do you think sainz could take bob kittle with him?

Posted by rat | reply to this comment
July 3, 2008 10:11 am

If this is a setup for the next mayor wannabes, I'm leaving. Nothing EVER changes here, nothing. The same old people, recycled. No!

Posted by No! Not Bilbray, not Roberts | reply to this comment
July 3, 2008 10:54 am

San Diego's loss is Colorado's - loss.

Posted by Reader | reply to this comment
July 3, 2008 11:09 am

It's going to be tough to keep an open mind about Pudgil knowing that he's associated with the likes of Bilbray and Roberts. But at least he's not the guy who was Golding's PR flack, and he HAS to be more honest than Sainz.

Posted by Larry | reply to this comment
July 3, 2008 11:11 am

Concur 100% with Larry. On a different note, how long before he dons the moniker "Pudgy"?

Posted by Tom S. | reply to this comment
July 3, 2008 11:29 am

Darren Pudgil's appointment is typical of the incestuous nature of San Diego politics (Anna Danneger/David Jarrel, Janice Weinrick/Lin Martin ). Pudgil's wife Kimberly, works for Republican ringmaster Tom Shepard. Before that she worked for the San Diego Film Commission and was no doubt close to Stu Segall. Sainz may have been smart and willing to lie on demand for them, but he was still an outsider. Pudgil is one of their own. Shepard is merely consolidating his power as the vicarious Mayor. He has his eye on the prize: Poseidon’s (his client) desalination plant at Carlsbad. Nice move Tom.

Posted by Pat Flannery | reply to this comment
July 3, 2008 12:27 pm

Hmm, one of the first hits in a Pudgil search: (from Voice!) [Brent] Wilkes and his associates ultimately gave more than $10,000 to Roberts, ... It's unclear what Wilkes was seeking from Roberts, beyond helping a friend get elected mayor. Wilkes' company ... didn't raise money for any other state local candidate in 2000. (Roberts' spokesman, Darren Pudgil, did not return an e-mail and a phone message left seeking comment.) So Pudgy is the non-responsive type of communications director?

Posted by Tom S. | reply to this comment
July 3, 2008 1:02 pm

More: From today's SD Business Journal "...and is being replaced by longtime political operative and San Diego County native Darren Pudgil." From NC Times: Darren Pudgil, chief of staff for Roberts, also defended his boss's upcoming trip (Ron's China junkets now forbidden by the FPPC). Sainz/Pudgy.. same crap, different suit.

Posted by Tom S. | reply to this comment
July 3, 2008 1:05 pm

link

Posted by dp | reply to this comment
July 3, 2008 2:16 pm

Oh c'mon people. I'm a Democrat and I know that Pudgil is a class act and an outstanding press person. The Mayor is lucky to have him.

Posted by Al | reply to this comment
July 3, 2008 2:25 pm

Give Darren Pudgil a chance and I think you'll all be pleasantly surprised. He's a hard worker and straight shooter. He doesn't play games or insult the media. In fact, he's on the board of the San Diego State University Friends of Journalism & Media Studies Alumni Chapter. San Diego is inherently an incestuous place by its nature. It's partly because there are so few "doers" out there. Everyone else is at the beach or in their own little world and very few engage in civic activities. Those people who do are all one degree of separation from each other. Don't blame Darren for it.

Posted by Gayle Falkenthal | reply to this comment
July 3, 2008 4:05 pm

These posts from wannabe politicos are pathetic. Flannery is especially embarrassing. Pat, rope a few facts before you shoot your mouth off.

Posted by Scott M | reply to this comment
July 3, 2008 8:58 pm

Looks like Ron Roberts finally made it to the Mayor's office. Darren is a nice guy, but the Mayor's office is major league compared to his current gig.

Posted by Wow | reply to this comment
July 4, 2008 7:07 am

I thought it was just a stereotype about San Diegans being sun baked and SoCal-Lazy-Dazy, but according to Ms. Falkenthal, it's fact -- across the board. You all should be ashamed of yourselves! // This is the worst excuse/ explanation of the ruling establishment I've ever seen -- everyone else is just lazy so of course the 'doers' are gonna be one degree of separation from each other. // Uh, no. The 1 degree of separation is really just proof that the mob is highly organized.

Posted by Christopher Hall | reply to this comment
July 4, 2008 7:37 am

So what if Darren Pudgil is on the board of SDSU's Friends of Journalism...! He should recuse himself of this new position as the Mayor's new communication director. Sorry Gayle but that is the ethical thing to do. Oh, wait a minute! I forgot this is San Diego politics! Never mind.

Posted by Weese007 | reply to this comment
July 4, 2008 9:35 am

11. Gayle Falkenthal wrote on July 3, 2008 5:05 PM: ... . . . . . It's partly because there are so few "doers" out there. Everyone else is at the beach or in their own little world and very few engage in civic activities. Those people who do are all one degree of separation from each other. Don't blame Darren for it.".. .. . .. HEY GAYLE, I don't know what you have been smoking, but there are tons of "DOERS" in this City, tons of them. Maybe if the clowns that are in chage of this City would STOP promoting their incompetent buddies and fiends and instead hired COMPETENT employees this City might be not be a laughing stock.

Posted by Billy Bob Henry | reply to this comment
July 4, 2008 12:46 pm

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