My narrative on the San Diego’s mayor’s race focused on mayoral-elect Bob Filner’s ability to tap into the city’s changing demographics to win.
I expanded on that theme in an interview this morning on KPCC radio in Los Angeles. We talked about how Filner’s long history with more Democratic and Latino communities in southern San Diego helped him to victory in a city that’s becoming more Democratic and ethnically diverse. Click here to listen. (One quick correction: During the interview, I said that the business community spent “tens of millions” to defeat Filner. That was too high. It was more like a few million dollars.)
Our media partners at NBC 7 San Diego did a thorough overview of the promises and challenges of a Filner administration. I was featured talking about Filner’s relationship with business leaders.
For my complete take on what Filner’s election means, don’t miss my original story. Here’s a key section:
Filner’s victory highlights the rise of the Democratic Party in San Diego city government, one of the last bastions of Republicanism in California’s big cities. Before Filner, San Diego had not elected a Democratic mayor in two decades.
Filner, a 70-year-old congressman, rode a 13-point Democratic registration edge to victory. But Filner represents a break from past San Diego mayors that goes beyond party affiliation. Where his predecessors have been calm, moderate and pro-downtown, Filner is feisty, unabashedly liberal and pro-any-neighborhood-but-downtown.
(Filner opponent Carl) DeMaio tried to paint Filner as too erratic to run the nation’s eighth largest city. DeMaio, 38, threw his superior knowledge of city issues, campaign organization and finances at Filner.
But Filner survived. The city was ready, he said, for a new direction.
Liam Dillon is a news reporter for Voice of San Diego. He covers San Diego City Hall, the 2012 mayor’s race and big building projects. What should he write about next?
Please contact him directly at liam.dillon@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.550.5663.
Disclosure: Voice of San Diego members and supporters may be mentioned or have a stake in the stories we cover. For a complete list of our contributors, click here.
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