Regarding the Clairemont mayoral forum and Bob Filner’s chances north of Interstate 8, consider the following assessment:
Our last Democratic mayor, Maureen O’Connor, had less of a demographic edge yet prevailed over a well-heeled television newscaster, Dick Carlson. Madame O’Connor’s victory was in large measure a result of her longstanding and warm relationship with both Union-Tribune publisher Helen Copley and former mayor Pete Wilson. Also, as the Kennedys, the O’Connor family was legend in these parts. Being from a large Irish Catholic Family was probably an asset, at least with law enforcement. So, to overtake the young, charismatic and sincere Nathan Fletcher, I believe Filner needs to take from his opponent’s political playbook of control and order, that is, focus on the law and order vote north of Interstate 8.
As former mayoral candidate Peter Navarro once lamented of Clairemont, it was the Plant 19 folks that sank him.
Daniel J. Smiechowski lives in Bay Ho.