDFP seems to have gained a regular commenter in Cory Briggs, the “progressive” (not registered as a Democrat, by his own admission) lawyer who denounced Mayor Bob Filner twice from the Civic Plaza, alongside former Councilmember Donna Frye and environmental lawyer Marco Gonzalez.
Looks like Randy Dotinga has passed the baton to Cory Briggs.
So THAT’S where the baton went!
Cory’s wife ran a lovely coffeehouse, and he’s right on a few things. But seems like we disagree on lots of other stuff. I really need a better clone.
Couldn’t agree more. I’d rather have you to kick around than that drone called “Cory.”
Geez, Randy, you need to know where that baton is at all times.
I am glad that Lori Saldana has decided to enter the Mayoral race. She has a record of leadership in the CA Assembly, where she got a lot of her bills passed, particularly in the area of environmental protection, and where she rose up to be Speaker Pro Temp. She also has a fine record of leadership in the nonprofit sector, where she, currently, is head of the Sierra Club of San Diego. She is much more of a tried and true progressive electoral official than the other candidates running, and has an excellent record of supporting progressive legislation that helps the working man. We have to thank Cory Briggs for researching the voting record of the candidate that the S.D.-I.C. Labor Council chose to endorse. “…David Alvarez talks about putting neighborhoods first but he doesn’t walk that walk very well. He voted for the Convention Center expansion and the Tourism Marketing District taxes–both involving transfers of hundreds of millions of dollars from outside downtown to downtown. He was AWOL in the fight of the Sherman Heights community against the Walmart at the Farmers Market. He ignored the neighbors when he voted for the Shawnee project in Tierrasanta near Mission Trails Regional Park.” Lori has never been in the pocket of any interest group , including labor, so she did not get their endorsement. She, nevertheless, has a lot of other things going for her: she is a woman, and is much more immune than others to the backlash against Democrats for Bob Filner’s difficulties, she has had tremendous support from the environmental community for her in depth work in this area, Veterans know that she has a good understanding of their issues because of her family background in the Armed Services, and she has received good support from her ethnic community as a Latina. She has proven that she can run a good campaign and raise the money necessary to win.
She is our best chance to out poll Fletcher in the primary and to beat Faulconer in the final election for Mayor.
No doubt about it, Lori Saldana is highly qualified to be Mayor of San Diego.
BTW, lest we forget: David Alvarez helped Mayor Filner break the Tourism Management District logjam and brought a better solution to fruition. He was the only member ofCity Council to extend his good offices to get a problem resolved with our hoteliers.
Also, please note that David Alvarez worked for a long time in the office of Democratic State Senator Denise Ducheny, another woman who would be highly qualified to lead this city, though she is not a candidate.
I mention this because Alvarez worked for Ducheny who admirably served our community in the CA Assembly and Senate until she termed out — in striking contrast to Nathan Fletcher who worked for GOP Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham until he went to prison for selling his votes for bribes.
Frances: I have wondered about Denise Ducheny since the resignation. Do you know whether she considered running for mayor? I have always had the impression that she was a person of intelligence, verve, and liberal bent. She was not my representative.
Denise Ducheny is all those things and more — a GOOD lawyer — as opposed to the bad ones we wish would go away — a friend to public education, expert in matters of budgets, broad knowledge and long experience with Border issues, a Latina, a fighter, knows (as someone here mentioned) when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em. There’s time for her to sign on, as the filing deadline isn’t until September 20, I’m told.