By Norma Damashek / NumbersRunner
Did you ever suspect you were being taken for a ride but decide to go along with it anyway? Did you ever ignore that little voice inside your head warning you to watch out! because the guy conning you was so smooth, so really cute, how could you say no?
You’ve just been introduced to Nathan Fletcher in his rematch race for mayor of San Diego.
Nathan Fletcher is funny, engaging, self-deprecating, and a topnotch storyteller. He is low-keyed even when boasting, “I interrogated al-Qaeda… I can negotiate a labor deal.” (You might remember that Fletcher was in the Marine Corps Reserves while working in the office of Duke Cunningham, a San Diego congressman who also used his military experience as a political prop to win an election. Cunningham was recently released from prison after serving a sentence for enriching himself illegally through bribery and fraud while in office.)
Nathan Fletcher is a performer with a special gift for reading the minds of his audience and bouncing back precisely what you want to hear. He strings his words together in a tightly-drilled speech pattern that convinces you he’s answered your question — even when he hasn’t.
Though once excoriated by labor unions for his conservative voting record, now his chief cheerleader is former labor-leader Lorena Gonzalez. He’s regarded as a good catch on both sides of the fence, or so it would seem from the number of wealthy San Diegans who’ve endorsed him for mayor.
Nathan Fletcher is the Great Gatsby of our time — a fabricated man filled with longing and wild ambition but not quite who you think he is… was… wants to be…
Which brings us to the mystery of the week: why was Nathan Fletcher plucked from a pool of contenders by Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs, judged best in show, and adopted by the Qualcomm family?
Fletcher is not an engineer, not a businessman, not the holder of specialized academic degrees. Yet he’s got a job at Qualcomm that pays him $400,000/year ($220,000 according to the Fletcher campaign). What makes him worth it?
Meanwhile, he’s running an all-out political campaign for mayor of San Diego on company time and the big boss is doing his darndest to catapult him into office. How come? When the downtown establishment throws its full faith and credit behind Kevin Faulconer, we know that they know what they expect to get from him. Same goes for the Labor Council endorsement of David Alvarez. But what in the world does Irwin Jacobs want and expect to get from San Diego’s next mayor, should it be Nathan Fletcher? It’s a mystery.
I have a hunch part of the answer lies in an arcane section of the San Diego City Charter, specifically Article VI – Board of Education.
Look back to 1931 – that’s when a manager-council form of government was codified in the San Diego City Charter. Concurrently, the city’s school system (which then included kindergarten, elementary, secondary, evening, technical, and parental schools) was codified as Article VI. It states: “The government of the San Diego School District shall be vested in a Board of Education, composed of five members who shall be elected at large by the electors of the School District at the same time as the members of the City Council.”
Between then and now there’ve been a number of minor amendments to Article VI — one that narrowed the scope of the school district to kindergarten through secondary schools and others that adjusted salaries, terms of office, and timetables for electing new Board members.
Today, you’ll still find election procedures for the 5-member Board of Education in Article VI of the City Charter and, as always, any changes to the Charter must be approved by San Diego voters.
Now think back three years when an (unsuccessful) attempt was made to amend Article VI. The purpose was not to adjust salaries, terms of office, or election timetables but to make a significant change — to increase the size of the School Board from 5 to 9 members by appointing 4 additional people to preside as Board members.
These 4 would not be publicly elected. Instead they would be chosen by a committee of Chamber of Commerce/ Economic Development business organizations, some university leaders, and a select group of parents. We were told this change would “depoliticize the School Board.
The two big funders of this proposed amendment were charter school proponent and wealthy businessman Rod Dammeyer and Qualcomm’s Irwin Jacobs. Notable boosters included organized advocates of the charter school movement.
What has this got to do with Nathan Fletcher’s relationship to Qualcomm? Might it be that Irwin Jacobs et al. have not given up on their plans to redesign the city school system in their own image? Is this why Fletcher has been parading his credentials as an educator? Is Fletcher their political proxy?
Notice Fletcher’s frequent campaign remarks about school district education. He lifts stock phrases from his Qualcomm-sponsored speeches: best practices… innovation… vocational training… the digital divide… technical curriculum for middle school and high school. He calls for forming an independent educational foundation to guide public education.
Now notice Fletcher’s trumped-up credentials as an educator. On January 1, 2013 Nathan Fletcher was appointed “Professor of Practice” in the political science department at UCSD. Don’t laugh. He is the first-ever appointed practitioner of a newly-invented, no-academic-degree-required, privately-funded position to teach part-time at the university, subject matter to be determined.
