Inauguration day sees Filner, three councilmembers sworn in; Gloria elected Council president

Por Morgan M. Hurley | Asistente de edición SDUN

The 2012 inauguration of the 69th City Council of San Diego took place not in council chambers as is customary, but at the historic Balboa Park Club, located at 2144 Pan American Rd. in Balboa Park.

In keeping with Mayor-elect Bob Filner’s promise to focus on neighborhoods, he personally requested the ceremony take place on the park’s property rather than City Hall. Filner is the first Democrat to be sworn in as mayor in 30 years.

Open to the public, the Monday, Dec. 3 ceremony was held at 10 a.m. in the club’s 13,000-square-foot ballroom. Seating was available on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the first two rows reserved for dignitaries and local officials.

It was a standing-room only crowd, and the ceremony was initially delayed to allow those without seats to move to the grand foyer, where closed-circuit televisions were set up so the overflow crowd could watch from the next room.

Sen. Christine Kehoe, who was San Diego’s first openly LGBT elected-official in 1993, was on hand, as was County Supervisor Ron Roberts, Congressmember-elect Scott Peters, outgoing Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and former Councilmember Donna Frye.

Some two-dozen visiting elected officials from Mexico attended, whose presence was a strong indication of their support for Filner’s plans to work closely with San Diego’s international neighbor, and his promise to address border relations, commerce and transit issues. Filner announced later in his speech the creation of a “border affairs office” in Tijuana, Mexico.

Once the City Clerk confirmed the election results, Council President Tony Young officiated over the ceremony, which was conducted as a city council meeting.

Outgoing Mayor Jerry Sanders welcomed and congratulated the new mayor, and joked with him from the podium. “Despite the differing ways we look at things, we all love San Diego,” Sanders said.

State Controller John Chiang introduced Mayor-elect Filner and his fiancée, Bronwyn Ingram, and then performed the swearing in.

San Diego’s 35th mayor took the podium and said he looks forward to working with the new Council. Acknowledging the visiting dignitaries, he welcomed them in Spanish and congratulated them on Tijuana’s soccer team winning a Mexican soccer national championship.

Filner thanked Sanders for the “stability he’s given San Diego,” saying, “it had no financial future when he took over.” Filner had the room join him in applause to thank Sanders and the Council for getting the city “back on track to financial stability.”

As he did consistently during the campaign, he reiterated his focus on neighborhoods. “Because the real heart and soul of our city are its neighborhoods,” he said. “To me, it’s unacceptable in what we call America’s Finest City that some neighborhoods still lack paved streets and … lights.”

As he mentioned some issues he will oversee, Filner made a promise to create a city government where “everyone has a place at the decision-making table.”

The new mayor ended his remarks reiterating his focus toward the needs of the nation’s eighth largest city.

“I understand the difference between my former role as a legislator – as an advocate for my constituents – and my new job as mayor, the chief executive of a multibillion-dollar municipal corporation,” he said.

“That doesn’t mean I will stop being a passionate advocate for the things I believe in. But it does mean I will use my power as mayor to bring people with differing views together; to help them find common ground; and to turn dreams and aspirations into a reality that moves our city and our people forward,” he said, to a standing ovation.

City Attorney Jan Goldsmith and city councilmembers Sherri Lightner, Todd Gloria, Mark Kersey, Scott Sherman and Marti Emerald were all also sworn in and gave statements.

District Three Councilmember Gloria tipped his hat to Kehoe, acknowledging that her “groundbreaking service has allowed me to stand here today,” he said. Gloria also said he was ready to “pass the torch of my beloved City Heights” to new District Nine Councilmember Emerald, and he welcomed the new areas now part of District Three, including Mission Hills, Old Town and Downtown.

Emerald, who ran unopposed for the newly created District Nine seat, said, “this is truly a new day,” and honored city workers in her speech. “My heroes are the city employees who have had to endure cuts,” she said.

At 3 p.m. the same day, while the new mayor was visiting three area schools, the Council convened to elect a new president, replacing the outgoing Tony Young who resigned his post in November to take the CEO position with the San Diego and Imperial Counties chapter of the Red Cross.

Council President Pro Tem Kevin Faulconer nominated Gloria, who took the oath of office for a second, four-year term earlier in the day. After an hour-long open session when the community and council could comment regarding the nomination, Gloria was elected unanimously.

“I am incredibly honored to have the support of my colleagues today,” Gloria said after the votes had been cast. “It is an honor to know that these eight people – who are leaders, who love their communities, and who love San Diego – are trusting me to be the Council president.”