Comments so far on this story:

1. Give me a break wrote on April 11, 2008 3:01 PM:
"I don't begrudge her keeping consulting work while she campaigns, but she shouldn't even be considering outside work while on the council. That's absurd. The pay is low, yes, but if you can't deal with that, then the job's not for you. Find some other way to serve the public and leave the council job for someone willing to basically devote their life to it for several years, because that's what we really need. Also, how shifty were her responses? I bet Ms. Emerald is finding it lot tougher to be on the other side of the media equation!"

2. No Show Marti wrote on April 11, 2008 3:32 PM:
"here is a bigger question: Where is Marti? she is now skipping debates!!! She was a no-show at the Catfish Club debate. How is that for transparency!?"

3. Billy Bob Henry wrote on April 11, 2008 4:33 PM:
"First off, Couglin is NOT A CONSUMER LAW FIRM, they are a class action law firm, the biggest in the nation when it was Milberg Weiss. They broke very serious laws and violated just about every ethical responsibility there is as a lawyer. The head honchos have all pleaded guilty to various charges and are doing serious prison time in addition to being disbarred. So I think Marti better start telling the truth about her consulting clients, and not some candy coated baloney about Coughlin being a "consumer law firm", like they are a public interest law firm out to help the little guy. Total baloney. But I still like Marti-and think she will make a good member of the Clowncil, but she has to be honest with the public."

4. Ronald wrote on April 11, 2008 6:29 PM:
"Well, BBH supports Marti . . . that seals it for most of the readers of the Voice. April it is."

5. Simple Guy wrote on April 11, 2008 7:15 PM:
"It is tough to hold it against Marti that she doesn't really want to take a 50% reduction in her pay. The City Council should get paid more. We want the best and brightest to be running our City, people who presumably could easily be getting 6 figure salaries in the private sector. While there should be some 'public service' discount, if that discount is too great it discourages capable people from running for office. I think a City councilmember should make at least $125K. Then maybe Marti wouldn't have to threaten to moonlight if she gets elected."

6. Billy Bob Henry wrote on April 11, 2008 8:50 PM:
"4. Ronald wrote on April 11, 2008 6:29 PM: "Well, BBH supports Marti . . . that seals it for most of the readers of the Voice. April it is."....LOL=OK Ron. I guess what your saying is no one here has their own opinion or can pick their own person in a race without me! I'm in Marti's corner-and that is one powerful endorsement......."

7. what contradiction? wrote on April 11, 2008 10:25 PM:
"her stance on revenues for the city is the exact same as Mayor Sanders and Steve Francis. If you do not know this you are not paying attention. Every single one of them says: "San Diego needs more revenues...It's just I don't want to ask the taxpayers just yet because they don't trust us." If Marti is guilty so are they all. But I would venture to guess they are all being depressingly realistic while showing their own personal limits of leadership and courage."

8. Quiet Bystander wrote on April 11, 2008 10:48 PM:
"Boy - what a bunch of baloney - Roger was a victum of the Boling campaign but isn't man enough to confess. this is a great example of the problem with proxy fighting in a campaign - your proxies aren't smart enough to question the "documentation" that they are given before the Battle - Roger never checked to see if the information he was sppon fed was accurate - so much for his credibility. marti filed her economic interest report and reported her income - the Boling Campaign didn't furnish him with that information - it would have looked bad for her. then they supplied only a portion of the audio tape - editing out the portions that didn't suit them. I gotta ask - WHERE IS APRIL???"

9. Tierrasanta Republican wrote on April 12, 2008 12:06 AM:
"i got a call from a guy who said his name was John and he was with the Boling campaign. He told me i was voting for April - when I told him that I was voting for my neighbor, Marti Emerald, he started yelling at me - you can't vote for her you are a Republican. yes, I am a Republican, but I have worked with Marti on issues in Tierrasanta for the past 12 years and she worked with us and got results! After literally screaming at me for a good two minutes, I told him I don't have to take this from him and hung up the phone. I'm not political, but to me this is the kind of stuff that shows me what;s wrong with Aptil Boling's campaign. When I told my neighbors what happened, they told me that this wasn't unusual"

10. Jennifer Spencer wrote on April 12, 2008 6:53 AM:
"Too bad that RH has missed the fact that despite the low pay of a city council member, Marti has no qualms about serving her community. It's so difficult to get highly qualified individuals to run for any office when they could be renumerated twice the public office pay on the outside. So, actually it's a good thing RH asked the questions about her potential pay cut. It only underscores the fact that Marti Emerald is truly serious to serve her community, as she did so well before with high pay as the "Trouble Shooter"."

