San Diego is the 8th largest city in the nation and there continues to be serious issues facing our city. Now more than ever, we need a qualified man with leadership experience; a moderate that can work with both Democrats and Republicans. Our city cannot afford “on the job training” in leadership and non-partisanship. If you watch the City Council meetings on TV Channel 24 and watch the debates (I strongly urge you to do so this time around), then the choice is very clear: Councilmember Kevin Faulconer is ready to lead our city and is absolutely the most qualified and experienced (past Council vice president) to become our next mayor. Former Mayor Jerry Sanders does carry weight in our community and his strong endorsement of Kevin reminds me how much they are both alike. But Kevin has a younger different generation outlook, and like our interim mayor, Todd Gloria, who he has an outstanding relationship with, will bring people together and not be beholden to the arch-conservative and liberal left wings of our city’s politics.
When it comes to LGBT issues, Faulconer, indeed, has a longer, proven record than his opponent. Kevin opposed Prop. 8; supported the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell; supported a measure requiring our city contractors to provide domestic partners equal benefits. Kevin supported Harvey Milk Street and he strongly supports the passing of ENDA. Do you know, in just the past seven years Kevin Faulconer supported allocating more than $550,000 in funding for our LGBT Center, Mama’s Kitchen and Being Alive? He has committed to bring back the GLBT Advisory Board as well as other community boards to the office of the mayor. Sadly, our last two mayors did not have such boards. Just this year Kevin joined Todd Gloria and gave a financial donation to The Center from his own council savings. He has always been visible and supportive of our events, and just last week he stopped by The Center’s community Thanksgiving Dinner.
Kevin has been a longtime friend of our community and has a wonderful wife and two young children. He is not just a smart man and true public servant, but a really nice guy.
I believe that a Mayor Faulconer with a Council President Gloria will, and can, bring our city’s different political factions, communities and neighborhoods together. Thank you for listening.
People, politics and opinions
AIDS Walk founder, Susan Jester turns 70 this coming Saturday … Happy Birthday to one of our local trailblazers!
Frank Lechner was recently elected chair of the San Diego County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council. He is a Supervisor Ron Roberts appointee and the first openly gay person to be appointed.
The new GLBT Advisory Board to the Sheriff will be getting a special tour of the San Diego County Jail.
I was in Los Angeles this past weekend and met with my longtime friend, the former mayor of West Hollywood, Councilmember Jeffrey Prang, who is now the front runner to become the next assessor of Los Angeles County.
John Duran will be running against Sheila Kuhel for an L.A. County supervisor seat. Yes, two popular GLBT candidates splitting up the votes.
This past Christmas Wreath Auction at Martinis Above Fourth raised more than $25,000 for the Queen Eddie Youth Fund administered by The Center and Imperial Court.
I urge you all to see the movie, The Book Thief. It’s outstanding.
Popular and award winning businessman, David Cohen, and his Verant Group are the talk of North Park as they are the new owners of the North Park Theatre.
I will be presenting a gown and crown of gay icon, War World II veteran and the first openly gay candidate for office in North America, Jose Julio Sarria, to the new National GLBT Museum in Washington, D.C. at a special ceremony in New York.
Rich’s Nick Moede’s music career is really taking off in New York.
A recent Union Tribune commentary about Southern California becoming a new “51st state” caught a lot of attention and personally I support this idea.
The recent holiday blanket/clothing drive held at Urban Mo’s and hosted by two former empresses, Ophelia and Selena raised almost $3,000 and many blankets were donated.
Congratulations to Hillcrest businessman, William Lopez, in his marriage to Police Lt. Phillip Collum, as their wedding ceremony got a major story in the super popular Pacifica Magazine.
I was a judge at the recent 29th annual National IGRA Convention held at the Mission Valley Hilton Hotel.
GLBT rodeo delegates from all over the USA and Canada were in San Diego. Those great GLBT sports teams will be coming together Dec. 15 at True North Tavern, 6 p.m. for their annual “Toys for Kids” fundraising event and the GSDBA is also holding one too!
The ever popular Kevin Beiser (vice president of the San Diego School Board) may be getting a new title.
I had a nice conversation recently with Nathan Fletcher and he has absolutely no interest in running for public office. Well, I believe him, but many of us hope he changes his mind in 3 or 5 years!
The word from our state capitol is that our Toni Atkins is still in the running to become our next speaker for the state Assembly! Go Toni, Go.
Bonnie Dumanis has received the most endorsements of Democratic and Republican elected officials in her bid to be re-elected our district attorney.
Last year, Mayor Castro of San Antonio, Texas appointed me the mayor of La Villita, Texas, and I will be visiting my tiny little city next week for 5 days. I will be staying at the home of a major Texas civic leader, Dr. Rosie Valdez.