And notice that while others in the academic jungle sweat and toil for years to attain the level of Professor, Fletcher was quietly ushered through a rear door to the top of the ivory tower — his feet barely alighting on the red carpet linking Qualcomm headquarters to UCSD. It’s handy to have wealthy patrons in high places, even when they use you for their own purposes.
Nobody disputes the desirability of improving public education. The question to ask ourselves is: Is this a role for the mayor of a city facing unprecedented deficits and debt with no good remedies in sight? In a city that hasn’t yet straightened out the kinks from our switch to a ‘strong mayor’ form of governance why would we want our mayor to take on the complex and challenging world of public education, as well? Especially one who’s so ill-equipped?
Might not San Diego’s mayor contribute to the success of our school system through constructive collaboration with school board members, principals, parents, health officials, education experts, business interests, and others in this city who support public education. Isn’t it preferable to discourage private and political incursions into the city schools?
What do we know about the mysterious Fletcher-Qualcomm connection? We know that Fletcher’s status as beneficiary of Irwin Jacobs’ largesse is a clue to the presumptive power behind the wished-for mayoral throne. It reminds us that influential private individuals — no matter how well-intentioned — tend to feel free (even entitled) to use the democratic process to gain control of the public domain. That might be okay with Fletcher – it’s not with me.
We know that Fletcher’s concocted job in a classroom at UCSD doesn’t give him credibility for spearheading changes in our school system. He may want you to think it does – it doesn’t.
We know that Nathan Fletcher’s touted experience as a Marine has nothing to do with his capability or desirability to be San Diego’s new mayor. He seems to think it does – I don’t.
We know that we don’t know who Fletcher really is. Within the span of 500 days he went from calling himself a Republican to an Independent to a Democrat. He disavows his past voting record. He says he’s seen the light and now he answers to a different drummer. He wants us to believe that an indeterminate chameleon with identity confusion would be a good choice for our next mayor — I don’t buy it.
We know that using democratic means to achieve undemocratic ends is never a good idea. People engaged in political subterfuge are not acting in the best interests of our collective future and should be sent packing — I think you will agree.
Editor’s Note: Nathan Fletcher’s salary at Qualcomm has apparently become a major point of dispute. Originally reported by KGTV Channel 10 as $400,000, representatives from Fletcher’s mayoral campaign have informed the SDFP that Fletcher is actually earning $220,000 per year from the communications technology giant.
Latest posts by Norma Damashek (see all)
- County Government Laid Bare - November 15, 2017
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- San Diego’s Dangling Participles - October 12, 2017
Hey Jude, i don’t know the politic’s of your city, but I know a SPIN MASTER, when I see them.
It all adds up. Just a few of those citations had me adamantly anti-Fletcher for Mayor. You’ve given me talking points and more reason to mull over the web of insider SD business. Terrific reporting once again, NumbersRunner.
I’ve received two telephone survey calls in the past month or so. Each (frequent) mention of his name described Nathan Fletcher as “Educator and Businessman Nathan Fletcher”. Between that and the nature of the questions, it became clear to me that the polls were on behalf of Fletcher’s mayoral candidacy.
Fletcher has as much cred as an “Educator” as he does as a “Democrat.”
When he ran for mayor last time, I wondered how someone in his early 20s with no experience got a job (paying about $100,000 as I recall) as the chiief of staff for a congressman (the now disgraced “Duke” Cunningham).
“Professor” Fletcher doesn’t pass the smell test in oh-so-many ways.
I know educators and Fletcher Nathan is no “educator.” He got a scandalous sinecure at UCSD “teaching government,” thanks to his (and UCSD’s) big benefactor, Irwin Jacobs, so he could use the title on his up-and-comer resume. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: families paying tuition for that UCSD class ought to get a refund. Fletcher’s a charlatan and Irwin should be embarrassed.
Yes, and it’s outrageous that he is assigned the title of Professor. Real professors have a great deal of research and education behind them when they finally attain the title of professor. And how come, in Fletcher’s case, the word is capitalized? As in: Professor. This guy is a sham. UCSD, reveal how much money “someone” paid to get Fletcher this sinecure.
There are so many things wrong with this post including glaring falsehoods. I can only wonder if it is dishonesty or laziness:
1. Irwin Jacobs is not the CEO of Qualcomm and hasn’t been since 2009 so the idea that Irwin Jacobs was the one who hired Nathan Fletcher is absolutely false.