11. Fred Williams wrote on April 12, 2008 7:04 AM:
"Scott, what about Jim Madaffer's Tierasanta Times? Sure he may have put it in his wife's name, but it's 100% his paper. Is that not outside employment? The difference is that he uses this rag to shill for his positions and political campaigns. April Boling has been a fixture in the San Diego Republican campaign establishment for decades and knows Roger Hedgecock quite well. This attack was fixed up in advance and was no mere mistake. Again, Scott, you need to dig a little deeper..."

12. Jennifer wrote on April 12, 2008 8:24 AM:
"Ah men to that, Fred. Afterall RH's station is the epitomy of conservative talk rant, which I hope most folks are aware of by now. It's very clubby over there. The attack on Marti Emerald is very transparent and may actually bring up more questions about her opponent's outside work. Will Ms Boling continue her current accounting career outside of council work if elected? And, will she actually be making more money...or less.... than she does now, if elected? I await answers, Scott. Thanks"

13. kurmudgin wrote on April 12, 2008 8:44 AM:
"How soon he forgets-Rodger Hedgecock the perenially misrepresenting radio host accused Marti Enerald of failing to report consulting fees to the Coughlin Stoia law firm and yet it's right on the reporting form that he had reviewed. Then he implies that there is something wrong with assisting consumer attorneys like Coughlin Stoia who represent ordinary citizens who have been screwed by large corporations. Remember Enron? Coughlin Stoia represents the victims of that scam. Then Rodger the dodger (his nickname when he was Mayor of San Diego)implies that there's something wrong if you hold down a part time job while on the City Council. Not only is that untrue but it reflects the problem that only rich people can hold public office. And then there is the irony of Rodger being run out of public life after he was indicted. Maybe he has a slanted version of that to share."

14. HER WORDS wrote on April 12, 2008 8:55 AM:
"ok lets actually see what Marti said: "I am with you I think we should be paying for trash pickup. Especially now but as a politician I recognize that it is political suicide to go out and say elect me and I will raise your taxes." In other words, she wants to raise taxes but will lie to get elected. This is disgusting, no matter what you might think of April Boling. This is EXACTLY the kind of behavior that put the city in the position we are now."

15. Larry wrote on April 12, 2008 9:12 AM:
"Boling = Madaffer = McCarty = Murphy."

16. Robert wrote on April 12, 2008 10:11 AM:
"As a former "trouble shooter" consumer reporter, who worked in the interest of "the folks", Marti sure seems to be changing a LOT now that she's a starving political candidate. Marti "needs" the money, so she consults for scoundrels from a former law firm that deliberately broke the law and demonstrated horrendous ethics, and obfuscates about the business practices of the remnants of the "new" firm. Then, she'll raise taxes and fees, except when she won't (remember that logic from John Kerry?)! Yet, Roger Hedgecock is the issue??? April Boling is the issue??? Voters in District 7 need to stop, think all of this through, and decide whether duplicity and opportunism are something you're willing to support in the race, from Marti Emerald."

17. Be Fair wrote on April 12, 2008 10:45 AM:
"Scott and readers: What an unfair accusation! This law firm has not been accused of any crime or any unethical practice. None of the partners or employees have been charged with any crime or any unethical practice. There were other lawyers in other law firms that have paid a price for their unethical conduct, as they should. To even suggest that attorneys who were not involved in such practices, and were never charged with such conduct, are somehow complicit by virtue of their past association is reprehensible. Marti Emerald has disclosed her association with this new firm and has not done ANYTHING wrong. The level of discourse on the Voice of San Diego blog, and Scott's comments on this matter, are unfair and disgraceful politics at its worst."

18. Torrey Pines wrote on April 12, 2008 11:29 AM:
"Hey Fred, Madaffer's paper isn't in Tierrasanta, it's over in the Navajo area. Like a lot of things with Madaffer, it is a pretend independent community oriented source. Also, I don't care for the arrogant Republican operatives expecting automatic support for Boling. These are the same hacks that have supported Sanders, Murphy, Golding, Madaffer, etc. You know, the we love conservatives that are willing to provide special favors for the wealthy connected types. They aren't responsible fiscal Republicans. I believe that Boling can stand on her own merits. Ms. Emerald has been dissing numerous public activists. That is very dumb and very telling. Last point, District 7 has become fractured into seperate divisions-Tierrasant and everybody else. Emerald wins Tierrasanta. Boling wins Navajo. And, the Democrat/Republican idealogue honks could cause a fatal election backlash if they push too hard."

