In perhaps San Diego’s highest profile run-off election in the last several years, Judge Jan Goldsmith is taking on incumbent Democrat City Attorney Mike Aguirre. Goldsmith, endorsed by the San Diego GOP prior to the primary, is now pulling in one Democratic endorsement after another.
Goldsmith was clearly a moderate as a state assemblyman. Yet, at a time when many simply desire stability in the city attorney’s office, his call for a lack of partisanship is serving him well as a coalition builder. The Dem support for Goldsmith not only shows an across-the-board respect for his capabilities, it also signifies the overwhelming disdain for Aguirre’s job as the city attorney, regardless of party.
Aguirre, a longtime liberal Democrat, successfully ran four years ago as a reform crusader against the pension-debacle powers-that-be of both parties at City Hall, those responsible for making San Diego the “Enron by the Sea." Once elected, his continuing crusade may have cost him previous big labor support, but he also became something of a darling among many fiscal conservatives and some Republicans. They cheered his willingness to call a spade a spade when it came to those elected officials, bureaucrats and labor interests with so much apparent disdain for the public’s money and interests. An otherwise apathetic public, having a heightened interest because of the daily media stories about the city’s woeful mess, saw Aguirre as a needed reformer.
Had he simply continued that reform agenda, while also ensuring the oversight of an effective city attorney’s office, Aguirre would most likely be well on his way to re-election today. In fact, he might have closed the deal outright in June with more than 50 percent of the vote.
Yet, there is far more complexity to Aguirre. He may have been the right man as a straight-talking “agent of change” when it came to the city’s fiscal meltdown, yet he is also apparently incapable of viewing anyone but himself as a provider of leadership or ideas.
Since the 2004 election, he has proved himself the ultimate self-aggrandizing, attention-seeking media magnet, calling almost daily news conferences, typically pontificating on matters not within the purview or authority of the city attorney.
He has alienated insiders and outsiders alike, nearly daily using scorched-earth tactics to attack anyone that disagrees with him as “corrupt,” even those also seeking City Hall reforms. The ranks of the city attorney’s office have been decimated, with Aguirre dismissing one qualified attorney after another over perceived disagreements and a “lack of loyalty.”
Providing any competent legal representation to the city hasn’t just taken a backseat to his personal self-absorption, it doesn’t even fit in the trunk.
A self-proclaimed “lone champion of the citizenry” when criticized for any of these faults, the actual diagnosis may be closer to grandeur and paranoia than martyrdom.
Ironically, a very competent and successful lawyer by trade, Aguirre’s moth-like attraction to the lime-light has blinded him to the real role of the city attorney, while instead romanticizing himself as some kind of saber-wielding, policy-driving “alternative mayor.”
The media love the constant Big Mike circus act, thus fueling the fire and providing consistent coverage. But, if his interest is in crafting laws and standing in front of cameras, Aguirre should have run for council or mayor. Instead, he is running for re-election to a job he simply doesn’t have the persona to handle appropriately.
Not surprisingly, he is now running into a buzz saw of opposition from those of all parties. While the local Democratic Party has endorsed Aguirre – out of awkward necessity, one might conjecture – a host of usual party stalwarts are breaking ranks in support of Goldsmith. It seems that those reeling from a lack of effective leadership and competent representation in the city attorney’s office have long had enough.
Here is last Tuesday’s Goldsmith press release:
Prominent Democrats Urge Voters to Support Goldsmith for City Attorney
Prominent Democrats today endorsed Superior Court Judge Jan Goldsmith and kicked off a “Democrats for Goldsmith” rally held in front of the City Attorney’s office. Leading the group was former State Senator Dede Alpert, who served with Goldsmith in the state legislature in the 1990s, Council President Scott Peters and District 8 Councilmember Ben Hueso.
The common theme was that the City Attorney’s office must be focused on the law and not politics or partisanship.
“I am proud to be a Democrat and equally proud in this nonpartisan race to endorse Judge Jan Goldsmith for City Attorney,” said Alpert. “I am confident that he will provide sound legal advice for the City of San Diego and will administer the City Attorney’s Office in a fair and impartial manner.”
“San Diegans deserve competent, professional legal advice from their city attorney,” stated Peters, who was a candidate for City Attorney in the June primary. “That’s why I’m supporting Jan Goldsmith. He is a competent attorney, has a proven legal record and will use the City Attorney’s office to enforce the law, not make policy.”
Councilman Hueso stated that the City needs legal guidance from the City Attorney. That is not something that is partisan or political.
Marilyn Riley, a member of the Democratic Party Central Committee and a grassroots Democratic activist since 1964, also endorsed Judge Goldsmith — the first time she has ever endorsed a Republican. Ms. Riley, who is a former deputy city attorney and a former supporter of Mr. Aguirre, stated: “Jan Goldsmith is exactly the leader that the city attorney’s office needs. He is intelligent, judicious and knowledgeable. His calm demeanor and professionalism will turn the city attorney’s office into that which it should be — a genuine law firm working not for his personal causes, but rather for the best interests of the City of San Diego.”
Ms. Riley also had an opportunity to observe Judge Goldsmith during his legislative service when she was legal counsel to the California State Senate.
“Focusing on the law will save money and earn the City some wins in court,” said Judge Goldsmith. “Lawsuits will no longer be aimed at destroying political opponents or obtaining media attention. They will be filed based upon the law and the evidence. The constant grandstanding and press conferences may be entertaining, but it will be far more satisfying to resolve problems and, when we go to court, actually win.”
Other prominent Democrats present at the rally endorsing Judge Goldsmith included former State Senator Wadie Deddeh, former City Attorney candidate Lee Burdick, Barrio Logan community leader Rachael Ortiz, and former White House aide Midge Costanza.
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