By Manny Lopez | SDUN Reporter

The four front-runners in the race for San Diego Mayor squared off in a non-traditional, no-holds-barred debate hosted by the nonprofit news website Voice of San Diego.

The 700-seat Birch North Park Theatre was nearly filled to capacity as residents gathered on Nov. 5 to hear Councilmember David Alvarez, former City Attorney Mike Aguirre, former Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher and Councilmember Kevin Faulconer answer questions about their visions for the City.

VOSD CEO Scott Lewis moderated the debate—labeled a discussion—which included no opening statements by candidates and no time limits on their responses. Lewis encouraged the audience to stomp their feet if they felt any candidate was “droning on for too long.” Numerous times throughout the debate, the system was put into action.

“We had a little bit of a different approach and I thought it was fun,” said Lewis after the debate. “Candidates can send mailers all the time and have other groups send them out on their behalf, but I think when they’re right next to each other, it’s a lot harder to be aggressively lying.”

Lewis added that he researched statements made by the candidates throughout the campaign and then prepared questions to confront them with the things they’ve said to get their reactions. Additional questions came from audience members and through social media.

Candidates were queried on topics such as paid beach parking, water desalination, homelessness, fees for trash collection and racial profiling by police. At one point, Lewis asked why there were no women on the stage, which drew a loud applause from audience members. He then asked the candidates for their perspectives on women in the work place in light of former Mayor Bob Filner’s sexual harassment scandal.

Alvarez stated that his campaign manager is a woman and that several key positions within his office are held by females. He said it was unfortunate that no women were in the race and pointed out that there are many great female elected officials such as State Assembly Leader Toni Atkins, former Councilmember Donna Frye and former Assemblymember Lori Saldana. All three endorse Alvarez.

Aguirre jokingly chimed in that the right thing for Alvarez to do is step aside so that one of them can run.

Faulconer said he was surprised that among the 11 candidates who qualified for the ballot, none were women. He said voters will be looking for a candidate who is honest, upfront and willing to say what they want to do and stick with it.

Fletcher said that there were a lot of courageous women that came forward to denounce Filner, acknowledging that it must have been difficult for them. He said San Diegans owe a debt of gratitude to the women who came forward and that the era in which such a climate existed in City Hall is now in the past.

“This format was a lot more free flowing, and I think it was good because people want to see who you really are, and I think this gives you an opportunity to do that,” Alvarez said. “I don’t think there were any new questions asked, but it was definitely a more conversational approach.”

“I liked the forum; I think it was great for a lot of back and forth and it allowed for more in-depth answers,” said Faulconer, the lone Republican among the top candidates.

Fletcher said that all of the forums provide the same opportunity and that despite massive spending by outside groups, his campaign is holding strong.

“San Diegans are ready to see a city that functions and does the basic things like make sure neighborhoods are invested in and assure that we have safe communities and good opportunities for jobs,” he said. “We can continue with the status quo or we can make a change and go in a different direction. I represent that change.”

Aguirre praised Lewis for his command of the issues, ability to engage the candidates and for not asking questions unrelated to the election.

“I think a lot of people haven’t made up their minds yet and they’re still trying to figure out who I am and what I am,” Aguirre said. “I may not be a viable candidate, I think I am, but if I do get elected, I’ll be beholden to no one.”

The election will be held on Nov. 19. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election between the top two will be scheduled for February.