EDITOR’S NOTE: In this final sprint to the political finish line to determine our city’s next mayor at the ballot box on Tuesday, Feb. 11, the San Diego Community Newspaper Group presented five uniform questions to both candidates to better educate readers and the voting public on issues of importance to our beach communities. We hope the answers provided by the candidates — City Councilman David Alvarez and City Councilman Kevin Faulconer — will be of value in helping you make a more informed vote when you head to the polls Feb. 11. Candidate: DAVID ALVAREZ (City Councilman, Dist. 8) Q: With the City Council’s renewed emphasis on neighborhood enhancement/improvement programs and long-needed updates to decades-old community plans, what is your specific vision for San Diego’s beach communities? A: Our beach communities have specific needs that have been ignored by past city leadership. As mayor, I will ensure we have clean beaches and water. I have pushed hard to implement a plan that utilizes water purification technology that will help reduce the outflow of wastewater into the ocean. Additionally, I feel strongly about the importance of beach safety and have prioritized restoring funding to lifeguard services in the city budget. As such, I am proud to be endorsed by the San Diego Lifeguard Association, which safeguards our beaches for the thousands of families that use our beaches every year. Q: Describe in detail what sets you apart from your political opponent and how you will captain San Diego’s economic and po-litical future to promote the city and compete with the interests of neighboring counties and cities fighting for the same piece of California’s funding pie. A: I have been consistent in my desire to see all communities throughout San Diego be treated fairly and equitably by City Hall, while my opponent has prioritized taxpayer giveaways to developer special interests. In order to increase funding for vital infrastructure projects in every community, it is critical the city get its fair share of state and federal funding. For far too long, the city has not had a strong presence in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento. As mayor, I will actively lobby state and federal agencies for everything from homeland security funding to grants for critical infrastructure projects in blighted communities. Q: With the departure of former Mayor Bob Filner, much healing appears needed at City Hall and within San Diego’s respective neighborhoods. What is your plan to promote cohesiveness within the City Council and local town councils and planning groups? A: City Hall is healing from a tumultuous year. To effectively govern, it’s critical that the mayor represent ALL San Diegans — not just special interests. As such, I will govern by treating all members of our communities with the dignity and respect they deserve. Unlike past administrations, I’ll work with our town councils and planning groups to help with neighborhood issues. I have and will continue to work cooperatively with each city councilmember to ensure each community receives the resources and services it needs. Although the mayor and City Council may not always agree, by working together to do what’s best for the city we can get San Diego back on track and moving full steam ahead. Q: The city’s tourism industry — particularly the Embarcadero-based cruise-line business and the Convention Center’s bookings — has struggled in recent years. What is your plan to put San Diego’s tourism industry back on the map and at the forefront of lure in the region? A: San Diego’s tourism industry is vital to our economy and it’s critical we effectively market the city to ensure tourism revenues continue to grow. This was the reason I brokered a compromise to free up tourism funding, working cooperatively with all stakeholders involved and solving a stalemate that had paralyzed City Hall and our ability to market San Diego for weeks on end. As mayor, I’ll continue to ensure the city is competitive, attracting more conventions and making sure our own events like the upcoming Balboa Park Centennial, San Diego Pride, golf tournaments and craft-brew festivals are strong. Q: In terms of maintaining/growing the presence of law enforcement in our beach communities and maintaining/boosting budgetary support for the San Diego Fire/Rescue Department’s Lifeguard Services, what will you advocate as mayor? A: I have consistently fought for increased funding for Fire Rescue and Lifeguard services in the city budget. When I was elected to the City Council, my opponent and past city leaders had chosen to slash public safety funding and resources. This was a reckless way to balance the budget. I proposed and successfully restored funding for browned-out fire engines and lifeguard personnel. I found unnecessary expenses to cut without impacting public services. I’m proud to have the firefighters and lifeguards supporting my campaign and, as mayor, funding public safety services over non-essential budgetary expenses will be a top priority. Candidate: KEVIN FAULCONER (City Councilman, Dist. 2) Q: With the City Council’s renewed emphasis on neighborhood enhancement/improvement programs and long-needed updates to decades-old community plans, what is your specific vision for San Diego’s beach communities? A: As the beach-area councilmember, I’m proud to have brought financial stability to City Hall so we can begin to reinvest in our neighborhoods. As mayor, I plan to re-pair our roads and improve every San Diego neighborhood — without raising taxes. I’ve set a goal of paving 500 miles of roads and investing $900 million for neighborhood improvements over five years — including repairs to the crumbling seawall in Pacific Beach and Mission Beach. I will also create “Economic Opportunity Districts” to encourage revitalization in older neighborhoods. By updating community plans to include incentives for private investment, we can create more livable, walkable and economically thriving communities. Q: Describe in detail what sets you apart from your political opponent and how you will captain San Diego’s economic and political future to promote the city and compete with the interests of neighboring counties and cities fighting for the same piece of California’s funding pie. A: I’ll be an independent leader who puts the interests of San Diego residents first. I’m the only candidate who opposed the 2010 sales-tax proposal and supports the pension and budget reforms that have turned our city around. I have the proven experience to lead City Hall and a bipartisan track record of working with local leaders to create jobs and opportunities for local families. 85 percent of the money behind my opponent — a freshman councilmember — comes from unions. My campaign is overwhelmingly supported by individual San Diegans. I’ll spend every day creating the world-class city we deserve. Q: With the departure of former Mayor Bob Filner, much healing appears needed at City Hall and within San Diego’s respective neighborhoods. What is your plan to promote cohesiveness within the City Council and local town councils and planning groups? A: I was first elected to the City Council in the wake of the last mayoral resignation [Mayor Dick Murphy, who stepped aside in 2006 during a fiscal meltdown surrounding the city’s employee pension funds]. I’ve been successful during my eight years on the City Council because I’ve always been willing to work with anyone with good ideas. I’ve led numerous bipartisan coalitions, including passing a measure to protect Mission Bay and finding housing solutions for homeless women, children and veterans. As mayor, I will continue that collaborative approach. I will also enact new transparency initiatives to increase openness, honesty and communication between City Hall and the neighborhoods it serves. Q: The city’s tourism industry — particularly the Embarcadero-based cruise-line business and the Convention Center’s bookings — has struggled in recent years. What is your plan to put San Diego’s tourism industry back on the map and at the forefront of lure in the region? A: I’m the only candidate who understands the tourism economy is critical to creating jobs and generating revenue to improve our parks, roads and neighborhoods. David Alvarez opposed key tourism initiatives — financing the Convention Center and advertising San Diego — casting lone “no” votes against a bipartisan supermajority. Within my first term, I will strengthen our port and secure a long-term contract with Comic-Con to keep the convention in San Diego for years to come. And within my first year as mayor, I will create a Film and Creative Industry Commission to market San Diego and attract film and entertainment projects. Q: In terms of maintaining/growing the presence of law enforcement in our beach communities and maintaining/boosting budgetary support for the San Diego Fire/Rescue Department’s Lifeguard Services, what will you advocate as mayor? A: Every San Diegan deserves to feel safe. And as home to thousands of residents and tourists, the beach communities face additional public-safety needs. My three-point “Strong and Safe Neighborhoods Plan” will rebuild the shrinking San Diego Police Department by streamlining recruitment and hiring practices, closing the compensation gap that is luring officers to other agencies after San Diego taxpayers pay for their training and investing in staffing and equipment. My four-point “Neighborhood Fairness Plan” will improve emergency response times by building new fire stations and create enhanced accountability measures for emergency first responders. Read more at www.Kevin-Faulconer.com.