VOSD Podcast: City Hall's Leadership Change and Why Scott Peters Would Like to Be Mayor

Congressman Scott Peters. / Photo by Adriana Heldiz

Mayor Kevin Faulconer kicked the year off with a State of the City speech where he acknowledged the city’s shortcomings on homelessness. A week after, he showed up at the Metropolitan Transit System’s board meeting to support Democratic City Councilwoman Georgette Gomez’s successful bid to be the new chair.

And just a couple of days ago, Faulconer tapped political guru Kris Michell as the city’s new chief operating officer. Although Michell is no stranger to San Diego politics, her new position marks a major change for the COO role, which has generally gone to technocrats rather than political operators.

On this week’s podcast, hosts Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts discuss the big changes at City Hall.

“The mayor is really trying to infuse the operations now with more of his priorities, with more of his will,” Lewis said.

Scott Sherman also joins the first half of the podcast via telephone to discuss his new proposal to appoint San Diego City Council presidents by seniority.

Scott Peters Might Run for Mayor

Rep. Scott Peters stopped by our podcast studio this week to talk with Lewis and Keatts about life in Washington D.C., net neutrality, the Convention Center expansion, marijuana policies, immigration and more.

He called Trump’s proposed border wall “abhorrent and a waste of money,” and he also made a bit of news.

He acknowledged that he’s considering running for mayor in 2020.

“I’m totally considering it,” he said. “I’ve been working really hard on this town. I love the town. It’s my home. I care a lot about it. And in Congress, it’s my mission to serve San Diego as much as it is to serve the country.”