Friday, May 30, 2008 | San Diego is in trouble. Tuesday’s primary election will in part shape the landscape of politics and the future of “America’s finest city.” By way of disclosure; I worked for Jerry Sanders when he was chief of the police department; I was vice president of the San Diego Police Officers Association when Jerry first sought election to the Mayor’s Office; I strongly opposed his endorsement by our association; I disagreed with more policies and changes Jerry proposed than I could find agreement with; I argued and fought with Jerry during negotiations.
I now myself supporting the man I have argued so strongly with on so many issues. I told Jerry Sanders when he first announced his candidacy for mayor I did not believe he was the person San Diego needed at the time. I know Jerry to be a man of honor, who is caring, compassionate and not the type of person I believed could withstand the pressures of politics and trying to right a sinking ship so many people wanted to ensure went down. I believed we needed a strong, proven, political person to turn things around in this City.
Jerry Sanders has done more in the short time he has been in office than I or anyone believed possible. He has eliminated unnecessary positions; tightened spending; pushed and pulled to get the financials completed to allow San Diego to return to the bond market; worked to pay down the Pension deficit; provided leadership where there was none. Jerry Sanders has proven he can do the job.
Jerry Sanders has not spent 5 million dollars trying to sell a bill of goods to San Diego voters. Jerry Sanders has gone about doing the job he was elected to do. He has done this job against all odds and without the help of those who should be helping. I do not always agree with Jerry Sanders and his policies but I believe he is the man San Diego needs to continue on the path to again becoming “America’s finest city.”
I would urge voters to remember who supported Mike Aguirre after he sold them a bill of goods and convinced everyone he was a changed man and supportive of “their” cause. The same bill of goods is being offered for sale to voters in the mayor’s race. Let us not make the same mistake again. San Diego cannot afford it.
I urge every San Diego voter to cast their vote for JERRY SANDERS. Allow him to finish what he was asked to do; FIX SAN DIEGO’S FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND AGAIN ALLOW US TO PROCLAIM, “WE ARE AMERICA’S FINEST CITY.”