A political summer ahead of us

Gavin Newsome, Nicole and Bob Filner

The first mayoral poll came out this week and its Filner ahead by four points over DeMaio. While this will be long campaign, never have I witnessed a mayoral candidate so disliked and divisive as Carl DeMaio.

Prominent national minority leaders to endorse Bob Filner

Leaders and activists from the Latino, African American, Native American, Asian and GLBT communities are organizing and getting together to endorse and support Bob Filner for mayor.

Many San Diegans have been getting calls from some very respected and prominent civil rights leaders who are planning to endorse longtime civil rights leader Bob Filner for mayor … some even willing to come to San Diego and get their communities involved. Recently more than a hundred San Diego Latinos formed a group called “Latinos Against DeMaio.” Two very respected national gay leaders called me within 24 hours of the primary to inform me that they are very concerned about DeMaio’s right wing agenda and will endorse Filner.

Low-key campaigns for District 3 beginning

Councilman Todd Gloria’s re-election without opposition proves how popular and pleased people are with his tireless work ethic. But many in the new-drawn 3rd District are concerned about who will follow him into this office.

Out of respect to Gloria’s final four years low-key campaigns have already begun by some and there are already some frontrunners.

Hell, Todd and I were talking about his run for office six years before he announced!

Currently, the name most mentioned is Stephen Whitburn, who is definitely one of the very early frontrunners.

Now comes word that some business people are urging Dr. Joel Trambley to run for the City Council. Dr. Trambley is a city commissioner (nominated by Todd Gloria and approved by Mayor Sanders and the City Council.)

Friends of Trambley tell me he is, indeed, giving a look at a City Council race.

Another top name being mentioned is former Republican, now Independent and a strong Fletcher backer, Andrew Poat who is well-connected with the newly-added downtown business establishment. Word is also Todd Gloria would like to see one of his top aides succeed him.

My advice to Todd, as I told Toni Atkins, (and she did) is to stay out of a rough primary fight.

Nicole Murray Ramirez has been an award-winning columnist since 1973, and a Latino and gay activist for well over 40 years. He is currently a city commissioner and has served the last five mayors of San Diego. He is also a national board member of the Harvey Milk Foundation and chairman of the International Court Council of the USA, Canada and Mexico. Nicolemrsandiego@aol.com.

One thought on “A political summer ahead of us

  1. Carl DeMaio is bad for San Diego! The community is against a politician who has continued to place his own personal agenda before the interests of his constituents. He has actively worked against the working class, he has support from anti gay zealots even though he is openly gay himself, he demeans and ignores the people that come and plea before him at city council meetings while playing up and paying perosnal visits to all his corporate sponsors and placing their needs first and foremost. Join the effort to oppose Carl DeMaio as Mayor of San Diego in 2012 and help spread the word! http://www.facebook.com/NotCarlDeMaio

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