19. LTSanCarlos wrote on April 12, 2008 12:25 PM:
"Marti Emerald = Another really fat cat in the making. I like April Boling; she seems like a no-nonsense, practical person and her CPA background can only be a plus. She also took on the City's pension and budget issues and didn't bow to what I'm guessing was lots of pressure. With that stated, still I'm interested to see how far she can disassociate herself from Jim "Let 'em sue" Madaffer and "Felony Stupid" Judy McCarty. And what does she intend to do with her CPA business? April also appears to have the view that her service would be for all San Diegans not JUST District 7."

20. Jennifer wrote on April 12, 2008 1:45 PM:
"Wait a minute there Robert. If you think that Ms Boling won't raise taxes if she were elected, think again. She can add and subtract and when and if she were elected and the city needed money to pay for police, parks, street repair and such, she'd be the first to recommend "balancing the budget", including raising taxes. So don't try to pin the usual conservative "raise taxes" rant on Marti Emerald. Please think in terms of each candidate being asked the same questions and you will then have a better comparison and know which candidate to support."

21. Billy Bob Henry wrote on April 12, 2008 1:57 PM:
"10. Jennifer Spencer wrote on April 12, 2008 6:53 AM: "Too bad that RH has missed the fact that despite the low pay of a city council member, Marti has no qualms about serving her community. It's so difficult to get highly qualified individuals to run for any office when they could be renumerated twice the public office pay on the outside.....WHAT??? There are TONS of qualified people that could sit on the Clowncil (if they had the $$ to run), it has NOTHING to do with the pay. $75K is excellent income, in the top 20% in the nation. And for the record, there is NO ONE currently on the clowncil that could make twice that in the private sector, NO ONE. Get serious Jennifer. PS. I am still with Marti!"

22. Robert wrote on April 12, 2008 2:17 PM:
"Jennifer: Nowhere have I seen or read that April has done what Ms. Emerald did, in telling one group that taxes and fees should be raised, then telling another person, just days later, she would not raise them. Most reasonable persons would call that duplicitous and "talking out both sides of her mouth." That kind of behavior is precisely what has gotten the City into the financial woes it faces now. Emerald is NOT being transparent and open when she tells one group one thing, and then hopes and prays nobody finds out what she said. That's exactly the kind of thing she fought against as the "Trouble Shooter." Voters and taxpayers in District 7 (and citywide, for that matter) need to know about Emerald's seemingly intentional, opportunistic flip-flops. As for doing side work while sitting on Council, that's fine if there's no conflict of interest with City business."

23. KS wrote on April 12, 2008 5:18 PM:
"I don't know April Boling from Adam but since I grow up watching Marti Emerald on TV, I have to ask this to the voters of this district: Really? You want Marti Emerald as your council member? She's like the biggest Prima Donna on local TV. Turco wasn't available? "It ain't right!""

24. Citizen X wrote on April 12, 2008 8:40 PM:
"BBH, in your post number 6 above you indicate your endorsement of a candidate is "powerful". Again, three words for you, Narcissistic personality disorder. Look it up!"

25. Eric wrote on April 12, 2008 10:07 PM:
"As said above, Marti is a duplicitous phony who will say whatever she thinks someone wants to hear. People need to focus on are the things she says to her partisans because it's these statements (e.g., at USD) that tell us what she really thinks: that San Diegans are under taxed, and that taxes should be raised starting with a fee for trash collection. People should not focus on the many red herrings raised above: it's not about how much people make, it's not about side jobs, it's not about a campaign acting stupid on the phone, it's not about Hedgecock. It's about Marti's campaign being funded by the same unions that got us in this situation, her slavish devotion to these special interests that have controlled city hall for too long, and her belief that we should pay higher taxes to support bigger and more intrusive government."

