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San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Hosts City of San Diego Mayoral Debate

By Lisa Gesner

In partnership with the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce held an invitation-only City of San Diego Mayoral Debate on Wednesday, April 30, at the University of San Diego Joan Kroc Institute of Peace & Justice Auditorium.

The Mayoral Debate, part of the Chamber’s San Diego Good Government series sponsored by AT&T, brought together business and civic leaders to hear from San Diego mayoral candidates Eric Bidwell, Steve Francis, Floyd Morrow and Mayor Jerry Sanders. Questions were presented from a select panel of San Diego business leaders, including Scott Alevy, Vice President of Public Policy and Communications for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce; Lani Lutar, President and CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association; and Bob Kittle, editorial page Editor of the San Diego Union Tribune. Following panelist questions, audience members had the opportunity to present questions to the candidates for a candid discussion of issues relevant to San Diego’s business community. The event was moderated by Dennis Morgigno of Channel 4 San Diego.

Questions presented by panelists covered a range of issues pertinent to San Diego’s business community, including the city’s finances, the possible expansion of Lindberg field, wages for City employees, tax increases to support infrastructure and water conservation.

The debate proved to be lively and controversial at times between San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and Steve Francis, chairman and co-founder of AMN healthcare, particularly on the much discussed topics of campaign funding and contributions.

On the issue of Lindberg field’s expansion versus building a new airport, Mayor Sanders discussed his plan to increase the airport’s capacity by 15%, and Francis felt that moving terminals to accommodate capacity needs was a good solution. Bidwell, a charismatic political novice, disagreed and felt that moving the field would have more long term benefits. All candidates seemed to agree that a lack of funding made payraises for City employees difficult, and that our City’s budget and finances needed reform. Mayor Sanders also added that multiple measures had been taken during his term, such as a pension plan for employees and an emphasis on our City police and fire department workers, while candidates Bidwell and Morrow debated on whether better pay should be emphasized for all workers. When the candidates were questioned about the City’s 2005 living wage ordinance, Francis’s response favored the unioned employees that would benefit from the ordinance.

Mayor Sanders also explained his actions in the Sunroad building lawsuit last year while discussing City infrastructure and efforts to avoid possible tax increases, while Francis stated that he was not in support of raising taxes to rebuild City infrastructure. Candidate Morrow, a former city council member, made a point that funding for such projects should come from the revenue they created. Candidates also differed widely on the issue of water conservation, with Morrow bringing up the availability of ocean water desalinization and rainwater runoff, and Sanders focusing on the success of the “20 Gallon Challenge” as well as his own personal conservation as a model for others. Bidwell took a different standpoint, stating that wastewater recovery would be a more efficient solution, and Francis felt that the City should work toward using wastewater for irrigation through the purple pipe system.

Mayor Sanders and Steve Francis shook hands after the debate, despite any difference of opinion. Overall, the event proved to be successful and well received by both the media and attendees. The debate was televised on Cox Cable Channel 4 on Thursday, May 1, as well as over the weekend and Monday, May 5. The debate was also covered by the San Diego media, including San Diego Union Tribune. Read the article here.

San Diego mayoral candidates Floyd Morrow, Mayor Jerry Sanders, Eric Bidwell and Steve Francis