He was invoking that feeling many of us may have perceived -- that there was something peculiarly provincial about San Diego's leadership. Few City Hall types exuded the kind of gravitas and charisma that inspire big change.
He claimed he would do that. That would be his full-time job, in fact. Behind him, running the day-to-day operations of the city, his longtime friend Ronne Froman and other managers with experience in the business world would lend their particular expertise to the unenviable task of reforming city government department by department.
But Ronne Froman left months ago, claiming her job there was done. Jim Waring -- tasked with streamlining the city's construction permitting process that, as a candidate, Sanders had declared was an "obstacle" to solving the affordable housing crisis -- is also gone.
Sanders admits Waring did not succeed in that task and that he underestimated how difficult an undertaking it was. An intense search to replace Froman has not produced anyone in the three months since she resigned. Much of the managing of the city's day-to-day operations has fallen on the shoulders of Jay Goldstone, who as acting chief operating officer also is the city's chief financial officer and auditor.
In my latest conversation with the mayor, I asked him what had happened to the idea of the senior statesman. I mean, it looks like it just dissolved.
"I think what you said is a valid criticism," Sanders said.
And then he said something very interesting: This idea he had, that government could be run by people who gained their experience in the private sector or in other pursuits was just not working, Sanders said.
"I think that what we learned is that government, especially city government, is very different than business, and it's very different than the military," Sanders said.
The answer for his administration -- the antidote that would allow him to become the senior statesman he dreams about -- is to recruit to government executives from other agencies and cities. Businesspeople can apply elsewhere.
"I think if you brought in, perhaps, people who have been in municipal government or county government before, they understand the pacing a little more. They understand the processes a little more. I think I underestimated them. And so, as we're retrenching, we're looking for a lot of those things," he said.
Even the name of the post -- COO -- might have been a mistake. And this explains his overture to Maureen Stapleton, the general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority for the "day-to-day manager" post at City Hall.
Sanders said he's hoping to have a new team in place by the end of the year. Until then, he said, he's found himself involved in the city's operations and he'd like to get away from that.
"I would like to go back to providing the leadership of the senior statesman," Sanders said.
But how involved has he been? Sanders has endured some stinging criticism recently. His handling of the Sunroad controversy has come under intense scrutiny and he's anxious to put it behind him. But one particular question about the mess has endured. At one point, during the height of the tension, Sanders and his staff denied that they had borrowed an official from the airport authority to help them negotiate something with the Federal Aviation Administration that would preserve Sunroad Enterprises' tower in Kearny Mesa that had been declared a hazard.
Yet it wasn't long before a letter surfaced showing that, in fact, Sanders had personally asked for the airport authority official to do just that. It was an amazing contradiction. Either Sanders had lied or he didn't know he signed the letter. Either way he looked terrible. He was blasted on the radio, on the Internet, and in the paper.
I grabbed a copy of a recent column by Gerry Braun in the Union-Tribune and read it to the mayor. (Sanders said he doesn't read Braun's columns "very often.")
Braun implied that if you accept the mayor at his word, you'd conclude he was an "oaf who signs things he doesn't understand and is clueless about what's going on in his own office."
I asked the mayor if he was an oaf.
Sanders said it's perfectly plausible that someone (he hinted that it was Waring) put the letter in front of him to sign and he didn't know what it was about, yet he signed it.
"I think you can sign things, and I sign a lot of things. That doesn't necessarily mean you're an oaf," he said.
"When whoever put that letter in front of me -- and I'm not positive it was Jim or whoever -- I literally wasn't paying that much attention to it," he said. "I obviously was not as careful as I should have been. I don't know, but I don't consider myself an oaf."
He said if he were lying about it, he'd make up a better story.
Someone with more experience in city governments might just have been able to give him one.
Please contact Scott Lewis directly with your thoughts, ideas, personal stories or tips. Or send a letter to the editor.
Comments so far on this story:
1. La Playa Heritage wrote on September 5, 2007 1:55 PM:
"Mr. Sanders. If you succeed, then San Diego succeeds. Here are three tips you can think about to gain credibility. First, show up to the City Council meetings during Tuesday morning's public comment so you can hear directly from the citizens you represent. There is no way for any private citizen to get direct access to you. Previously, the City Manger under the Mayor's control was required at the meetings. Now, no one from your office is at the dais. Please make your COO or Mr. Goldstone stay for the remainder of the public City Council meetings on Monday and Tuesday. Second, please require a fault investigation for the Navy Broadway Complex. In this past week there have been 18 earthquakes off of Mission Beach, the largest being a 4.0. link Third, please just pass the State Density Bonus law without ministerial approval of incentives, which depletes_the General_Fund."
