In the first California election of 2006, reform Republican Kevin Faulconer (disclaimer – Coronado Communications client) appears to have defeated the labor council’s Lorena Gonzalez 50.99% to 49.01% (14,050 to 13,506) in the race for San Diego’s 2nd City Council seat. There are 2,500
remaining absentee votes to be counted – mostly absentees. If the numbers hold, this was a huge upset that quite literally will alter the direction of the seventh largest city in America.
This victory gives Republican Mayor Jerry Sanders the leverage he needs to pass his City Hall reform agenda. There are now three Republicans on the city council, one conservative Democrat (who is Council President), one populist ("surfer chick" Donna Frye who recently lost the Mayoral race) and three machine Democrats. Better, Frye actually lost her own 6th Council seat to Sanders in the Mayoral race, which indicates she may be interested in jumping on the reform team in order to avoid the serious challenge that appears to be brewing.
Perhaps as significantly, this is the first election in nearly a decade where a candidate has been elected to the San Diego City Council without the support of the San Diego-Imperial Labor Council. Let me be blunt: the labor council boss has been the man in charge of San Diego for some time. He and his team were viewed as the kingmakers at City Hall by both Republicans and Democrats. But the new coalition of exasperated business owners, the local GOP, reasonable environmental leaders, and city law enforcement has demonstrated that they have the resources and manpower to go head to head with the boss on his own turf and win.
This was by far the most hotly contested city council race in San Diego’s history. Overall combined spending in a district 1/3 the size of an Assembly seat is estimated to be around $2 million. The district has a pretty strong Democrat voter registration advantage, and it is firmly left leaning in ideology. Think of the partisan representatives and you’ll get a good flavor of the type of politics in favor here: Congresswoman Susan Davis, State Senator Christine Kehoe, and Assemblywoman Lori Saldana. In fact, Lori Saldana could be considered Lorena Gonzalez’s mentor, which is in itself disturbing.
Because of the nature of the district, and the January 10 election date, some new and innovative absentee and integrated ground programs were developed that gave Faulconer the electoral edge he needed. I’m not going to give away the farm here, but I think there were some pretty stunned insiders when the Faulconer campaign started with an 11 point advantage as absentee votes were revealed at 8pm. Expect these programs to be rolled out in this year’s target Assembly races.
Faulconer will have very little time for rest. His seat is up again in June 2006, along with Districts 4 (machine), 6 (Frye – swing), and 8 (machine).
In the heavily Latino and Democrat 8th Council District reform Republican Luis Acle was soundly defeated by Inzunza/Vargas machine candidate Ben Hueso 28.97% to 71.03%.
[Publisher’s Note: Duane modestly mentions Faulconer was a client of Coronado Communications. I guess perhaps what I am about to say comes better from me anyways: CONGRATULATIONS TO DUANE AND TO JENNIFER JACOBS!! This win is huge for San Diego, huge for Republicans, huge for reform… and huge for Duane and Jennifer! Good job. – Flash]