Politics & Government

Democrats Back Alvarez for Mayor of San Diego

City Councilman David Alvarez's campaign to be San Diego's next mayor was endorsed Thursday by the San Diego County Democratic Party.

Alvarez currently represents Otay Mesa, San Ysidro, the Tijuana River Valley and other neighborhoods in South San Diego.

The announcement came after San Diego County Democratic Party members met Tuesday to decide which candidate would gain the endorsement. Alvarez received 62 percent of members' votes, officials with the San Diego County Democratic Party said.

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"Central Committee members have developed strong relationships with David Alvarez over the years and appreciate his record of progressive votes and values,"  San Diego County Democratic Party Chair Francine Busby said. "We believe he will be an outstanding candidate and leader for our city."

The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council endorsed Alvarez Sept. 6.

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If Alvarez does not advance to a runoff in the Nov. 19 special election, committee members said they would endorse any Democrat who makes it to the runoff.

The California Nurses Association also threw their support behind Alvarez Thursday.

Democrats on the San Diego City Council Myrtle Cole and Marti Emerald threw their support behind Councilman David Alvarez earlier this week.

Alvarez is one of 11 candidates qualified for the special election ballot, according to the City Clerk's office.

The list also includes former City Attorney Mike Aguirre, Councilman Kevin Faulconer, ex-Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher and Bruce Coons, executive director of the preservationist group Save Our Heritage Organisation.

Lawyer Hud Collins, business administrator and Realtor Harry Dirks, San Diego State University senior Michael Kemmer and, businessman Sina "Simon" Moghadam are also in the running, as are Tobiah Pettus, the only lesser-known candidate to make last year's primary ballot, and gun and personal rights advocate Lincoln Pickard.

A study conducted by the National University System Institute for Policy after the 2012 mayoral election found that electoral power in San Diego has shifted south of Interstate 8.

Councilman Kevin Faulconer was endorsed for mayor of San Diego Wednesday by his three Republican colleagues on the City Council.

The city of San Diego is at a "pivotal moment" following the scandals that led ex-Mayor Bob Filner to step down Aug. 30, Councilwoman Lorie Zapf said.

"More than ever, we need to restore integrity and trust to the mayor's office," Zapf said. "We need a leader who can collaborate and deliver tangible results. Kevin Faulconer is that leader."

She said when the council members required leadership as Filner's administration crumbled, they turned to now-Interim Mayor Todd Gloria and Faulconer.

He is also experienced in rebuilding the city government after a crisis, having joined the City Council amid San Diego's fiscal crisis that resulted in the resignation of another former mayor, Dick Murphy, Zapf said.

Councilman Mark Kersey said Faulconer is the candidate who can "roll up his sleeves with purpose and conviction."

Councilman Scott Sherman also threw his support to Faulconer.

Gloria has said he will concentrate on cleaning up the mayor's office and does not plan to endorse any of the 11 candidates who have qualified for the Nov. 19 special election ballot.

Alvarez also gathered the support of the Environmental Health & Justice Campaign, a nonprofit that advocates for the protection of public health and the environment in disadvantaged neighborhoods south of Interstate 8.

San Diego Democrats for Equality held a mayoral forum Thursday featuring Aguirre, Alvarez and Fletcher. The group made up of LGBT Democrats said it may also make an endorsement.

If no one wins more than half the vote in the special election, a runoff between the top two vote-getters would be held early next year.

City News Service contributed to this report.


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