2. Ronald Truman wrote on September 5, 2007 1:59 PM:
"Mayor Sanders is a good man, who has given his life to our city for the past 30 years. He was and is well qualified to lead our city, and deserves our support and help, and a real chance to succeed at the hardest job in the County. What have the critics done to help the city? Most of us in the city want him to succeed, and see that he is being worked against, not helped, by those who would like to see him fail to help them in their own political pursuits."
3. ian wrote on September 5, 2007 2:14 PM:
"so Sanders is saying be prepared, I'm hiring a bunch of over-paid "professional" staffers from other incompetent agencies? they always tell you what they're doing...be prepared for well-connected dealmakers with connections to the same establishment. These people work every government entity imaginable...water boards, school districts, non-profit...I hear the the former 'land use czar," Damon Shamu, for the San Diego Community College District is looking for a job..."
4. Francine Foraday wrote on September 5, 2007 2:22 PM:
"As Strong Mayor, Sanders wants to provide the "leadership of a senior statesman?" And then he says, presumably with a straight face, "I am not an oaf?" We know from the old joke that Denial is not just a river in Egypt. And If we didn't know it before this damning interview, we know it now: we desperately need a new team at City Hall -- again."
5. Ronald Truman wrote on September 5, 2007 2:46 PM:
"Francine Foraday, thanks for making my point. What have you done to help the city. Tell me again?"
6. Jeffrey Davis wrote on September 5, 2007 4:40 PM:
"Municipal government is harder than it looks? Well sure. And?... It does give one a bit more appreciation for the mayors who really do lead their cities successfully. I guess there's a positive tone in there too. He's not blaming other people for the general failure so far, and I take that as a good thing. It sounds like he's humbled and ready to make another go at figuring out this tricky business. I wish him luck. I'd suggest he start with the overdue task of bringing the city (lowercase) around to the idea of paying its debts."
7. Dale Peterson wrote on September 6, 2007 12:09 AM:
"There is an "oaf factor." The worst of Jerry's administrative/PR hires are still there. A senior statesman EARNS that designation. It comes from demonstrating an extended period of leadership and integrity. It doesn't come from half-truths and manipulation. When you have to have your PR guy manipulate and direct applause during your State of the City speech, you aren't being a statesman. You are being the oaf of spin. He can hire all the seasoned gov't administrators that he wants. It won't change the reality that he has surrounded himself with a pack of political, special favor dispensing hacks. Barney Fife got himself elected mayor. He's empowered Goober, Gomer, Otis, Aunt Bee, and Floyd to run San Diego. It isn't working. Now, is the time the give the mayoral gun, WITH A BULLET, to someone who will truly represent all of Mayberry."
8. RW wrote on September 6, 2007 12:40 AM:
"I suppose for Sanders Sake, it would be less harmful for him to say he did not read what he signed thus stating he blundered with minimal damage to his re-election bid. I say Scott Lewis, you gave him an opportunity to bail out with the least amount of damage to his political career, and he took advantage of it! If that was your intent Scott, I don't know, but His mission was accomplished"
9. Norman wrote on September 6, 2007 12:40 AM:
"Yeah...We're finally talking about Sanders! Check out the voice today for this statement "I think you can sign things, and I sign a lot of things. That doesn't necessarily mean you're an oaf," Get that one! Sanders doesn't read what he signs. Now that is truly sinfull. Being dumb or ignorant is worse than lying! At least with a lie you can say I am sorry and I won't do it again. Being dumb or just not giving a damn is going to get us in alot more trouble. Once an oaf, always an oaf. Who could have confidence in a Mayor like this? Jerry, Jerry, Jerry what would your mama say?"
