Point Loma forum shows serious side, silliness of early race entrants

Fans of the Jon Stewart Show would have loved the mayoral debate at Liberty Station in Point Loma on Sept. 17. Part of Politifest, an event created to celebrate ideas that shape San Diego’s future, the crowd was welcomed by a comment from Voice of San Diego’s Scott Lewis: “Politics is not a blood sport.” Gene Cubbison of NBC-7 was the moderator and divided the duties of asking questions, along with Voice of San Diego editor Andrew Donohue. The debate consisted of seven candidates vying for the office, including two major contenders: Democratic Rep. Bob Filner and Republican Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher. Both candidates brought a group of cheerleaders dressed in appropriate Fletcher and Filner shirts, carrying signs they waved early and often. In his opening statement, Filner expressed his hope that the election would not result in “a third term for the status quo.” He said he would like to see a pension solution other than the one involving the 401(k) for public employees — the comprehensive pension reform being touted by District 5 City Councilman and mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio. Filner said he sees DeMaio’s reform as “throwing city employees without social security under the bus.” DeMaio and fellow candidate County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis were noticeably absent from the debate. DeMaio has said he will not debate until after his work collecting the 95,000 signatures needed to put the pension reform on the June ballot is done, and Dumanis has stated she will not debate until after the March 8 deadline to join the mayoral race. Fletcher touched on the well-documented problems plaguing the city. Describing himself as a leader who knows how to get things done, Fletcher insisted he has always been willing to sit down and talk with people he may not agree with. In regard to the comprehensive pension reform, Fletcher said he thought it would be able to “provide the fiscal foundation we need to really build upon in the future. And you can implement it in a way that’s fair to the workers and fair to the taxpayers.” The issue of a new Charger stadium prompted divergent views from the two candidates. Filner said he loves the Chargers, but that he will be a tough negotiator with the Spanos family. Fletcher said he sees the stadium as a venue that can be used all year long rather than for just a handful of football games, and that it will likely bring in tax money. He cited Indianapolis as an example of a city that reaps the benefits of renting out its stadium 200 times per year. Both candidates faced the controversial medical marijuana issue head on with some agreement, hoping to implement the medical marijuana law consistent with state law. Fletcher, however, is against legalizing recreational marijuana. Few surprises came from the two major candidates, but other candidates kept the big crowd laughing and applauding. Furniture store owner Rob “Girly Girly” Harter spoke of empowering women since men, he said, have proven they cannot run a successful world. Loch David Crane, a Peninsula resident and former student of Filner’s at San Diego State University, launched his opening address with this line: “I’m running to save my hometown from greed by the sea and decay by the bay.” He said his impetus for running for mayor stems from the need to “change the water in the bong of city government.” Although the clock counted out 55 minutes for the whole debate, there was not one dull moment. Can Jon Stewart, with his newest Emmy in hand, say that about his program? Stay tuned for the next debate.