The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce today endorsed Jan Goldsmith for San Diego city attorney. The move isn’t a shocker — there aren’t too many chamber-types on the Aguirre side nowadays.
But the nod is a bit more significant in that for the second time in recent elections the chamber is wading into areas it once stayed away from. The chamber said today it is the first time it has endorsed in a city attorney’s race.
In 2005, when it endorsed Jerry Sanders for mayor over Donna Frye, the chamber said it was the first time it’d endorsed a mayor since it went with Pete Wilson in 1971.
It will be interesting to see if this is a pattern that continues or the decisions are a direct result of the business community’s general loathing of Frye and City Attorney Mike Aguirre.
From the chamber’s press release today:
The Chamber chose to endorse in this race because our local economy and jobs are threatened by financial instability within our region’s largest city. The outcome of the election for City Attorney is vital for fiscal reform and stability at City Hall. A financially stable city government, capable of maintaining infrastructure and delivering basic services, is important to create jobs and economic growth in the San Diego region.
“San Diego’s City Attorney has the responsibility to provide the Mayor and City Council with the best possible legal advice. An effective City Attorney can help the city return to financial stability and get the city moving in the right direction,” said Chamber President and CEO Ruben Barrales.