2. Paul Jacobs is the one who hired Nathan Fletcher and Paul Jacobs is not the same “Jacobs” that pushed the controversial Balboa Park Bypass Plan.
3. Nathan Fletcher’s salary is NOT $400,000.
Now the first falsehood is important because it is the premise upon which Norma’s entire conspiracy theory is based upon. Let us also remember that she is the same person who theorized a grand conspiracy against Filner which was also untrue.
1. Everyone knows that Irwin Jacobs has officially stepped down from active direction of Qualcomm. One of Jacobs’ successor sons, Paul, hired Fletcher Nathan at Qualcomm — and earlier had supported him for Mayor too.
2. It is commonly believed that the Jacobses are a close-knit family operation in all their business, political and philanthropic largesse, probably even including approval of their recent purchase of the Sacramento Kings basketball team. There is no evidence to believe otherwise.
Irwin was responsible for the failed effort to privately re-do Balboa Park and to set up unprecedented paid parking there. Irwin underwrote the failed attempt to privatize, expand and weaken the elected San Diego Unified Board of Education. In neither instance was there a word of dissent from the younger Jacobses, whom you seem to suggest are entirely independent of the older generation.
3. It has been widely reported that Fletcher Nathan’s Qualcomm salary is in the neighborhood of $400,000.
4. In San Diego there is common uncivil practice of discrediting damning facts and opinion as “conspiracy theory.” Mayor Filner was killed off by personal and political enemies, using his unfortunate social style as the ammunition. Irwin Jacobs has a political agenda and uses his money, power and position to advance it. Those are not “conspiracy theories” — just facts.
1. We can agree.
2. First paragraph speculation is speculation. Second paragraph is partially fact and some speculation. I can be independent of my mother without condemning actions she possibly could commit. That does not mean we are politically in tune.
3. The report was from an anonymous source and NF and his spokesperson has reported his salary at $220,000.
4. It is not a fact that Mayor Filner was “killed off” by personal and political enemies. However it could be said that Mayor Filner caused his own downfall and his political enemies, some former allies joined in a coalition to defeat him.
The last statement “Irwin Jacobs has a political agenda…” it sounds like a fact but since you cannot demonstrate an actual agenda it actually isn’t a fact. See in order to justify that statement you have to string things together and then synthesize a conclusion. That is analysis and opinion not fact.
fact
fakt/Submit
noun
1. a thing that is indisputably the case.
There is a common practice in this country now a days to call things “facts” that are really simply educated or uneducated opinions. In your case you obviously have some evidence that supports your opinion but it is still not a fact.
Perhaps you are on the philosophy faculty over at USD where dancing on the heads of pins is subsidized by rich men with agendas who inhabit both ends of the political spectrum. That’s not a fact/fakt or anything — just speculation.
“Condemning?” Who said anything about “condemning? How about just going along — perhaps because one agrees or perhaps because it’s easier than fighting with Pater?
I personally find a published report citing an “anonymous source” more reliable than the word of Fletcher Nathan and his spokesperson.
It is a lamentable fact/fakt that Mayor Filner was done in by enemies of all sorts, using Filner’s personal weaknesses as the excuse/reason. It’s one of the dark arts of politics.
It is also evidence of an agenda when you finance a ballot initiative and attach your name to it as a selling point.
I have an anonymous source who tells me that you and the writer of this blog post were paid off by the Faulconer campaign. OMG! It totally makes sense, no wonder you both employ the Republican fed talking points and no wonder Republican Consultants like Ryan Clumpner and the SDGOP ED share everything you said.
Clearly you both are part of the right-wing conspiracy to place Alvarez in the run-off so Faulconer can wipe the floor with him and give the power in San Diego back to the good ole boys.
The anonymous source claims that Alvarez is a spoiler candidate introduced just to make sure Faulconer will win in the general.
YOU SEE HOW ANONYMOUS SOURCES WORK? DO YOU SEE HOW STUPID AND CRAZY THE ABOVE CONSPIRACY THEORY SOUNDED?
Yeah, I thought so.
I said “a published anonymous source,” meaning a credible inky traditional publication that appears daily or weekly, not on-line comments.
I can only find the disputed $400,000 figure reported on the 10news website, which has a mixed record news-wise. (Remember the “penis straw” business?)
What’s the inky publication that you’re talking about? And how has it been “widely reported”? By whom other than 10news?
Dueling Correctors!
Okay, so it wasn’t inky. I didn’t follow the “penis straw” story, which I gather was exaggerated, off-topic or plain wrong. But generally speaking, I have confidence in the journalistic skill of Channel 10’s
longtime news honcho J.W. August. I consider news on ABC Channel 10 TV to be a wide reporter.
