This is KPBS midday edition. I am Maureen Cavanaugh. The incumbent San Diego Mayor Michael into the June primary annexed -- opposed by a challenger. Late last week former status of a member Lori Saldana entered the race. She's running to give voters a clear contrast. Lori Saldana joins me now. Welcome to the program. On what issues do you think you present the clearest contrast with Mayor Faulkner? Where don't we contrast? We look at these climate change problems that are happening and is something I have worked on for a quarter-century trying to prepare the region. Here we have a major on the golf course instead of preparing for a big storm coming our way. I've worked on increasing people's income levels instead of the towing a minimum wage. I've worked on educating and keeping people prepared for good computer skilled jobs. He is not doing anything to incentivize that kind of program. I see so many levels of where he is not investing in San Diego's future. I believe in doing that is a native San Diegans. You are presenting these issues as part of a progressive agenda, you are running as a progressive. You have been a Democrat for most of your career. Why aren't you running as a Democrat? When I was a graduate student at San Diego State I was a green for a while because I work on so many environmental issues. I was a Democrat in part because I looked around at the values they were discussing and he seemed in line with what I believe in. I tell people my values have not changed. I still intend to work on equality, making opportunities available for everyone. What has changed is the party -- the institutional nature of the policy -- party. The same is true of any political party. I decided to become an independent so I can truly represent people and not just interest of any particular establishment. The mayor's race is a nonpartisan office at least -- are you expecting any help or support from the traditional Democratic Party in San Diego? I remind people -- I've never been endorsed by the Democratic Party. In 2004 I was not endorsed and I want in an upset despite being outspent by over $1 million. In 2012 I ran for Congress without the endorsement of the party. I nearly 1 despite being outspent by two men dollars. So my strength is my support from the community, people I talked with and have known throughout my life. It is not an institutional party support it really is community support. I think that is what has made all of my campaign successful. Are you expecting the party to kick in something? I don't have any expectations. I have not gotten your support in the past and I'm not expecting it in this race. Why did you decide to run sooner when your chance of winning might have been higher? Just like the Chargers were saying we need to hurry up and get those ballot measures for -- time is not the important thing. I was encouraged to run over a year ago. I had a death in my family and I took time and I thought that was reasonable to manage the family affairs after that. I was waiting -- I was very hopeful she would make a good run for things. Only become clear about the end of the year nobody was stepping up to run that is what made me decide to step in. You decided to step forward as you say largely because nobody else was presenting this clear contrast as you say. Nobody else is calling out the fact that no candidate raises $1 million to run for a seat with no opponent. This mayor does not have is his eyes on San Diego. Is going to run for another office, likely governor of California. Nobody should hire a employee that is going to leave in a short period of time. He is like the Dean Spanos of government . Is not committed to San Diego. So that hurt his reelection. But running to provide a clear contrast is not exactly the same thing as running because you really want to be mayor. My contrast is I am committed to the city. I was born here and I have worked here my entire life. I am not going anywhere. I want to stay here and be of service to the citizens of said -- San Diego. If elected I have already generated a pledge and I will state the full time and focus only on San Diego. So you really want to be mayor, not just put provide the contrast? I would love to serve as mayor but mostly I want to have a mayor for my city, my hometown that believes in San Diego and not uses it as a stepping stone to something else. The spokesperson for Mayor Faulkner's campaign had this to say. She has a track record, and experience candidate. Like you said she has a name ID and people know her. Progressives -- I think value her voice. In local politics -- so she certainly is more formidable than Gretchen appear to be. But it will come down to the ability to make the case on why you offer a better vision for the future of the city than the mayor. I feel pretty good about what he has accomplished so far. One of the ways the candidates make that case through debates. Have you contacted the mayor's office about having potential debates between you and Kevin Faulkner? We're still responding to media request based on the kickoff. They do want debates and I will definitely request is scheduled those with stations like this. Let me just speak to his comments. I don't know what accomplishments he is speaking of. Or homelessness has increased by 20%. Re: economy is not helping the majority of people. Increase homelessness -- I don't see what he is so proud of that he is running on in terms of accomplishments. That is a contrast I would love to see flushed out in debates and discussions in front of the voters. Most political observers I have to say give you virtually no chance of winning against Mayor Faulkner. Is very familiar I was there 12 years ago. What are you telling your support is why they should spend time and money on your race when there are so many people were pointing to as you say the political warchest Mayor Faulkner has and the fact that he pulls very well even among Democrats? Why should they spend their time and money on your race? Peepholes well when nobody pushes him on the issue and scratches the surface. This is a mayor who has literally nothing to run on. He is a wonderful PR machine. He graduated from San Diego State is that I. He got his degree in public relations but he has time to office into a PR machine. Not a policymaking machine. Even our infrastructure needs are being addressed by city councilmember Mark Percy is of the mayor. If we push somebody and force them to defend their Brecher didn't we see where their record -- weaknesses are. If nobody is willing to do that the voters can't evaluate the strengths and weaknesses. Is is a full on campaign as far as you are concerned? Will you be making appearances, campaign appearances stopped and all of that? Absolutely, we are have events planned throughout February. We had back-to-back media events with your station. I am meeting with a councilmember later today to discuss issues between the city Council. I am a full-time professor with the community college District. That does not mean I cannot run a very competitive campaign. As Jason acknowledges. People know me and I have received 400,000 votes. I have taken the last several years off to focus on education and lifting of people from the poorest communities of our city. I want to continue doing that from a policy perspective as a mayor of San Diego. I've been speaking with Lori Saldana was running for mayor of San Diego, Inc. you very much.
It looked for a while that San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer might go into the June election unopposed by any experienced political challenger.
Then former Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña entered the race on Thursday. She said she is running to give voters "a clear contrast."
Faulconer campaign spokesman Jason Roe acknowledged Saldaña’s credentials in talking to KPBS Midday Edition.
“She’s got a track record, she’s an experienced candidate, she’s got name ID, people know her. Progressives, I think, value her voice in local politics,” Roe said.
But when the election arrives, he said, it will “come down to your ability to make the case of why you offer a better vision for the future of the city than the mayor, and we feel pretty good about what he’s accomplished so far.”
Saldaña, who left the Democratic Party in 2014, is running as an independent. Faulconer is a Republican. Saldaña discussed her platform Monday on Midday Edition.
“I’ve decided to become an independent so I can truly represent people and not just the interests of any particular establishment,” she said.
Saldaña called Faulconer “the Dean Spanos of government,” referring to the Chargers chairman and CEO. She said she does not believe the mayor is committed to San Diego and is using the post as a stepping-stone to Sacramento.
“I see so many levels where he’s not investing in San Diego’s future, and I believe in doing that as a native San Diegan,” Saldaña said. “We have to invest in our future.”
