In what can only be described as a San Diego mayoral campaign continuing to sputter while searching for a focus (any focus), yesterday Bonnie Dumanis announced that she flip-flopped her position on the Comprehensive Pension Reform Initiative. She is now in support.
Not only did her position change for no apparent reason other than she figures she can’t win while opposing CPRI, she also used Nathan Fletcher’s rationale for support of the measure.
In both his editorial board interview with the Union-Tribune and in another recent interview with the San Diego News Room, Fletcher emphasized he was only supporting the initiative after a careful review of the facts and diligent research. He said he found that annuity-based retirement systems like those common in higher education do indeed guarantee workers’ retirement while saving money.
Dumanis’ announcement essentially copies Fletcher’s rationale. Puzzling she would follow his lead on this since she claims Fletcher doesn’t have the experience necessary to lead the city. Aping his position on something as critical as pension reform makes it clear she’s following his lead. Perhaps she can serve as his deputy mayor?
It is an interesting dilemma that Dumanis is now supporting the measure, given she will be receiving a pension worth up to a quarter million dollars per year. Good enough for her but no one else? That was not a dilemma for her before, nor did it open her up to charges of hypocrisy from her opponents.
This looks to be very ugly for a campaign that has yet to get on the right track.