San Diego election news with one week to go

The election is exactly one week from today, although early voting has been taking place for two weeks and mail-in ballots have to be ordered today.  With that in mind, it's time to post the latest news from KPBS.  "If it moves, it leads," so I begin with this video: Separating Alvarez From Faulconer: The Political Issues.

Just months ago San Diego Democratic mayoral candidate David Alvarez was little known outside his city council district. Now, the city is familiar with his story of growing up poor in Barrio Logan, the youngest child of a fast food worker and a janitor. KPBS' metro reporter Sandhya Dirks looks past the personal to the policy issues defining the race between Alvarez and his opponent, republican Kevin Faulconer.

Follow over the jump for more on this election.

KPBS: Alvarez Leads San Diego Mayor Money Race With Cash On Hand
By Joe Yerardi
Friday, January 31, 2014

Democratic mayoral contender David Alvarez maintains a nearly two-to-one advantage over his Republican rival in cash on hand, according to financial disclosure statements filed Wednesday and Thursday.

The statements show that as of last Saturday — little more than two weeks before the Feb. 11 election — Alvarez and the independent committees that support him had $1,065,557 in the bank. Republican candidate Kevin Faulconer and his supportive committees were sitting on $569,120.

More than $7.5 million has been poured into the two campaigns combined since the special election for mayor was launched by the resignation of Bob Filner in the midst of a sexual harassment scandal. Much of that money has been spent on television advertising, mailers and polling.

KPBS: Canceled Debate Between San Diego Mayoral Candidates Sparks War Of Words
By City News Service
Thursday, January 30, 2014

A dispute broke out Thursday between the two San Diego mayoral campaigns over a debate scheduled for Thursday that was reduced to a pair of separate radio interviews.

The debate was to take place at 11 a.m., but was canceled when Councilman David Alvarez learned the event would not be broadcast on CBS8, according to his campaign manager, Gabriel Solmer. She also contended that conservative KFMB radio host Mike Slater could not be a neutral moderator.

Alvarez and his opponent in the Feb. 11 runoff election, Councilman Kevin Faulconer, ended up being interviewed separately on the radio.

The cancellation of the debate set off a war of words between the two camps.

KPBS: Many Polls, Many Different Stories On Outcome Of San Diego Mayor’s Race
By Sandhya Dirks
Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Polls released this week and last tell very different tales of just who might be poised to win San Diego’s special mayoral election.

According to a poll done for the Democrats, Councilman David Alvarez is waging a neck-and-neck battle with Republican candidate Kevin Faulconer.

To paraphrase the classic folksy wisdom of the ghost of Dan Rather on election nights past — this poll puts the race closer than Lassie and Timmy.

KPBS: San Diego Interim Mayor Todd Gloria's City Hall Update

Todd Gloria joins us for his last update on city business as San Diego interim mayor.

KPBS: San Diego Politicians Return Donations From Alleged Schemers
By Tarryn Mento
Friday, January 31, 2014

As more donations are linked to those involved in an alleged illegal campaign finance scheme, local politicians are rushing to return them.

Just Thursday, the U-T San Diego reported San Diego representatives Sen. Ben Hueso and Assemblywoman Shirley Weber returned a total of $2,250 their campaigns received from local lobbyist Marco Polo Cortes since 2010.

Federal prosecutors say Cortes is one of three men who helped funnel funds to local politicians from a foreign national, whom KPBS has identified as Mexican businessman Jose Susumo Azano Matsura.

The Mayor's contest is not the only question on the ballot.  Here's an example of how all politics is local.

KPBS: Solana Beach Prop B


Finally, a reminder that mail-in ballots need to be ordered today.

KPBS: San Diego Mayor, Solana Beach Special Election Mail-In Ballot Applications Due Tuesday
By City News Service
Originally published January 30, 2014 at 5:04 p.m., updated January 31, 2014 at 10:09 a.m.

Voters who want mail in ballots for the Feb. 11 mayoral election and the special election in Solana Beach have until Tuesday to order them, the San Diego County of Registrar of Voters said Thursday.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Registrar of Voters Michael Vu said. Postmarks won't do.

San Diego City Councilmen David Alvarez and Kevin Faulconer are running for mayor, and voters in Solana Beach will decide whether special use permits should be issued for private events at the Fletcher Cove Community Center.

That's it for this week's installment.  Only two more to go.