Today is a big day for 20 people. This is the day that the San Diego City Council will decide who of that twenty will sit in District 2’s seat for the remainder of Kevin Faulconer’s term, until December of this year.
At 2pm today in Council Chambers, the Council will take up the matter – supposedly the only issue on their docket – and listen to the 3 minute spiel each applicant has, then will begin taking votes. The first applicant with 5 votes – a majority – wins and takes their seat immediately.
Who are these people who wish to serve the people of District 2? Here is a brief run-down of these individuals taken from their publicly-available application (in alphabetical order):
- Stephanie Antin – a professional businesswoman who has lived and been active in Pacific Beach for 15 years; she has a BA in communication from Tulane U in New Orleans;
- Robert Coates – a retired Superior Court judge in San Diego for 28 years; obtained law degree in 1970 from Cal Western;
- Mary Cooluris – an advocate for the disabled, vets, and the poor in general; earned a BA in psychology at USC; has lived in 92107 area for 24 years;
- Bruce Coons – the executive director of Save Our Heritage Organization for 14 years, was responsible for blocking billionaire’s plan for Balboa Park; went to PLHS, USD; a local resident for many years;
- Christopher Cramer – CEO and co-founder of Karl Straus Brewing Co., since 1989;l went to PLHS, Stanford U for BA in history, plus MBA; lived in Point Loma fro 14 1/2 years;
- Ricardo Flores – former chief of staff for Councilmember Marti Emerald, worked for Congresswoman Susan Davis, grew up in El Cajon, UCLA BA in film and TV; (unofficially – Flores has withdrawn his application);
- Jane Gawronski – retired educator, former Escondido school superintendent; OB Planning Board member, local property owner, lived in OB for 10 1/2 years;
- Edward Harris – City lifeguard since 1989, head of union that represents lifeguards; lived in Point Loma for 3 1/2 years;
- Daniel Holstein – Court reporter, active in GOP central committee and with gay Republicans; BA and MBA; lived in the Peninsula for 12 years;
- Gary D Lowe – 40 year land use attorney and consultant; active in city boards on water policy and wetlands; BA and MA from USC; has lived in Point Loma for 7 plus years;
- James McBride – retired test pilot for California National Guard; recently from Santee; homelessness is his biggest issue;
- Don J Mullen – political consultant, former chief of staff for various City Council members, including Marti Emerald; lived in Pacific Beach for 17 years; founded the PB BID, and was president of the PB Town Council;
- James Musgrove – former president of OB Town Council, lived in PB, MB, Bay Park and OB for 30 years; works for visual communication company; registered independent but supporter Republican Carl DeMaio for mayor in 2012.
- Gretchen Kinney Newsom – current President of OB Town Council, grew up in Pescadero California, BA from Humboldt State, worked for California Assemblymember, currently with consultant company;
- Bryan Pease – attorney involved in protecting sea-lions, on People’s Food board, lived in OB fro 1 1/2 years; recently won court okay to be applicant after problem with voter registration;
- Wayne Raffesberger – business consultant, adjunct lecturer at UCSD; has worked on staff of Republicans Tom Behr and Ron Roberts; lived in the Peninsula area for 30 years;
- Richard Jarvis Ross – past president of the Peninsula Community Planning Board, grassroots activist; lived in area for 17 1/2 years;
- M. Howard Wayne – former State legislator, currently works for Calif Attorney General’s office; grew up in East San Diego; JD from USD.
- John R Wertz – retired lawyer after 40 years, represented councilmembers, mayors in civil litigation; lived in Point Loma for 20 years;
- Matthew E Winter – architect; involved in Pacific Beach Town Council, PB Planning Committee, project architect for various city projects including Lane Field Project, County Waterfront Park; lived in PB for 3 1/2 years.
So, that’s it, folks. One of these individuals will be representing the people of District 2 before the day is out.
Note: that due to city rules, the applicant selected must be from the “old” former District 2, before its boundaries were redrawn in 2011.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Folks are allowed to speak on behalf of any particular candidate applicant.
Thanks, I was just going to ask that – whether people who support a candidate can say a few words in support.
Molly – Except for maybe a few names, most applicants are not known by the Council members sitting in the chambers today. And the one person – the D2 Councilmember – who would presumably know everyone – is not there – duh!
My Prediction: Wertz
Given politics, whether applicants are known outside their communities, and other factors, my prediction of the top 5 vote getters are: Coons, Mullen, Newsom, Wayne and Wertz.
Thank you to everyone that supported me for the District 2 City Council vacant seat! Your call to service was heard and I’m thankful for your support and friendship! Second place isn’t bad :) Congrats to Ed Harris, our new City Councilman. Now it’s time to enjoy ?#?NationalBeerDay? – cheers!
Lotta loser-predictions here, editordude.
Coons was eminently well-qualified and could have opened Council’s eyes to another way of looking at most everything, but that was not to be. I don’t even know who Mullen was. Ms. Newsom, as a protege of the well-placed developer Jennifer LeSar who testified on Newsom’s behalf, was supported by the ever-slick Todd Gloria who doesn’t want to miss a bet with Toni Atkins, the next Speaker of the California Assembly and Le Sar’s spouse. Howard Wayne, who was an admirable Assembly representative up until the day he carried a disastrous bill for then-State Senator Steve Peace and Gray Davis to de-regulate our electricity system, was left in the lurch. And silver-haired retired lawyer John Wertz, who hurriedly negotiated the fat contract for business’ Superintendent of Schools Alan Bersin years ago, was also ignored entirely.
On the second round of voting, Lifeguard Union president Ed Harris got the nod.
The dude with 30 years in the district. That is being local.
The editor on this article is bias to Mr. Musgrove. Some grammar reading books are also a priority.
The following was written in the article about Mr. Musgrove:
“…..registered independent ” BUT ” supporter Republican Carl DeMaio for mayor in 2012.”
No reason to write …” BUT “… other than being bias towards him.
Do it for one. Do it for all.
The grammar part. Ought to be “…. SUPPORTED Carl…. ” or, “….supporter ” OF ” Carl…”
Dear editor; If you want to opine on each of them, in this case in just one of them, do it here in the comments area, and remove yourself from the article. You must remain objective.
Otherwise, thank you for keeping us informed about the Ocean Beach/Point Loma area.
I’m sure Frank is quite capable of responding to this comment, but I can’t resist. You are criticizing Frank’s grammar in your first sentence where you wrote “bias to?” I think you need to check that construction. And how does his description of Mr. Musgrove indicate any sort of bias? Then, you later wrote “being bias.” Check that one too.
The only error made was using “supporter” instead of “supported”, which is a typo, not a grammatical error.
But, why don’t you do us all a favor and point out exactly where Frank demonstrated bias toward Musgrove?
I confess: it was supposed to read “supported” – a misplaced “r” instead of the correct “d”.
We never claim pure “objectivity” which is impossible for any journalist to claim. That’s why we are the alternative media. If you want “objectivity” – read the mainstream and corporate press, they’ll try to fool you every time.
Where is Sarah Boot? Her website is still active, it appears. Am I wrong? Has she dropped out of the District 2 race?
Sarah Boot is running in the actual election so she wasn’t eligible for this temporary appointment.