Lori Saldana to Run for San Diego Mayor as an Independent ‘to Give the Disenfranchised a Voice’

There is finally some good news for San Diego’s left-of-center voters.

A known local politician with definite name recognition, former Democrat and Assemblywoman Lori Saldana has announced her intention to run for mayor of San Diego.  Saldana will run as an independent, having resigned from the Democratic Party about 2 years ago.

Now, finally, San Diego voters who don’t usually vote Republican – which is a majority of the city electorate – have a choice other than Kevin Faulconer and a handful of unknowns.

Saldana said she is running to give San Diegans a voice and to represent those who feel disenfranchised by the electoral process.

Saldana is formally announcing her candidacy on Thursday, January 28th, at the Grassroots Oasis in the Midway District area – 3130 Moore Street.  She filed papers to challenge Faulconer in the June primary last Friday.

Her main campaign issues, she told the Voice of San Diego in an interview, are income inequality, infrastructure and affordable housing. Her website also reflects that focus.

Lori Saldana has a definite track record in this town as a progressive. The obvious drawbacks of a campaign right now have not dazed her apparently. Her late start, her small level of funding compared to Faulconer’s million dollar warchest, and her lack of major party endorsement are the core of the problems facing her.

Yet she has won electoral battles before without party endorsements, she served in the Assembly for 6 years representing the 76th District, gaining multiple layers of experience before being termed out, she’s a local – resident of Clairemont, a graduate of Madison High School and SDSU,  and has a well-earned reputation as a progressive environmentalist.

Then Saldana lost a blistering, bitter campaign to fellow Democrat Scott Peters in the 2012 primary for the 52nd Congressional District. Her party not only didn’t endorse her, but actively worked against her. And the reasons she switched her party affiliation to “independent” may be appealing to many independent and left-of-center Democrats.

Another positive aspects of a campaign – there’s a measure for local minimum wage increase – one that Faulconer vetoed in 2014 – and Saldana could get a boost from the turnout of its supporters.

There will be much more to report as the enlivened campaign for San Diego mayor opens up to a real contest.

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