10. Duh! wrote on September 6, 2007 1:10 AM:
"It is quite refreshing to hear that the Mayor has realized that running the city is a little more difficult than what he thought. The city is a muti-Billion dollar organization with 10,000 employees, in a diversified market providing public safety, social programs, utilities etc. Who in the private sector has that experience? There are just as many colleges offering public administration/publi policy degrees as there are colleges offering business degrees. There is a difference! Why are more cities in this nation run by professional city managers? Duh! The city is not a business, it is a CITY! We need a professional public administrator experienced in CITY operations, not playing military games, not running a small factory, not running a real estate empire, not running an HR company...a real administrator, then the Mayor can become the statesman he's always dreamed of becoming."
11. Nina wrote on September 6, 2007 1:35 AM:
"Sanders wants to be the'Senior Statesman"??? What a crock and waht a "cop out" (pun intended). We have a powerful mayor not a council/manager form of government in San Diego. We need a Mayor who can effectively make tought choice and successfully implement those policies and a vision for our city. We don't have that kind of mayor now. What we have is a mayor who is run by a poltiical consultant who is cashing in on his association with the mayor. I'm getting tired of the Mayor's candor for his failures. Candor and honesty can't coverup incompetence forever."
12. Here's a Thought wrote on September 6, 2007 1:37 AM:
"Do you think that Sanders is changing his position on hiring people from private sector backgrounds to get ready for a face-off with businessman Steve Francis? This is politics and every move is calculated to get reelected. I am sure Sanders and Tom Shepard are outlining their strategy in preparation of Francis running. I have to say that if a CEO of a company made a 40 million dollar mistake, he would be fired. I do not think that Mayor Sanders intentionally caused the Sunroad debacle, but it still happened and the taxpayers are facing a 40 million dollar mistake."
13. Point Loman wrote on September 6, 2007 2:17 AM:
"In NYC Rudy Guilianni was known as a Tyrant, disliked by just about everyone. But his record on cleaning up the city, reducing crime, etc, was outstanding. In the end, he did what was right for the city. NYC is a better place today because Guiliani had Gravitas and running for higher office was a distant second. (All bets were off after 9/11 and now he is a typical candidate). But Jerry needs to get away from his "handlers" and just lead. If he does what he thinks is the right thing for the city, then if it works or not, he has to be respected for sticking to his convictions. Right now he's just a candidate doing what his handlers tell him."
14. Robert E. Lee wrote on September 6, 2007 2:25 AM:
"Oh, Scott, you didn't really, literally ask the Mayor if he's an oaf, did you??? lol!!! Please tell me it 'ain't' so... Hehehehehehe..."
15. Steve K wrote on September 6, 2007 2:28 AM:
"It's the local movers and shakers in the business and labor communities, and the elected officials, that have catered to them, that got the city into the mess we're in. They're the ones who've set up this strong mayor form of government, even if we don't have a strong mayor."
16. A Minion wrote on September 6, 2007 2:35 AM:
"I was on-board at the City as a minion employee when Jerry was elected... and now that he's up for re-election, I can honestly say that I know nothing about the man, or his 'business professionals' staff. Employees have no access to him or his COO; everything has to go through a chain of command like the military, means no one dares to voice dissent. Employees are not the only ones cut off from accessing the leadership - citizens as well. When the Mayor doesn't show for the Public Comment portion of the Council meetings, where can you actually see and engage him? Good luck trying to get on his calendar as Joe Citizen or Jane Taxpayer."
17. Larry wrote on September 6, 2007 2:59 AM:
"It's good to hear him say that government is not the same as business, but I won't give him credit for reaching that conclusion on his own. I think *here's a thought* may have pegged it. Sanders is just repositioning himself and using this to provide cover against his incompetence to date. And he admits that he doesn't read what he signs? Amazing. Isn't that the same basic excuse the council has given for the SEC mess? Ignorance? That they didn't understand what they were approving? Sanders has to go."
18. John wrote on September 6, 2007 3:44 AM:
"That Jerry Sanders is out of his depth as mayor is obvious. As a result, he and his administration are floundering, and he is far from the senior statesman that he fancies himself to be. Unfortunately, the citizens of San Diego continue to choose people for mayor who, like Sanders, are completely ill-suited for the position. This nonsense of staffing an administration with business executives and ex-military leaders has been a disaster. These people know nothing about running a city and it shows in their all-thumbs approach to civic problems. Try as he might, the fumbling, bumbling Jerry Sanders is still a political amateur. San Diego deserves better."