You consider 10 news a “credible inky traditional” publication?
The infamous Penis Straw people?
Further, I do write for a weekly and I wouldn’t publish such a claim without multiple sources, if I did I would write that “numerous sources” but the writing indicates that this is one anonymous source and you are sucking it up like a fool. Mind you this organization is the same news organization that was feeding what you likely see as a media frenzy that led to Filner’s fall. Which I still contest was his own fault and I find it morally objectionable and frankly a bit sexist to suggest otherwise.
Multiple Corrector!!
Just so we are clear the Qualcomm CEO is calling out the “erroneous” report about the salary that you, Norma and 10news dishonestly cited as fact.
Please give a link.
In other news, I just heard that Irwin Jacobs gave the pro-Nathan Fletcher Committee $75,000….
This article and the comments are terrific. Now lets use our energy to find ways to increase this message. I know it’s a sad statement to say I watch local news on TV but you learn so much if you do. If you only watch these programs (prob. the majority of San Diegans) you only get the 1% business interest spin. The pieces these local stations do on local politics are advertisements for their agenda and hardly news. Local media is on a mission and they take no prisoners. Watching channel 10 is nothing short of nauseating. I would love to start setting the agenda more and moving these inane conversations towards the rational. I have a secret fantasy of winning the lottery and buying that tv station and making those talking heads read real news instead of propaganda for a change. Imagine how they’d suffer :-)
A big, double Amen. Especially to, “Local media is on a mission…”
Fletcher sounds like the perfect politician: duplicitous, super smooth, a yarn spinner. Now that Duke Cunningham is out of jail (what– did he get time off for good behavior?), they maybe could be reunited. Hell, maybe the Duke could find a well-paying job at Qualcomm as Director of Publicity for Bringing Overseas Stash Back to America Tax Free. Or maybe Fletcher could lobby Washington for that after he’s elected Mayor!
I have been concerned about Qualcomm/Jacobs’ corporate “reform” agenda for awhile. Thank you for connecting a few dots here. In Escondido, where I live, a charter school “CEO” used his connections to city hall to take over much-used public library branch that the city could have easily paid for. Actually, half of our conservative city government is involved in that school, which pushes a Heritage Foundation, “patriotic” agenda and does not serve anything remotely resembling the demographics of the community, among many irregularities. I believe Jacobs put a bunch of money into the new downtown library and pushed hard to have a charter school (that was not even needed in the area) put into it, taking district funds that could have been better used elsewhere. The damage these “reformers” are doing to our school systems will be hard to undo when people finally wake up. I only hope that San Diego doesn’t put a proxy for a wealthy “reformer” in office. Public schools belong in the public sphere and wealthy “reformers” should stop trying to dictate ed policy.
Nathan Fletcher is what he is, handsome, smooth talker, and just full of himself. Let’s see how long he stays in Jacobs employment after he doesn’t become mayor.
He has all the qualities of the son Jacobs never had.
I just love conspiracy theories. They never die, even after all the perps and victims are dead. I have friends who believe that Bob Filner, JFK, and Area 51 are all subjects in massive conspiracies. Life is usually simpler than that. However, I’m glad these theorists out themselves publicly because it exposes something about their personalities which is far more cynical and dangerous….ulterior motives.
You don’t love conspiracy theories. They do die. You have strange friends. (My) life IS simpler than yours. And I wish you’d go away.
Bob, you wish that I, and anyone who doesn’t agree with you, would go away. I have friends I don’t agree with because I like them. They’re nice. I don’t conditionally attach their beliefs to my friendship with them.
I’ll bet you’re fun at parties. However, I’ve been to parties, particularly political ones, where everyone oddly spouted the exact same beliefs. They were bores, too. Perhaps your not trusting Nathan Fletcher has more to do with your insecurities about his personality. I’ve met him; he’s a nice guy.
BTW, as long as this is truly, the “Free Press,” I will not be going away.
Your propaganda machine is broken because i know Fletcher to be of good character and sound mind.
I will vote for him for mayor.
Good luck with your column.
Fletcher worked in the State Assembly. He was not plucked from anywhere.
Flether Nathan worked in the State Assembly, that’s the main reason we know his voting record. He also worked for Duke Cunningham, the felon, but you’re not mentioning that.
We, the people, have spoken today and did NOT elect Nathan Fletcher. While I appreciate the jobs Qualcomm has provide for San Diegians, I do not appreciate their desire to manipulate our freedom.