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Roundtable: New Leadership At San Diego City Hall
Friday, December 11, 2020

Credit: City of San Diego
Above: Todd Gloria being virtually sworn in by California's Senate President pro-Tempore Toni Atkins on Dec. 10, 2020
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San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria begins his term with a city council dominated by Democrats, a look back on the Mayor Kevin Faulconer era, and some analysis on San Diego's record-breaking voter turnout in the 2020 general election.
Aired: December 11, 2020 | Transcript
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PANEL:
David Garrick, reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune
Andrew Bowen, reporter, KPBS News
John Wilkens, reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune
KPBS Roundtable airs on Fridays at 12:30 p.m. on KPBS Radio and at 8:30 p.m. on KPBS TV. Encore presentation Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on KPBS TV.
San Diego’s Progressive Era Begins
In what was long considered a moderately Republican city, Democrats now hold a near unanimous grip on the levers of power at San Diego City Hall. This week, a Democrat was sworn-in as mayor and all but one of the city council's nine seats are held by a Democrat. The Union-Tribune's David Garrick covers city hall and joins us to talk about the new approach to tackling the city's problems.
RELATED: 73rd San Diego City Council Sworn In, Promises Action On Pandemic
Examining Mayor Kevin Faulconer's Legacy
Todd Gloria is now the mayor of San Diego and that means an end to the Kevin Faulconer era. The Republican departs with some accomplishments and some challenges left unmet, especially when it comes to the city's homeless and housing crisis. KPBS metro reporter Andrew Bowen profiled the outgoing mayor and joins us to talk about how he'll be remembered.
RELATED: Looking Back At San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s Wins And Losses
The Story Behind San Diego's Historic Election Turnout
Holding an election during a pandemic isn't easy, but it turned out to be the most successful yet in terms of overall voter turnout. A shift to voting-by-mail along with expanded in-person early voting options seemingly allowed for greater participation and offers a glimpse at how elections might be handled going forward. Union-Tribune reporter John Wilkens recently analyzed the numbers and takes a look at the lessons for local election officials.
RELATED: Voters’ Ballots Go Through Elaborate Journey At Registrar’s Office Before They’re Counted

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