19. SDG&E wrote on September 6, 2007 4:41 AM:
"Here we go again. Who produces more, government or the private sector? I think we all know the private sector is better than any other option we could think of. Capitalism is a great motivator. It has raised more people out of poverty than any other thing known to man. Why wouldn’t we want to implement that into a system which is systematically broken? Your guess is as good as mine. Mayor Sanders needs to find the most qualified people in the business community to hire or we will see the same old paper pushing down at city hall. It is more of the status quo. Do you think an owner of a baseball team would continue to field a team of unproductive misfits who have the reputation of being unproductive red tape layers?? Of course not, so then why would we want a city government to be filled withone?"
20. Carmen Cham wrote on September 6, 2007 4:51 AM:
"Oh how short the memory of man has become. Was it not professional politicians that threw San Diego down the well in the first place? San Diegans need to stop looking for guarantees of an outcome and continue refining its processes. Of what significance is the career path of our elected? You all point fingers retrospectively like children attempting to avert responsibility. By doing so you weaken yourself and volunteer for victimhood. We elected Jerry Sanders. Any forensic investigation can only end with the blame or credit allotted to the electors. When Sanders is confronted with a stubborn council or inert bureaucracy are we not to blame for electing them? Is SD better off? Will SD be better off is Francis is elected? Think about what's next. Positive change is absolute change. Negative change for some is mere relative change for the static. 'A Minion' your name fits you."
21. Kevin wrote on September 6, 2007 5:49 AM:
"I am not a crook -- Richard Nixon; I am not gay -- Larry Craig; I am not an oaf -- Jerry Sanders."
22. Hopeful wrote on September 6, 2007 7:44 AM:
"I worked for Sanders for many years with the police department. He was an effective leader there and was most certainly a decent man. I am surprised however to see that only now he is realizing the city can't be run entirely as a business. Another thing I hope he is soon to realize is that budget cuts alone are not the answer to our problems. Step up Chief and do the right thing regardless of the political ramifications. You know what needs to be done with respect to the police department and with the city attorney. Until the latter is addressed, any attempt you make to improve the quality of life in this city will be foiled."
23. Billy Bob Henry wrote on September 6, 2007 7:45 AM:
"Where is Mayor Sainz through all this ?"
24. SDG&E wrote on September 6, 2007 8:27 AM:
"I would like to recognize the gentleman known as Kevin. Great showing. Where is the campaign commercial for that one?"
25. Carmen Cham wrote on September 6, 2007 8:33 AM:
"Bill Clinton- he is a crook. Barney Frank- he is gay. Kevin- he writes single sentence posts."
26. Hammerhead wrote on September 6, 2007 8:37 AM:
"Good analogy SDG&E....are you the same private company who fails everytime it gets hot and the people need you the most, causing the deaths of several of our elderly? Or, perhaps you are really an oil company or better yet, Enron. As a taxpayer, I want a say in the services for which I pay. I certainly don't want you monopolizing them and then putting a gun to my head. By the way, have you seen the Pirates or Devil Rays play this year?"
27. Francine Foraday wrote on September 6, 2007 9:01 AM:
"I'm back. Mr.Truman, I am touched by your devotion to our straw-man mayor, Jerry Sanders. I believe the poor guy had his head turned by operators who have been looking for years for some amiable, electable, know-nothing to be their mayor of our town. They struck out with Mayor Dick Murphy -- another casualty -- but they found a winner in Jerry Everyman, who seemed even more quintessentially San Diego than Donna Frye. Sadly, for Sanders and for us unhappy residents, Sanders is the living embodiment of the Peter Principle: he's in over his head and surrounded by sharks. He needs to get out of the pool. As for your notion that Sanders' great past civic contributions must be matched before we may make a peep of criticism: the truth is he had secure jobs with good pay, great benefits and retirement. Period."
28. Roger wrote on September 6, 2007 11:23 AM:
"Looking back at the financial mess the City was in, and the only solutions offered up by his opponants were massive tax increases or bankrupcy, I think Mayor Sanders has done a great job. If all we have to worry and fight about is Sunroad, or if we are poisoning the squirrels in the park, we can kick back and enjoy San Diego. Thanks, Jerry ... there are sure to be some rough patches ahead, but you are keeping us off the rocks."