26. Eric wrote on April 12, 2008 10:23 PM:
"Fact: Marti will be a lap dog to the unions because the unions are paying for her campaign. Fact: April has NO union support because they know they won't own her once she's elected. Fact for Larry: Madaffer and Murphy voted for the obscene union benefits because they were owned by the unions, so it's laughable to compare them to April. (The real equivalence is Madaffer = Murphy = Marti.) Fact for Fred: the TierraTimes is owned by Deanna Spehn, Madaffer's opponent 8 years ago, and Deanna supports April. Torrey Pines, I believe Tierrasanta won’t support Marti once people realize she's a closet socialist who panders to the unions and who considers raising taxes as the only solution to the budget crisis. To all: Tierrasanta is holding a candidate forum on April 30, see: link"

27. Really, BBH? wrote on April 12, 2008 10:46 PM:
"Like him or not, Peters will make 3, 4, maybe 5 times his council salary by going back into private practice (heck, 3 times that just by becoming city attorney - is your buddy overpaid as a public servant Billy?). Brian M. will make twice his pay, easy, in private practice."

28. Liberal from El Cerrito wrote on April 13, 2008 12:18 AM:
"Billy Bob, You should know the difference. To serve the public means to meet them in the street. The only time Marti has shown up in the college area is to give the old “bait and switch” speech at a meeting where someone else held her seat for over 30 minutes. She made it her political agenda not the communities. April Boling has been on the street for the last nine months listening and looking for positive solutions to our problems. She has attended and spoke at City Council meetings, City Planning commission meetings and Community Council meetings on our behalf. My acquaintances say that April answers all her emails from the community. I know she answers mine. We are still waiting to hear from Marti on many issues. It is clear to us in the college area that Marti is for Marti. April is concerned about the 7th district and the city as a whole."

29. Jennifer wrote on April 13, 2008 8:38 AM:
"Hey Eric-yes, I know what she said. When was the last time you talked off the top of your head and garbled your message...huh?Not to make excuses for Marti, but I do believe she meant that no one wants to hear about taxes being raised...no one....except those who indeed understand that for a city to function, it's citizens need to pay for services rendered. We do pay for services from other businesses. So why shun paying taxes when they are warranted? Granted the City has gotten itself in financial trouble and were all #@* about it and feeling pretty testy at the mention of any potential tax increases. As we can see, it's pretty easy then to glomb onto that subject and then beat Marti over the head with it. Think she recognizes that taxes may be a part of a realistic solution."

30. Jennifer wrote on April 13, 2008 9:23 AM:
"Hey Liberal from El Cerrito: Marti Emerald has been in my neighborhood several times now. But, I still haven't seen April. Hum.... In March when she was in my neighborhood, I complained about the condition of some of our sidewalks. The next week, the sidewalk in front of my house was repaired! And I didn't even have to call the City! How's that for action? Coincidence? Maybe."

31. Billy Bob Henry wrote on April 13, 2008 9:48 AM:
"24. Citizen X wrote on April 12, 2008 8:40 PM: "BBH, in your post number 6 above you indicate your endorsement of a candidate is "powerful". Again, three words for you, Narcissistic personality disorder......One word for you Citizen D (for dork)-Sarcastic!!"

32. Billy Bob Henry wrote on April 13, 2008 9:50 AM:
"27. Really, BBH? wrote on April 12, 2008 10:46 PM: "Like him or not, Peters will make 3, 4, maybe 5 times his council salary by going back into private practice. Brian M. will make twice his pay, easy, in private practice.. . . .. Oh brother, once again time to shoot down someone who is living in Fantasyland. #1-Brian Kurt Maienschein - Bar #171988-graduated from California Western SOL, in the legal field this school is known as a Third Tier Toilet (TTT) law school. The vast majority of CW grads do not even make $75K, so the notion that Maienschein could make $150K is a flat our joke. As for Scott Peters, I have said it before-name ONE MAJOR CASE he has litigated. Not out there."

33. KS wrote on April 13, 2008 10:12 AM:
"Henry: You definitely want people to think that you are "in the know" about the local legal community. If you are a lawyer, you are probably the kind that tells everyone he meets that he is a lawyer; such as the clerk at the store who isn't honoring your coupons. I don't know where you went to school, what kind of law you practice, and how experienced you are, but I suspect that you are now a lonely solo practitioner who is getting up there in age and running out of clients. That explains why you are trolling the internet all day because at least here someone is listening. I started off angry at you but now I just feel sorry for you. Have a great day."

