By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO (SDJW) –On the air District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, one of two members of the Jewish community running for mayor, plays up her credentials of running a big office.
But there’s another, less public campaign, in which Dumanis has been expressing doubt and skepticism about rival candidate Nathan Fletcher’s support for reproductive freedom.
In a press release, Dumanis stated. “I’ve been pro-choice my entire life. As the only woman in the field of candidates running for mayor, issues related to a woman’s reproductive rights are close to my hert and I have always been very clear where I stand.”
Dumanis said that while he was still a member of the Republican party, and not yet a declared independent, Assemblyman Fletcher used to receive a zero rating on issues of importance to Planned Parenthood. Now, she said, Fletcher “has apparently had yet another ‘change of heart’ and conveniently claims to be pro-choice..”
Jennifer Tierney, spokesperson for Dumanis said, “This is Nathan Fletcher’s latest abandonment of his core principles in the name of political espedience. The right of women to make their own reproductive choices is nto a political game.”
Fletcher’s spokesperson Amy Thoma fired back: “It is uncharacteristic for Bonnie to launch desperate attacks. It’s the unfortunate result of a campaign with no message or money. Nathan was rated as 100% pro-choice by Planned Parenthood. Past procedural votes have been misconstrued by some, but Nathan’s position is clear. He is pro-choice.”
In support of this statement, Thoma forwarded comments from Republican Julie Meier Wright and Democrat Karen Brailean. Wright, former president of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, said “I knew Nathan before he ever ran for office and hosted his first fundraiser for the Assembly. One of my criteria for supporting Nathan, as someone long involved in women’s issues, was that he was pro choice. Nathan was pro-choice then and remained so, and women everywhere respect his commitment to their right to choose.”
Said Brailean, former board chair of the La Jolla Music Society, “I’ve known Nathan for years. He has always been pro-choice and has always been willing to listen and learn about issues on women’s health.”
Also quoted was a letter to Fletcher from Vince Hall, vice president of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest: “We have enjoyed a constructive dialogue with you during hyour service in the state legislature and appreciate the candor you have always brought to these discussions,” Hall wrote. “We are especially appreciative of your personal commitment to women’s reproductive rights and healthcare services.”
Reached by phone, Hall acknowledged that the quote in the letter was accurate, but said that over the years Fletcher’s position on the right of women to choose has evolved. In 2009 when Assemblyman Fletcher was a Republican, he received a “0” rating based on four votes on the Assembly floor. This year, he received a 100 percent rating, based on a questionnaire. All along, said Hall, Dumanis and Congressman Bob Filner, the other Jewish candidate in the mayoral race, have been earning 100 percent ratings. A fourth candidate in the race, San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio, declined to answer Planned Parenthood’s questionnaire– an indication, according to Hall, that DeMaio is anti-choice. Accordingly, he said, three of the four major candidates in the mayoral race hold acceptable views in Planned Parenthood’s perspective. Hall made it clear that his organization has issued no endorsement in the race.
Before joining Planned Parenthood, Hall had been a longtime staff member for Congressman Bob Filner, then worked in President Bill Clinton’s campaign, and later held ranking government positions with Lt. Gov. and later Gov. Gray Davis. However, in his own bid for elective office in a San Diego Assembly race, he was defeated by Republican Shirley Horton. Hall subsequently went to law school, and took a position with Planned Parenthood seven years ago
Meanwhile, Filner has been burnishing his Democratic party credentials. A fundraising party in his honor has been announced by Democratic Professional Club President Roger (Rogelio) Quesada for May 19 at the Myrtle Avenue home of Dan and Peggy Mazzella.
Besides raising money for Filner’s campaign, the function is intended to permit voters to”meet Bob and have an opportunity to hear his vision for San Diego’s future, as well as offer him yours,” Quesado said.
Meanwhile incumbent Marti Emerald, the only Jewish member of the current City Council, is seeking election to the new 9th City Council District while continuing to serve the current 7th Council District.
In the latter regard. Emerald waxed optimistic in her newsletter about improvements in the city’s financial sitution. “For the first time in the four years I’ve represented District 7 on the City Council, this will be our first budget that actually restores neighborhood services,” she wrote. “If we pinch some pennies and spend wisely going forward the 2013 budget should represent a real turn-around for this City, after so many lean and mean years.”
She added: “The Mayor (Jerry Sanders) and City Council have already restored hours at all our city libraries and recretion centers. We’ve approved new academies to train more police officers and firefighters. We are buying new fire boats for the Lifeguard Service. We continue to repair miles of long-negelcted roads and sidewalks, and update our agingh water and sewer systems.”
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted at donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com