29. Voiceless wrote on September 6, 2007 1:26 PM:
"Is this the same Scott Lewis questioning Sanders, the Lewis who, during the campaign, never ONCE questioned the Sanders' claim "I'll run the city like a business"? The same Lewis who never asked "Mr. Sanders, what business successes did you have at, say, Virtual Capital Corp, or at Oak Ridge Technology Connection, or at Willow Creek Parners?" The same Lewis who never asked what the business backers who put the unqualified Sanders in those board positions might want him to do as mayor? Yeah, that Lewis. Slop journo."
30. Here's a thought wrote on September 7, 2007 2:32 AM:
"Hey Voiceless, that was Francis who said "run the city like a business" not Sanders."
31. Tom Scott wrote on September 7, 2007 6:20 AM:
"This summer I had the good fortune of attending Harvard's Kennedy School of Government 3 week program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. One of the key messages of that program is that government in the US was not designed to be run like a business, where you make decisions at the top and the work follows. Government was designed to be hard so that we didn't have more kings, at any level. Government must have the consent of the governed, not just those of us that have access to elected officials. That is what makes it so hard. It cracks me up when one side says that labor controls the city and other side says that developers control the city. The fact is that a balance of interests control the city and that makes it difficult to make change."
32. Norman wrote on September 8, 2007 12:51 AM:
"The only way to run this city is the way Donna Frye does and would do it H-O-N-E-S-T-L-Y. You can hire people from the government sector, the business sector, or someone sleeping on a park bench. Dudes, it doesn't matter as long as they do their job as public servant. Always remember who you work for....the people! Although you would never know it the way some of the City Council votes! Mayor....how about showing up at a City Council meeting once in awhile and meet THE PEOPLE??"
33. Jack Kennedy wrote on September 8, 2007 1:35 AM:
"Truman, your snide comment to an earlier post echoes Sanders own oafish style. If Sanders wants to be some sort of statesman, he needs to dump his handlers who have done him---and us---ill, get a vision of governance and use it and be responsible for it, open up his processes for scrutiny instead of forbidding city employees from speaking to media and acting with more clarity, honesty and forthrightness, unlike his dismal role in the Sunroad affair. He should also dump troglodyte flaks who attempt to run interference. Starbucks is hiring, boy; see you there. Save your boss a seat in the unemployment line come next election, too."
34. John wrote on September 8, 2007 1:35 AM:
"John's earlier comment is quite on point, but he forgets that the citizens of SD are offered the dregs of what the establishment culture will allow to access the offices of local government. I can't be the only one who remembers that Surfer Girl won an election or two, only to be disqualified in a mainstream-media enhanced obvious subversion of the democratic process. People can and do choose whom they want to lead, if given the chance. We weren't. And those interests that chose Sanders for us should thank whatever their kind may pray to that no one in laid back SD stormed the local version of the Winter Palace and threw an October Revolution to dislodge the cop from his beat and restore democracy to this Sandbox By The Bay."
35. Rocky wrote on September 8, 2007 1:54 AM:
"Hey Mayor, how about doing something about this overpaid city pension debacle that is stuffing the pockets of retired city workers with more money in pension benefits then their salaries were when they were on the job. They are laughing all the way to bank as my car falls apart because their is not enough money to fix our streets, or our sewers, or keep our police from moving on to greener pastures. What took you so long to get with it on solving the Sunroad mess? If it wasn't for Mike Aguirre the Sunroad building would probably be 20 stories high by now. Poor San Diego, The Sinking City by the Sea. Oh Donna, if you could have just pulled in a few more votes."
36. Jerry is Right wrote on September 8, 2007 2:51 AM:
"when he said "I think that what we learned is that government, especially city government, is very different than business, and it's very different than the military". However, his idea to "recruit government executives from other agencies and cities" is underestimating the potential and wasting the experience of current city employees. Forget the pensions for one minute - does the mayor really think all 10,000 city employees are inept,incapable and unethical?The two people in charge - Chris Michel and Fred Sainz could choose to include loyal and caring employees who have valuable institutional knowledge and relationships but instead they dismiss ideas and suggestions to the point that employees are hesitant to even try to participate. Chris/Fred are so paranoid that nothing can move without their approval. They both should be fired for misuse of city resources - the employees."
37. Caitlin wrote on September 10, 2007 4:17 PM:
"Oh look!! Billy Bob is back to posting as Rocky again."
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