2014 Wall of Honor inductees
Some years ago, I founded the community’s Wall of Honor at The Center. Next year we will be inducting new honorees and they include: Chris Kehoe, Bill Beck, Susan Jester, Al Smithson, David Huskey, Robert Lynn, Scott Fulerson, Eddie Conlon, John Graham, Pat Cluchy and Julie Warren. The ceremony will take place April 2014. Stay tuned as The Center will be issuing more details.
Nicole Murray Ramirez has been an award-winning columnist since 1973, and a Latino and gay activist for more than 40 years. He is currently a city commissioner and has served the last six 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
NIcole Murray Ramirez has apparently ended her “Bromance” with Republican-Independent-Democrat Nathan Fletcher, and has now taken up residence with Republican Kevin Faulconer.
Ramirez endorses Faulconer for three explicitly stated reasons:1. Faulconer is a clone of former Republican Mayor Sanders; Faulconer is older than his Democratic opponent, David Alvarez; and 3. Faulconer has supported the LGBT Community politically and financially.
None of these three assertions provides any rational reason to support Republican Faulconer over David Alvarez..
There is no doubt Faulconer is a clone of Republican Sanders. Sanders did endorse gay marriage, after years of being prodded by his own lesbian daughter. However, Sanders also opposed every politically and economically progressive initiative that came to his office as Mayor. He is now Executive Director of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, a Republican-dominated lobbying group that opposes anything on the progressive agenda. Sanders was an advocate for the Jacobs Plan to destroy the historic fabric of Balboa Park, and to impose paid parking throughout the Park and Zoo. So was Faulconer. Sanders favors a billion dollar give away of public funds to subsidize the for-profit Chargers. So does Faulconer. Sanders supports the Republican and Shipyards’ Referendum to reverse the Barrio Logan Community Plan with a plan imposed by polluting shipyards rather than the Plan created and supported by local residents.
So does Faulconer. Sanders favored exposing the City to millions in liabilities by releasing Tourist Marketing Funds for promotion BEFORE the Courts rule on the legality of this controversial tax. So does Faulconer.
Faulconer is indeed older than David Alvarez. But since when is mere age a mark of political leadership or ability ?
Falconer has indeed supported the LGBT Community politically and financially. So has David Alvarez.
David Alvarez is a Progressive Democrat who can lead a progressive majority of the City Council to make a difference in this City. He can ensure the Residents of Barrio Logan control their own destiny, and can protect the health of their children and grandchildren. He can protect Balboa Park and other historic treasures of the City. He can support the encouragement of living wages for working people in San Diego, reducing the need for other forms of public assistance. He can directly address issues of the homeless. He can be a strong, articulate voice, independent of the old Republican establishment of downtown developers, newspaper publishers and hotel owners.
Faulconer would use the powers of his office, including the veto powers of the Strong Mayor, to arrest any progressive changes in San Diego. He will represent the 1% very effectively. He will be the middle-age, establishment, pro-developer Republican voice for San Diego unless we strongly and enthusiastically support his opponent, David Alvarez.
It is time to pass the torch to a new generation of progressive leadership in San Diego. Mr. Faulconer and Nicole Ramirez represent the past. Let’s move the city forward, not in reverse.
Nicole shows her real political stripes and total lack of political sophistication when she also endorses “Papa Doug” Manchester’s insane idea to split California into two states. One that may be 65 % Democratic, the other right-wing Red State. One state with two US Senators. Possibly sufficient to block judicial nominations and all progressive legislation. A Republican Mayor such as Faulconer would have veto power over the City Council majority. Something Nicole never mentions in his love fest with Kevin.
If you want a Republican US Senate, and a Republican Mayor in San Diego with veto powers over the progressive voice, just follow Nicole’s counsel.
Faulconer’s ads will never mention he is a Republican. We must never forget.
I agree with David, Faulconer offers nothing to the glbt community and even less to people of color, Nicole you didn’t give one valid reason to vote for him other than that Jerry Saunders quip which is getting old, he has a gay daughter he supports, bit whoop my parents have a gay son they support, which means nothing to real people in this city, you know, those who actually have to work for a living.
I’ll await what the editor says since he seems to live in the real world and not one of personal friends and cronies.
This is the kind of Government by Republican-Financed Referendum Faulconer and his Republican friends want :http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/11/business-groups-seek-housing-fee-repeal/
So sad to see people like Murray-Ramirez try to thwart the efforts of the Progressive LGBTQ community by trying to convince us to vote for a right-wing conservative Republican who is funded by huge corporate interests and oppose living wages, affordable housing and good, local jobs. We need a PROGRESSIVE pro-LGBTQ mayor like David Alvarez. No more right-wing pandering to the gays in this City for a vote. Faulconer is not our ally- photo ops and rich white-gay male schmoozing aside… Don’t be fooled. Republicans know they can’t survive politically in SD without LGBTQ support, but we aren’t for sale, Kevin! VOTE ALVAREZ FEB 11 2014 – We deserve better San Diego!