Yes, last week’s back-stabbing political coup against former interim mayor and council president, Todd Gloria was led by Republicans but had the help of some weak and unprincipled Democrats. In my view, the coup’s chief organizer was Councilman Scott Sherman, the new “Dick Cheney of San Diego.” In one of the biggest betrayals and back-stabbing political acts in the history of San Diego, Councilwoman Sherri Lightner joined the Republicans in ousting Gloria so she could gain the presidency that she had so coveted for a while.
Todd Gloria is the one who made Lightner Council president pro-tem and gave her powerful chairmanships but Sherri became power hungry quickly.
Lightner’s apparent betrayal of Gloria was like a scene from the Andy Griffin Show where sweet Auntie Bee stabbed the beloved Sheriff Andy in the back … smiling quietly all the time while wiping blood off her hands.
It seemed like a deal was made with Councilwoman Marti Emerald to nominate Lightner for president on the second ballot and Lightner would then appoint Emerald president pro-tem. And sure enough, Emerald got her share of the 30 pieces of silver Friday as guess what? Our new council president pro-tem is now Marti Emerald!
Even the chairman of the local Republican Party stated, “In a dozen years in politics I’ve never seen such Dem on Dem savagery and total disrespect like at today’s Council meeting.”
Well Tony, I have not seen such local Democratic back-stabbing and betrayal in over half a century of San Diego politics! (Though then Councilman Filner’s gang of five coup against popular Mayor O’Connor comes a close second.)
What the Republicans, Lightner and all the City councilmembers did not expect was the avalanche of outrage against them and the overwhelming bipartisan support for Todd Gloria from all over San Diego.
I joined dozens of speakers at last Wednesday’s Council meeting … housewives, Marine vets, environmentalists, minimum wage workers, Latinos, blacks, Asian-Americans, gays, straights, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, businesspeople, seniors, youth, feminist activists, etc. speaking out about the outstanding job Gloria did as interim mayor and was doing as council president.
But, as usual, dirty politics prevailed on that day and all four Republican councilmembers as well as Lightner and Emerald worked against what almost all of the media called one of the “brightest, decent, hardworking, compassionate, intelligent, popular leaders in San Diego” … Todd Gloria.
But, guess what, after all the messy dust settled Gloria is standing taller than ever and more popular than ever with San Diegans from all walks of life urging him to run for either Congress, State Assembly or mayor in 2016.
Councilman Gloria keeps his chairmanship of the powerful Budget and Government Efficiency Committee and will continue, along with Mayor Faulconer, to serve on the San Diego Association of Governments board of directors. And yes, the popular bachelor Gloria will have more time to campaign in the next two years for higher office. Yes, the Republicans misfired attempts to politically weaken Gloria have now made him into a “Democratic Hercules”!
Lightner has now become the scarlet letter-wearing lady of San Diego and Emerald has lost support for her hopes for re-election.
As for Todd Gloria, well, all San Diegans know that the best is yet to come.
Kudos to David Alvarez who was the only Democrat to stick with Gloria till the very end.
Now as for my publisher’s recent commentary, this had nothing to do with Todd being gay at all and that cheap shot at Lorie Zapf was uncalled for. She is a proven friend and supporter of the GLBT community.
And as for your swipe at me for my support of Mayor Kevin Faulconer, I have no regrets for my campaigning for Mayor Faulconer and would do so again.
While I do not agree with all of our mayor’s stands I look at his entire record, not just bits and pieces. And I am not a registered Republican but a registered Democrat and I may soon change my registration to Independent.
Happy Hanukkah!
This past Sunday I attended a dinner at City Commissioner Bruce Abrams home where I met leaders of The AGUDA, Israel’s biggest and oldest (1975) GLBT Jewish organization.
Did you know that not since World War II have there been such anti-semitism campaigns? Happy Hanukkah to all my friends!
Great article Nicole. Thank you for your kind & very truthful words. You’ve always been a person that I love & respect. I sure hope that WHATEVER Todd decides to do, he Will have your Full support. Happy Holidays. Love to you & yours always
Linda
It took the support of five councilmembers to unseat Todd Gloria: four Republicans and one Democrat.
One of the four Republicans was newly-elected District 6 councilmember Chris Cate. Had Democrat Carol Kim been elected in that district, Todd Gloria would still be Council President.
Nicole – you strongly supported Cate over Kim, and now you’re whining about the “backstabbing political coup” against Todd Gloria.
Simple fact: by endorsing and supporting Chris Cate over Carol Kim, you helped facilitate that coup
Own it.