By Dr. John E. Warren 
Last Saturday afternoon about 50 members of the Fourth District community from all walks of life held an informal meeting called by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber to discuss the coming election. the collective issue on everyone’s mind was the role of the Fourth District in the Special Election to be held November 19th to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mayor Bob Filner.
It appears that at least one candidate for the office had already been boasting in Sacramento that he had the votes of certain leadership in the Fourth District even though there has been no real discussion of that person’s candidacy. It was suggested that the community create a questionnaire/report card to be used in interviewing the candidates for Mayor and that this document contain the issues of priority concern to the Fourth District so that responses may be evaluated in order to help residents make the best informed decision on a candidate. It was observed that this is what the League of Women Voters, Organized Labor and other organizations do in deciding who to endorse and that the Fourth District should be no less serious. Fourth District City Council member Myrtle Cole was present as a resident and the only other elected official from the District.
Under the City’s special election procedure, all candidates for Mayor must file by the September 19th deadline. The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper has already scheduled a Town Hall Meeting for September 26th at the Jacob Center to hear from all the certified candidates. It is hoped that by that time those members of the community working on the Report Card will have completed their document and if not that the meeting will generate additional areas of concern for review prior to the November 19th Special Election. With so many candidates expected on the ballot, there is little doubt that no one will get 51 percent of the vote and that there will be a “runoff” election to follow this one.
Th next meeting of concerned community members on this issue is scheduled for Monday September 16th at 6:30 pm at the Jacob Center. All residents of the Fourth District are invited to make their concerns known. Dr. Weber and Mrs. Kathleen Harmon, a member of the County Democratic Central Committee and long time resident of the Fourth District, made if very clear that failure to invite anyone to this first meeting was merely a matter of having telephone numbers and time to reach everyone. This was a meeting of equals, called to address an issue of concern to all.
The Voice & Viewpoint is inviting the community to make its concerns known to us as we work to help the community compile the list of issues and concerns to the Fourth District. YOU MAY EMAIL US AT [email protected], contact us on Face Book, by Fax or letter. No phone calls please as we want your views in your own words. We will publish the final document compiled by the community when complete.
