Councilwoman Marti Emerald was shocked at the results of District 6 a week ago. The day of the election she was smilingly predicting a Wayne win, if not walk over. What would a Wayne win have meant? With just two seats in GOP hands and another resounding labor victory, it would have meant a disheartened small business community that would finally cave into the Chamber of Commerce ‘corporate welfare’ types who long since gave up the fight. A Wayne victory in D6 would have meant an easier re-election campaign for Emerald. Now, of course, the small business community and the local GOP smell blood in the water.
In fact, in certain cramped quarters, there has been some chatter about Councilwoman Emerald re-considering a re-election bid. According to well placed sources she “wants to see where the new lines are”, when the City of San Diego’s 9 seats are created in December 2011. This time around it’s doubtful Emerald will be able to count on the massive Democrat turnout that gave her a narrow 2008 victory. She’s already been in the middle of a series of embarrassing scandals. Her voting record is much more partisan than her campaign indicated it would be.
But there is more. It’s no secret that Emerald didn’t handle the stress of her campaign well, or even the stress of office. She was a wreck by the end of the race. More than once she’s been seen weeping in the city parking lot after embarrassing incidents. She knows what’s coming, sooner rather than later, and is asking herself – “is it really worth it”? She knows that after the narrow victory, it’s going to be personal for everyone involved, and that it’s no hold barred this time around. Does she really want another month after month of hand to hand combat. Does she want to take the chance that she will lose and be publicly humiliated?
Comments 6
No No No!
Mr Murphy, I beg of you don’t encourage Emerald not to run again. We want to beat her this time.
I’m ready to start now!!
It will be interesting to look at the turnout numbers in 2008 v 2010 in that district.
Two years of this lame material, Mr. Murphy, starting right after she took office. Remember? Marti is frazzled, Marti’s health is bad, Marti is about to resign, the Recall Committee has formed and Marti’s days are numbered. Nothing ever comes of any of it. She is a disaster, of course, but talking to yourself on Rostra is not going to change anything. Put Up or Shut Up time, Mr. Murphy.
I’m with D7, we want her to run in 2012. Marti has a horrible voting record, Ethics violations, and various political missteps which we can and will exploit. Even democrats know she’s a mess.
Personally, I hope April Boling challenges her and is the one that beats her too. Every republican politician, campaign staffer, volunteer would line up behind April to defeat Marti.
I live in Emerald’s district, and admit that I voted for her partially out of solidarity with a fellow journalist. I thought she could use her investigative abilities to help out the city.
However, as a constituent, I wasn’t happy that Emerald got involved in the Arizona boycott issue, which was irresponsible political grandstanding by the City Council. That time should have been spent on the urgent issues that actually pertain to San Diego. Get back to troubleshooting the city’s problems, Marti!
I don’t think there is much question about Marti’s nerves and overall health. On and off she is a wreck. Part of it is appears to be her persistent reading of this blog. I’ve been physically present when she accused a man of being Mighty Thor (humorous, actually, since Thor rarely says anything, while Murphy and some others lay into her regularly). I’ve heard similar stories elsewhere.
I’ve never heard that Emerald was going to resign. I KNOW that she was very concerned about a recall about a year ago. Word is the recall’s financial backers thought they had a better chance concentrating money on the 6th, then coming back for Marti.
Anyway, that’s my 2 cents.