Losses by incumbents give Democrats chance to set ambitious agenda for San Diego
The city will continue to have a divided government with a Republican mayor and a Democratic majority on the council, but Republican Lorie Zapf’s loss to Democrat Dr. Jennifer Campbell boosted the Democratic majority from 5-4 to 6-3.
That supermajority will allow Democrats to override vetoes by Mayor Kevin Faulconer on contentious issues, giving Democrats more power to set priorities and pursue policies and projects that might not be popular with Faulconer.
Further diminishing Faulconer’s power was civil rights lawyer Monica Montgomery defeating Council President Myrtle Cole, the mayor’s closest ally among council Democrats in recent years.
While both women are Democrats, Montgomery ran against Cole from the left and is perceived as significantly more liberal on many issues.
Council positions in San Diego are officially non-partisan, but votes are often along party lines, especially on contentious issues.
Some Republicans and business leaders say they’re concerned having a supermajority could make council Democrats less business-friendly and prompt them to focus more on policies like a recently approved polystyrene ban.
Councilwoman Barbara Bry, D-La Jolla, said talk of the Democratic supermajority has been overblown.
Bry, however, said that she welcomes having six Democratic votes instead of five on the council. She said the additional vote will make Faulconer more hesitant to use his line-item veto on the city budget, especially in partisan ways.
Bry also balked at descriptions of Democrats as unfriendly or unsympathetic to business.
Maddox, the labor leader, said Democrats and labor leaders support local business because they know a thriving economy is necessary for high-paying jobs with solid security.
Maddox, however, said it’s important that the city not be too generous with businesses at the expense of communities and ordinary residents.
Councilman Chris Cate of Mira Mesa, a Republican who won re-election on Tuesday night over Democrat Tommy Hough, said he’s concerned the supermajority will make the council more partisan.
Cate said he’d like to see Democrats reach out to council Republicans on issues, not ram a hard-line agenda through without consensus just because they have enough votes to do that.
Campbell, the Democrat who defeated Zapf, said she expects the supermajority to change Faulconer’s approach.
In an email on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesman for Faulconer said the mayor is optimistic about partnering with the new council.
The power shift at City Hall could help Faulconer start governing in new, more effective ways, said Vince Vasquez, a local political consultant.
Cole’s departure means there will be a new council president, with Bry, Councilman Chris Ward of University Heights and Councilwoman Georgette Gomez of City Heights the leading candidates, as the senior Democrats on the council.
Tuesday night’s losses by Zapf and Cole are the first time any incumbent has lost a San Diego council race since 1992.
