Alvarez shakes up mayor’s race

City Councilman David Alvarez joined the San Diego mayor’s race Thursday as the field of candidates continued to grow on the Democratic side.

Alvarez, 33, a first-term councilman who represents the city’s southernmost neighborhoods, is a progressive Democrat with many of the same political views as Mayor Bob Filner, who resigned last week amid a sexual harassment scandal.

The addition of Alvarez means the Nov. 19 special election to replace Filner could have the exact opposite political dynamic as last year’s crowded mayoral primary.

That race began with three major Republicans slugging it out while Filner, the lone Democrat, coasted through to the general election. Now it appears three high-profile Democrats -- Alvarez, former City Attorney Michael Aguirre and former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher -- will be competing against a lone Republican: Councilman Kevin Faulconer.

There’s also no guarantee that another major candidate won’t surface. Former Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, also a progressive Democrat, is mulling a run and said she will announce her decision early next week.

Both political parties had hoped to align their forces behind a single candidate, but there are many Democrats unhappy with the presumed anointment of Fletcher as the party’s standard-bearer. Fletcher was a lifelong Republican who supported several anti-labor initiatives before leaving that party to go independent during last year’s mayoral contest and then re-emerging in May as a pro-labor Democrat.

Some in the labor community have been trying to recruit someone to run against Fletcher and appear to have succeeded with Alvarez. That’s an about-face from when the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, the region’s most influential labor organization, spent nearly $113,000 in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat Alvarez in the 2010 council race.

Richard Barrera, head of the labor council, didn’t respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Alvarez has been a strong advocate for city workers during his time on the council and had been Filner’s closest council ally before his administration imploded. Filner credited Alvarez for his help on ending a dispute with hoteliers over tourism dollars and Alvarez was the only council member invited to join Filner for his May announcement of a five-year labor deal with workers.

Alvarez called on Filner to resign two days after allegations of Filner’s sexual misconduct were made public.

Alvarez declined an interview request Thursday and his office said he would hold a news conference Monday to discuss his campaign.

“I’m in,” Alvarez said via Twitter Thursday. “Filed my intent to run. San Diego needs a mayor who cares about the future of working families & all of our neighborhoods.”

Faulconer said of Alvarez, “I’ve known David for a number of years on the council. He and I have worked well together on some issues; we don’t see eye-to-eye on others. I’m not surprised that we’re going to have numerous candidates.”

Meanwhile the mayor’s race is in full swing. Faulconer will pick up the endorsement of the California Restaurant Association’s San Diego chapter on Friday while Fletcher received the backing of several prominent Latino leaders on Thursday.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, a former labor leader, endorsed Fletcher along with Rep. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, Escondido Councilwoman Olga Diaz, Chula Vista Councilwoman Mary Salas and others.

“Nathan’s concern for and efforts on behalf of everyday working people have really impressed me,” Gonzalez said. “Last year, without publicizing it or expecting credit, Nathan went to extraordinary lengths to help janitors win health care at San Diego’s biotech companies. He pushed managers to compromise, and the result was a better deal that improved the lives of those workers.”

Fletcher declined to comment on Alvarez’ decision to enter the race, according to a spokeswoman.

Saldaña said part of her decision will be based on whether a female candidate steps forward. She has decried the lack of a major female contender thus far, particularly in light of the sexual harassment scandal that ended Filner’s tenure at City Hall.

“I just keep waiting for a woman to show up,” she said Thursday.

While the major candidates jockey for position, the number of lesser-known candidates filing their official intent to run has swelled to 18. All would-be candidates have until Sept. 20 to qualify for the ballot, which requires a $500 fee and a petition signed by 200 registered city voters. History suggests most will fail to meet that threshold.

The most recognizable name in that crowd is Bruce Coons of Save Our Heritage Organisation, a nonprofit preservation group. He issued a news release Thursday saying he has a long track record of bringing governments, businesses and communities together for the betterment of San Diego.

Coons is best known recently for fighting City Hall and one of San Diego’s more prominent business leaders. His organization won a lawsuit that scuttled the sweeping plan to rid Balboa Park’s Plaza de Panama of cars that was proposed by Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs.

“I will listen and respond to the needs of neighborhoods along with those of new development,” Coons said. “The wants and wishes of the people who have invested here, live here, and raise their families here need a strong voice.”

If no one wins a majority in the November election, the top two finishers will compete in a runoff held in January or February.

Staff writer Mark Walker contributed to this report.