Voices from the Voters: San Diegans Weigh in on Mayor’s Race
Written by Megan Burks, Steve Plantz & Josh Babin   
Thursday, 29 May 2008
The mayoral candidates have identified their key issues for the upcoming election, but what are the biggest concerns for San Diegans? The Kaplan Journal asked a diverse group of residents what they’d like the next mayor's agenda to be.

      Leandro Viana’s is ready for a change of scenery - in city government.       Alison Coleman, 23, is a teacher in Mira Mesa. She enjoys taking walks through Mission Gorge, but she’s not sure how much longer she’ll be able to do that. She says she might not be able to afford to stay in the area. She hopes the next mayor will find a way to keep teachers from leaving.        Keith Morgan is homeless and unemployed. He has moved from the East coast back to San Diego to reconnect with his family and get reestablished. He’d like the mayor to create more jobs.

      Steven Rodriguez, 27, is an assistant manager at a coffee shop downtown. He’s also an avid cyclist, using his bike for recreation and for transportation. He’s been able to live without a car, but he’d like to see public transportation opportunities increase.       Mary Feher has lived in San Diego since 1983. She moved here with her husband and three children for the same reason many people do: the weather. Feher is a Republican who is concerned about the city’s handling of the pension issue.         James Steidl works at a commercial art studio in San Diego and was buying supplies outside of Home Depot when we caught up with him. Steidl said looking at local issues isn’t relevant until energy issues are addressed. He’s concerned about rising corporate profits and the high cost of consumer goods like gasoline.             

      Manuel Olivares is from Ensenada, Mexico and has lived in San Diego off and on since the mid 1980’s. He works with foster youth at the San Pasqual Academy and expresses concerns about the state of public education in San Diego.        San Diego’s waterfront spurs political debate for Doug Buettgenbach, 47, and Ed Zajonc, 58, in more ways than one. The ship repairmen said they pay close attention to the mayoral election despite living outside city limits in Lakeside and Clairemont, because the outcome directly affects their job with the Navy. They also looked to The Waterfront bar in Little Italy Wednesday, where an after-work beer and glass of wine fueled musings on city government.                

                                       Jay Sheehan is a San Diego resident who has been in the area since 1984. He owns a house in Hillcrest where he lives with his partner - and they both wish Donna Frye were running for mayor.
 
 

 

© Copyright 2008 SDSU       Web Design: Steven Bartholow


Free Joomla Templates By Joomlashack