DeMaio Announces Jobs Plan; Fletcher Adds Endorsement

Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego, announced Tuesday that a local sports icon endorsed his mayoral campaign, while Councilman Carl DeMaio announced details of his jobs plan.

Fletcher received support from longtime Padres baseball radio voice Jerry Coleman, a former Marine popular with fans. Fletcher is also an ex-Marine.

"Nathan brings the same leadership qualities, poise and character he exhibited as a combat Marine to all his endeavors—and that's exactly what it's going to take to turn City Hall around and get our city back on track," Coleman said. "It is time to turn the page on the problems of the past."

Fletcher previously received an endorsement from former basketball great Bill Walton, a San Diego resident.

Meanwhile, DeMaio provided an outline of his "Pathway to Prosperity" plan back in August and has since been meeting with area business leaders to come up with 112 ideas for job creation.

"We need to get San Diegans back to work—and this plan will make San Diego the leader in innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation," DeMaio said. "We must start by making significant changes in the culture and processes at City Hall to foster job creation, and then follow that up by aggressively marketing San Diego to businesses and consumers across the nation and the world."

His provisions include:

-- reducing taxes and fees on small businesses;

-- requiring job creation performance contracts for firms that request regulatory relief;

-- consolidate the city's business programs into one department;

-- create a new position, a deputy mayor for job creation;

-- provide fixed pricing and time guarantees for all city permits; and

-- developing a marketing and branding program to promote San Diego as having the "perfect" climate for business.

Fletcher and DeMaio will face District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego, among others, in the June 5 primary.

-City News Service