Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego, edged out Councilman Carl DeMaio, his opponent in the San Diego mayor's race, in a poll released today.
The poll, conducted by Fairbanks, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates of Santa Monica, showed Filner with the support of 40 percent of the voters who live within the boundaries of the San Diego Unified School District to DeMaio's 32 percent, with the remainder undecided.
The poll was taken between June 28 and July 2, and it wasn't made clear why the results weren't released earlier. The poll outcome was included in a news release by a group that backs the congressman.
"Despite being outspent and out-advertised by his general election opponent in the run-up to the June 5 primary, Filner's longstanding record of service in San Diego and his closer alignment to the values held by voters who will cast ballots in the November 6 presidential election provide him a significant advantage in the runoff,'' said Evan McLaughlin, a spokesman for the San Diegans for Bob Filner for Mayor 2012 committee.
The group says the poll's 400 respondents roughly mirror the party registration they expect in November -- 42 percent Democratic, 29 percent Republican and 29 percent declining to state or preferring another party.
Since the respondents live in SDUSD territory, strongholds for both candidates were excluded.
Students in San Diego's South Bay, where Filner has been the congressional representative for two decades, attend schools in the San Ysidro School District and Sweetwater Union High School District, among others.
Youngsters in a large portion of DeMaio's council district attend class in the Poway Unified School District.
In other news in the mayor's race, Art Castanares, a Democratic consultant and former chairman of the San Diego County Democratic Party, has joined DeMaio's campaign to give advice on communications and coalition outreach.
"While there are things Carl and I see differently, Carl has the right leadership abilities and vision for the future of San Diego,'' Castanares said.
DeMaio said, if elected, his administration will reflect all San Diegans-- regardless of party affiliation, community or socio-economic background.
Also today, Filner offered former candidate Nathan Fletcher a position in his administration to oversee major civic projects, which could include expansion of the San Diego Convention Center. He made the offer while serving as guest host the morning show on radio station KCBQ-AM.
Fletcher, an outgoing assemblyman, left the Republican Party to become an independent after failing to secure the county GOP endorsement, which went to DeMaio. He finished third in the June 5 primary.
