The Experience
Published: Monday, May 5, 2008 9:27 PM PDT
 Over the last week, I enjoyed reading the arguments made on behalf of the various District 3 candidates. It’s become apparent that the experience, understanding, relationships, and accountability of Stephen Whitburn is what makes him the most qualified candidate to represent the people at City Hall.
Stephen’s experience spans the corporate, non-profit, and government sectors. As an 18-year journalist, he knows the demands of business and the need to meet a bottom line. As an American Red Cross spokesperson promoting the organization’s life-saving blood drives, Stephen often builds coalitions with businesses and government. And as a community activist who serves on the North Park Planning Committee and regularly testifies at City Council meetings, he appreciates how neighborhood voices must be involved in making decisions.
He also brings a compassion and understanding to District 3 that is unparalleled. As a renter, Stephen is familiar with the struggle faced by working families who search for affordable housing. As the only fluent Spanish speaker in the race, he is best positioned to hear and understand the concerns shared by the large Spanish-speaking population in District 3. Stephen is the Red Cross’ Spanish-speaking liaison and recognizes that the only way to empower all constituencies is to guarantee they can directly communicate with their elected officials.
Crucial to getting things done at City Hall is having relationships with elected and neighborhood leaders. As president of the Democratic Club of San Diego for three years, Stephen worked with elected officials at City Hall, in the state legislature, and Congress. As a North Park Planning Committee member, he partners with community leaders who work to build vibrant business districts and safe residential areas.
Perhaps most importantly, Stephen will not be beholden to developers in making decisions that affect the city. He wants them to pay for road and sewer improvements when building new housing or commercial projects. He wants them to bear some of the costs for meeting the increased need for new police and firefighting services.
Stephen Whitburn is the reform candidate committed to making government work again for San Diegans. He’s the one with the experience, understanding, relationships, and accountability to be sure it’s the people who have a say in our government n not just the powerful downtown interests.
-- SEAN WHERLEY
Reader Feedback
Comments are now displayed with the newest at the bottom. Not sure you're seeing all of the comments? Click here:
Comments so far on this story: 1. Oh brother . . .. wrote on May 5, 2008 11:05 PM:
"Whitburn is a full-on leftist. He'll drive us to bankruptcy." 2. Larry wrote on May 6, 2008 9:30 AM:
"President of the Democratic Club? I'd rather vote for the ex-gay, ex-felon, religious lunatic." 3. James Hartline wrote on May 6, 2008 9:58 AM:
"In the past several months I have had the opportunity to have a number of encounters with Stephen Whitburn at various campaign forums and events. During that time he has always been extremely cordial and respectful to me, which has not been the case of Todd Gloria, who, for the most part, has been cold and distant in his encounters with all of the other candidates. Here is my take on Stephen, however. I am concerned about the fact that he just moved to San Diego in 2000. How could he have developed any long term compassionate views or understandings of the vast array of people and families in District 3 when he has been so limited in the types of people and activities that he has been involved with in the very short time he has lived in San Diego?" 4. Fed Up But Hopeful wrote on May 6, 2008 10:26 AM:
"For a long time I have had a positive general impression of Stephen Whitburn, District 3 Council candidate, but to know that he is fluent in Spanish can only help him represent the many Spanish-speaking families living in District 3 and across the City. Certainly, having a Spanish-speaking District 3 City Councilmember will be a first!" 5. Frances O'Neill Zimmerman wrote on May 6, 2008 10:41 AM:
"Mr. Hartline -- Living through municipal mismanagement over the last eight years could be considered an eternity and a graduate education in how not to govern. I assume that's why Stephen Whitburn is running for District 3 City Council -- he wants to improve our situation! It's nice to know you've found Stephen to be genuine, open and cordial: that's also been my experience. I think Stephen Whitburn will be an excellent City Council representative for District 3 and all the rest of us. (BTW, length of residence doesn't seem to count for much in local politics: after about one year in San Diego, Alan Bersin was appointed U.S. Attorney and, five years after that, he was appointed superintendent of public schools. Today he's running the airport, but at least now he's lived here long enough to know where that is.)" 6. James Hartline wrote on May 6, 2008 5:27 PM:
"Francis, I think you proved my point. It is not a good idea at all to have recent immigrants to San Diego as elected officials. They have no way of really developing connective and responsible attitudes towards the people they seek to serve. For example, Stephen has repeatedly stated that he will not renegotiate the pension benefits, period. That means, he is already paid for by the unions and is in San Diego to represent their interests and not those of the people he recently met in San Diego who he now wants to represent. Like Carl DeMaio in the 5th District, Stephen is a carpetbagger now wanting to be elected on our city council. This is disasterous for District 3." 7. No Longer Undecided wrote on May 6, 2008 10:58 PM:
"Let me get this straight ...St. James is buddies with Whitburn and dislikes Gloria? That's all I need to know. I'm voting for Todd."
Feedback Rules
Users may post more than one comment, but should not pose as multiple users. Multiple posts from the same IP address but with a different user name on each will be reviewed to determine whether abuse has occurred.
Posts with overly personal attacks or unsubstantiated allegations may be edited or deleted.
Please be patient with the posts -- there may be a delay before they appear on the site -- and make sure to enter the code in the "image verification" box.
Add Your Comments
|
PRINT 
E-MAIL STORY
SHARE
FACEBOOK
REDDIT
NEWSVINE
DIGG
DEL.ICIO.US
BLINKLIST