There is no doubt that Bob Filner is on his way out as Mayor. I predicted he might not make it, but this is fast. Today both the U-T and KPBS reported that prominent Democrats, including Donna Frye, are urging the mayor to resign over sexual harassment allegations. There is also the little matter of an FBI investigation into a pay-to-play scandal involving Sunroad Centrum’s project in Kearney Mesa.
Richard Rider provides a nice summary on Twitter:
Filner MUST resign. Sexual harassment charges emerging. IMHO, it’s only a matter of WHEN he resigns. He may try to cut deal re: fed charges.
— Richard Rider (@SD_TaxFighters) July 10, 2013
Meanwhile, let’s start thinking about the issues that we want the new mayor to address. My debate questions follow:
- 1) Will the candidate wholeheartedly support the pension reforms of Proposition B, including working with the City Attorney to vigorously defend the measure in court? Explain your next steps to implement these reforms in order to save taxpayer dollars.
- 2) Will you push managed competition to reduce the cost of city services? What would be the next of services that should be put in play?
- 3) Name at least one city program that consumes over 1% of the city budget that you would eliminate.
- 4) What will you do to normalize the legal status of marijuana dispensaries?
What other debate topics do we have?
With regards to the horse race aspect of the race, I see Kevin Faulconer and Nathan Fletcher as early front runners. If Faulconer wins, does that cause a daisy chain effect, with Lorie Zapf vacating her current District 6 seat to run in her home District 2? If she won, who are the front runners in District 6? (Like Zapf, I was redistricted from CD-6 to CD-2 when the number of council seats expanded.) Local politicos are certainly plotting their next moves.
What You Should Be Reading
- Dean, at BeerswithDemo, provides a cautionary tale for advocates of marijuana legalization based on Colorado’s experience. Apropos to our own city’s struggles with this issue.
- Daniel Henninger declares July 3, 2013 the day big government died. When leftist government can’t even deliver on its core competency of issuing regulations, you know that big government has “hit the wall.” H/T KT Cat.