San Diego Politics

This city is not known for civic toughness. Politically two-fisted cities like New York and Chicago, definitely. Los Angeles, maybe. But San Diego, sun-drenched, image-conscious, tourist-friendly, zoo- and SeaWorld-centric San Diego? No way. Yet, with the election Tuesday to find a replacement for Mayor Dick Murphy, much of the talk is about being tough: tough with labor unions, tough with bureaucrats, tough with accountants and consultants and, maybe, tough with the city's aggressive -- some say, out-of-control -- city attorney.

San Diego's sunshine has turned noir. Lauded as one of the nation's best-governed cities in the late 1990s, America's self-proclaimed "Finest City" now has the reputation of being among the most poorly managed.

One local television station this week banned use of San Diego's longtime slogan -- "America's Finest City" -- until further notice, deeming it too "arrogant and cynical" for a municipality in the throes of national humiliation.

Mayor Dick Murphy, who won a disputed election five months ago, abruptly announced his resignation Monday amid mounting criticism of his handling of the city's pension deficit and threats of a recall.

Fire prevention has emerged as the dominant political issue as officials trade accusations over whether runaway growth and a lack of firefighting resources had left the county vulnerable to the disastrous fires.

Like a baseball manager arguing nose to nose with an umpire, much of this city is furious at Bruce Henderson. If City Hall, the Chamber of Commerce and the local newspaper could spit tobacco juice, the shoes of the former city councilman turned serial litigator would be covered in glop.

In the final act of a legal drama that has dominated local politics for months, San Diego Councilwoman Valerie Stallings resigned Monday after pleading guilty to receiving unreported gifts from Padres majority owner John Moores.

Someday, Susan Golding may be remembered as the mayor who initiated the city's biggest downtown redevelopment project, created nationally acclaimed child-care and environmental protection programs, and boosted the local economy by making the city more business-friendly.