Chamber of Commerce Endorses Faulconer for San Diego Mayor

Councilman Kevin Faulconer gained a crucial endorsement in his race for mayor of San Diego on Thursday, while organized labor prepared its support for his council colleague, David Alvarez.

The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, which represents businesses throughout the area, is set to throw its weight behind the campaign of Faulconer, a Republican. Chamber CEO Jerry Sanders, San Diego's mayor until last December, was set to make the announcement late Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council filed with the City Clerk's Office a document saying it has formed a committee to back Alvarez, a Democrat. The organization is called "Working Families for a Better San Diego to Support David Alvarez for Mayor 2013."

The Labor Council, an umbrella group representing the region's unions, provided Bob Filner with much of the funding he used to win the mayor's election last year. He resigned Aug. 30, beset by accusations of sexual harassment by around 20 women, and under investigation for alleged misuse of a city-issued credit card and shakedowns of developers.

Faulconer and Alvarez are two of more than 30 people who have signaled their intentions to run, including ex-Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher and former City Attorney Mike Aguirre. Also, while former Assemblywoman Lori Saldana has filed her intention statement, she reportedly is still mulling over whether to actually get in the race.

Friday is the first day candidates can file their nominating petitions with the City Clerk. The papers need to be returned with at least 200 valid signatures. The deadline is Sept. 20.

-City News Service