Although local polling by Datamar shows a tightening in the San Diego mayoral election, most bets are still on former SD police chief and Republican Jerry Sanders to win it on Tuesday, not the least of which is because of the GOP machine Ron Nehring has built in the county.  (See just one of the recent news stories.)  Fellow FR blogger Duane Dichiara, in the heat of the SD action, will be doing further analysis of the mayoral contest in the days ahead.  

Whether the ultimate winner is Sanders or Democrat Donna Frye, the new mayor will have to deal with volatile San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre.

Mike Aguirre

Democrat Aguirre, love him or hate him, has single-handedly changed the usual thinking of whether an elected city attorney works for the citizens that voted him into office, or for the mayor and city council that he advises on legal matters.  Most city attorneys try to do both, finding some balance between the two extremes.  Aguirre, however, in the midst of San Diego’s "Enron by the Sea" fiscal woes, has used widespread discontent with "the way things are" to launch a full scale assualt on most of the city councilmembers, regularly calling press conferences to denounce them, accusing them of violating the law (over the city’s pension disaster) and even calling for their resignations.

His actions have caused a great debate about the proper role of the city attorney, and even back room discussions about de-funding his office as a way to quiet him.  Yet, the fact that Aguirre looks like the lone reformer, a martyred agent of change, has lionized him with much of a fed up public, and has put all other politicians in the position of either siding with him or being part of the status quo.  Those who decry his actions as self-serving, grandstanding, and driven by a sick, personal need for attention, don’t seem to be doing themselves any favors.

Even much of the impetus of former Mayor Dick Murphy’s downward spiral toward ultimate resignation was due to constant verbal battles with Aguirre, the result of which was Murphy looking indecisive, defensive and unwilling to admit mistakes.

Most telling about how bad things are in the City of San Diego –  the number of conservative and libertarian-leaning folks who think of Aguirre as a champion.  Unquestionably a liberal Democrat when it comes to most policy issues, Aguirre as the populist fiscal reformer has truly tapped the emotions of those who have most screamed for needed change at city hall.

Perhaps nothing defines his personality more than a current personal court battle he faces against a former lover, which has grabbed some headlines.  Essentially, years ago Aguirre signed a quitclaim for co-ownership of his house to his girlfriend, but says it wasn’t meant to be legally binding.  An ATTORNEY said this, folks.

From the SD Union-Tribune:

Instead, it was a symbolic gesture, a means of demonstrating that he was "willing to step up to the plate to make a commitment" to their relationship.  "The idea that I was going to give her my house to celebrate her moving to San Francisco was never my intention," he testified.

He said he didn’t find out until several years later that she had taken the document to the county and recorded it as a quitclaim deed in an attempt to become the legal co-owner of the property.

"I was very surprised that she did that and I considered it a breach of trust between the two of us," Aguirre testified on the second day of the nonjury trial …

Clearly, along with everything else, Mike Aguirre has what I believe would be called chutzpah.  

Fortunately for Jerry Sanders, Aguirre’s endorsement of fellow-Democrat Donna Frye for mayor is not driving a victory for her.  Republican Sanders will likely be the guy who will be working with Mike.  Some advice for Jerry:  If Mike gives you the keys to the house, you’d still do well to keep a sleeping bag in your car.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 4th, 2005 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.