I find the post-election statements and writings of many Democratic Party leaders very interesting about the mayor’s race. I understand trying to put a good face on a major defeat, but they badly need to face some realities. It seems to me that everyone got too comfortable and really felt that they could pull this off with any candidate and all that he had to be was a Democrat.
This was a non-partisan election. Yet, it was the Democrats who brought in every out of San Diego party official including the president of the United States, whose poll numbers are dropping every week.
I am a proud Latino man, but I knew my community was not going to come out for a man they really didn’t know well. Now, Juan Vargas would have been a different story.
In Los Angeles, the millions of dollars spent by labor unions for their favorite candidate turned people off, and she lost her bid for mayor, even with a President Clinton endorsement. And it happened again in San Diego. Our city was a strong conservative Republican base for decades and loved Nixon and Reagan. Now, Democrats have the edge, but, we still have a lot of independent voters as well as Republicans (who vote all the time). In this mayoral campaign, Democrats mostly talked to Democrats. San Diego is not Chicago, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, yet. Many Democratic Party leaders and union officials would not get behind a Nathan Fletcher or Todd Gloria … big mistake.
And it’s so laughable when I hear that what came out of the Alvarez defeat was a more progressive San Diego coalition. Oh, please. Bob Filner already established that. Alvarez just inherited it. Yes, San Diego is changing, and one day we will rule and be a Democratic Party stronghold, but that is in the future. Not now. So as a Latino, gay Democrat that is both a moderate and progressive, I joined thousands of other Democrats and voted for the more moderate, experienced and qualified candidate, Mayor-elect Kevin Faulconer, and will do so every time for what I feel is best for the city I love.
The truth is that there has emerged in the Democratic Party, a kind of “Tea Party of the Left” and that will lead us to defeat all the time. “Clinton Moderate Centrist” is the way to win San Diego mayoral elections. Filner benefited from an Obama California landslide, and a conservative Republican Party candidate who was painted as an extremist. The Filner election was the perfect storm. It will not happen again in a long time.
Seattle
While this is a very beautiful city, it is a different type of visit when the weather is in the 30s! Of course, the entire city is busting with pride as they are now the home of the Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks (which, in a speech, I almost called the Seadoves!)
Last year, I had dinner with then state Sen. Ed Murray, who I presented with a civil rights award and this year he is Mayor Ed Murray of Seattle! He beat out an incumbent and has been a very popular public servant and a proud gay man.
This time around I spent time with Sen. Jamie Peterson, who is openly gay and has four children whose mother lives in San Diego; so Sen. Peterson and his boys come down to San Diego regularly.
My speech went over well as I got great comments. I was very touched that the governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, took the time to publicly acknowledge and congratulate me on chairing the successful campaign to get a Harvey Milk U.S. postage stamp issued.
I stayed in my hotel my entire stay because of the freezing weather. I was presented with a special warm Champion Seahawks’ jersey.
After four days of meetings, speeches, events, I headed back to sunny San Diego. This weekend I am off to San Francisco, then Washington, D.C. and New York.
A fitting tribute to Danny Bodenmiller
It killed me to be out of town for the second annual outrageously fun Tantrums and Tiaras. I just love this contest and it is the camp event of the year. It’s always a labor of love, hard work and community spirit by the fabulous organizers and producers that raise good money for great causes. (This year it was for our Center)
This year’s event was dedicated to the memory of the late Danny Bodenmiller, who was the founder of Tantrums and Tiaras. Danny was such a wonderful, campy guy who I got to know. He had a heart of gold and we even talked about his one day maybe running for empress.
It’s good to remember good people who touched our lives, and I salute Tantrums and Tiaras for remembering their good friend and paying tribute to his wonderful soul this past weekend. From all reports, it was a big hit and I know Danny was looking down laughing his head off.