34. Billy Bob Henry wrote on April 13, 2008 3:01 PM:
"33. KS wrote on April 13, 2008 10:12 AM: "Henry: You definitely want people to think that you are "in the know" about the local legal community......I started off angry at you but now I just feel sorry for you. Have a great day....Thanks for your support KS, don't tell me, you're a CW grad-right? And you're angry at me because you have $150K in student loans and only make $45K working 50 hours a week in ID work-am I right???? Hey, hate your law school, not me."

35. KS wrote on April 13, 2008 7:57 PM:
"Henry: Actually, I think I am off base about your age. Your obsession with status indicates an immaturity that should have mellowed with time. But you come accross like a swell guy. Maybe some time I can come over and you can tell me stories about what a great lawyer you are. Have a nice day."

36. Say, BBH wrote on April 13, 2008 8:30 PM:
"You've been predicting things incorrectly for 2 years now, most of them having to do with Mike Aguirre's always-around-the-co court victory. You've predicted his trouncing his opponents at the polls, and of course that is about to be proven more than a little wrong; even Aguirre seems to know that. I know a thing or two about the local legal scene, and Cal Western may be considered a third tier school nationally, I don't know. But I do know that some of San Diego's finest lawyers and judges are from Cal Western. You're simply wrong. Again. I'll remind you of that when they get their high paying jobs upon leaving office - although you'll be nowhere to be found, I'm certain. So, answer the question - is your boy overpaid at $220K or not? Shouldn't he be willing to do this great public service at half the price?"

37. Bob Hudson wrote on April 13, 2008 10:48 PM:
"So Marti wants to go from show business to one where people actually care about whether what you say s BS or not. She got away with a lot of posturing, trumped up allegations and cheapshots in her years entertaining folks as the Channel 10 troubleshooter, so it's kind of nice seeing her having to be accountable for the first time. It's clear that she realizes this new need for integrity and has chosen clients who can guide her along that path."

38. Billy Bob Henry wrote on April 14, 2008 7:50 AM:
"36. Say, BBH wrote on April 13, 2008 8:30 PM: I know a thing or two about the local legal scene, and Cal Western may be considered a third tier school nationally, I do know that some of San Diego's finest lawyers and judges are from Cal Western. . .. First off-I NEVER said that CW did not have some great lawyers come out of it, it does- like Western State does. My comment was that Brian Maienschein would NEVER in a million years be making $150K in the private sector. Then KS jumped in with a slam on me-and so I just spanked him with the truth, CA is a 4th tier law school, bottom 25th percentile. Nothing more. The average pay coming out of CW is anout $50K per year. Maienschein has no legal experience. He would NOT make over $50K. Simple."

39. Billy Bob Henry wrote on April 14, 2008 7:58 AM:
"35. KS wrote on April 13, 2008 7:57 PM: "Henry: Actually, I think I am off base about your age. Your obsession with status indicates an immaturity that should have mellowed with time. But you come accross like a swell guy.....WELL THE- Thank you Mr. Maturity!"

40. Scott M wrote on April 14, 2008 9:33 AM:
"This woman is a total fraud. Think Heraldo Rivera on steriods. She's going to be another labor union puppet allowing the most powerful special interest group in the city to continue to run roughshod over the best interests of the taxpayers."

41. Jennifer wrote on April 14, 2008 10:22 AM:
"So Scott M says: " This woman is a total fraud. She's going to be another labor union puppet allowing the most powerful special interest group in the city to continue to run roughshod over the best interests of the taxpayers." Well, if that's what you think, then be assured that Ms Boling will be a Big Business puppet and "Yes gal", caving in when Big Buz comes calling on city hall. Your debate cuts both ways. Marti Emerald was so successful as the "Trouble Shooter" because she didn't come off as a mouse in the face of some pretty nasty folks out there who've been ripping us off...bad businesses basically. She's already cut her teeth on the bad guys. She's not a push-over. Sure you're not just a bit intimidated by a strong female?"

42. Fred Williams wrote on April 15, 2008 6:35 AM:
"My apologies, Torrey. It is the Mission Times Courier that is owned by Madaffer, using his wife as a front. See (http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2006/07/25/government/947madaffer.txt) to read VOSD reporter Evan McLaughlin's 2006 story. Yet the question remains, Scott...why don't you mention this in the original post or your follow up?. It's certainly germane to the story and provides important context. Also, Boling's decades of lucrative work as campaign treasurer for the same politicos who got us all into this mess should be mentioned, huh?"