Election Day has arrived.
Whether you’re still wavering or just need a refresher, we’ve got a handy guide with plenty of details and links to stories about the mayoral contenders.
Almost a dozen candidates are vying to replace Mayor Bob Filner, who left office in August after a wave of sexual harassment allegations.
The top contenders are City Councilmen David Alvarez and Kevin Faulconer and former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher. Former City Attorney Mike Aguirre has registered a distant fourth in multiple polls.
Check out our simple scorecard on the candidates’ views on major city topics and our overview of their some of their mayoral plans.
We’ve also got a helpful chart detailing each candidates’ top endorsers.
Now, for more on the candidates …
David Alvarez
Alvarez is a Barrio Logan native and one-term Democratic councilman whose political career was partly inspired by his neighborhood and its mishmash of industry and homes. Alvarez likes to say that he started talking about neighborhood concerns before they got lots of play during the Filner administration, and that he’ll be a champion for their concerns if he’s elected mayor.
We described five things Alvarez has pushed while on the City Council, and teamed up with our media partner NBC 7 on a video explainer.
For a more detailed primer, see our reader’s guide to Alvarez.
Kevin Faulconer
Faulconer is the city’s most veteran City Councilman and he has pushed a handful of city ballot measures in six years on the City Council. The sole Republican in the race, Faulconer promises to bring a steady, moderate approach to the mayor’s office – similar to former Mayor Jerry Sanders but with a greater focus on neighborhoods.
We explained five things Faulconer has worked on as a City Councilman, and put together a video guide with NBC 7.
For a more detailed primer, check out our reader’s guide to Faulconer.
Nathan Fletcher
Fletcher is a former state assemblyman best known for his work on Chelsea’s Law and deals he brokered with Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown. Fletcher, a former Republican who became a registered Democrat earlier this year, is a Marine veteran who promises to serve as an ambassador to promote the city and to bolster public safety resources if he’s elected.
We outlined Fletcher’s background, and partnered with NBC 7 on a two-minute video intro.
For a more detailed primer, check out our reader’s guide to Fletcher.
Mike Aguirre
Aguirre is a former one-term city attorney best known for his public battles with other officials. He’s taken on a different persona during the mayor’s race though he remains focused on the pension debates that dominated his stint as city attorney. If elected, Aguirre says he’d continue to work to lessen the city’s pension bill so there’s more cash for street repairs, public safety and other needs.
We worked with NBC 7 on a video primer.
For more on Aguirre, check out our reader’s guide.
OK, ready to vote now?
You can check out this link to find out where to vote. Polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 8 p.m.
Shortly after polls close, the county Registrar of Voters plans to reveal mail ballot tallies. Results will be posted online at sdvote.com and via Twitter. The county expects to issue updated counts every 30 minutes starting at about 10 p.m. and hopes to make its final posting at 1 a.m.
Predictions
It’s largely a race for second place. Faulconer is all but certain to make the February runoff, leaving Democrats Alvarez and Fletcher to likely fight for the No.2 slot.
To win, Alvarez will need to persuade Democrats he’s the more reliably liberal leader. He’ll also need to get out the vote in neighborhoods south of Interstate 8 and State Route 94 that catapulted Filner into office. Fletcher, meanwhile, will be looking closely at mail ballot returns and hoping he can hold onto the majority of Democrats’ votes despite a series of attacks by both Faulconer and Alvarez backers.
Liam Dillon and NBC 7’s Wendy Fry appeared on “Politically Speaking” this weekend and offered their takes on the mayor’s race.
Here’s part one:
And part three: