Filner offers high-profile job to Fletcher

Fletcher would be czar of major civic projects

 Democratic Rep. Bob Filner says that if he’s elected as San Diego’s next mayor he’ll offer a high-profile job in his administration to independent Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher.

Filner said Fletcher would be his first choice to serve in a newly created position that would concentrate on major civic projects, such as the convention center expansion and a new Chargers stadium.

Fletcher finished third in the June primary behind Republican City Councilman Carl DeMaio and Filner, who will face each other in the November runoff.

Filner said he became friends with Fletcher on the campaign trail where he often joked about offering various jobs to Fletcher after hearing his answers to debate questions.

Filner made the serious job offer Monday while guest hosting “The Mark Larson Show” on KCBQ, 1170AM. Filner was asked by one of his guests, Port Commissioner Bob Nelson, about what a future Filner mayoral staff would look like.

“I became very impressed, as you were, with (Fletcher’s) creativity, with his articulateness, with the vision that he had for the city, especially in terms of the economic development issues that we’ve been talking about,” Filner said. “And as mayor I’m going to create a position that’s concentrated on these big projects ... Nathan Fletcher is my first choice for such a position. I think he would have the trust of all the community in dealing with that. As you said, he has the intelligence and creativity to do that.”

Filner said the selection of Fletcher represents his willingness to reach across party lines -- Fletcher left the Republican party in March to become an independent -- for what’s in the best interests of San Diego.

Fletcher, who is leaving his Assembly seat in December at the same time the next mayor is sworn in, issued a statement saying he was open to the idea without naming Filner directly.

"I care deeply about the future of San Diego and believe it is vital the next mayor bring coalitions together to get things done," Fletcher said. "The mayor is the leader of our city and if asked to do something to help the community, I would have to seriously consider it."

Filner also said he would make former City Councilwoman Donna Frye the head of his open government department so the public has immediate and inexpensive access to information at City Hall.

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

By Craig Gustafson

Originally published July 30, 2012 at 9:43 a.m., updated July 30, 2012 at 12:27 p.m.

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