Steve Schmidt, campaign manager for Guv Arnold in 2006 was asked what political party did Schwarzenegger belong. The answer, “he is a member of the Arnold Party, a Party of One”. Look how well he did! Now in a 14 month period the San Diego Registrar of Voters has had Nathan Fletcher as a Republican, Decline to State and now a Democrat. All lies. I have known Nathan for many years—he is a member of the “Fletcher Party”
He worked for Republicans, used GOP money to get elected. Then when the San Diego GOP refused to endorse him for Mayor, he became a decline to state. Then he endorsed the pervert of San Diego, Bob Filner for Mayor—and then became a Democrat. Seriously his only “value” is that he wants to hold public office. As a Party of one, he only represents himself, not a principle, not a Party and not the public.
Nathan needs to get a gripe on himself—San Diego can not afford just another politico that will say or do anything to get elected.
Fletcher explains his political shift
The lifelong Republican became an independent then a Democrat in a 14-month span
By Craig Gustafson, San Diego U-T, 8/27/13
SAN DIEGO — Last year Nathan Fletcher wanted to become the latest in a long line of Republican San Diego mayors.
Now he wants to become just the second Democratic mayor in 21 years.
With current Mayor Bob Filner set to resign Friday amid sexual harassment allegations, several high-profile politicians are mulling a bid for mayor. Fletcher, a former assemblymen, has shown no such hesitation and is the only major contender currently campaigning for the job.
Perhaps the biggest question for Fletcher is whether he can convince San Diego voters that his political metamorphosis from a lifelong Republican to independent to registered Democrat in a 14-month span is genuine rather than a calculated political move.
“My evolution has been in a straight trajectory,” Fletcher said in a Tuesday interview. “I started out as a very moderate, progressive Republican and over time the leadership of the Republican Party has become increasingly more strident and conservative.”
He added, “My life experience has brought me in a straight line to the Democratic Party where I’m comfortable and where I know I belong. …I think what matters at the end of the day is that you do what you truly believe in your heart is right and things tend to work out.”
Fletcher, an Iraq War veteran who finished third in last year’s mayoral primary, filed his intention to run last week even before he knew if Filner would resign.
Fletcher, 36, is expected to be a formidable contender in the race to become San Diego’s 36th mayor as all signs point to him being the favored choice of labor, an influential force in local politics.
That seemed highly unlikely not long ago.
Fletcher’s political transformation began in March 2012 when he lost the Republican endorsement in the mayor’s race to then-Councilman Carl DeMaio. He angered many party leaders by touting his Republican credentials in seeking their support only to denounce partisan politics 18 days later when he decided to run as an independent.
Then-Democratic Party Chairman Jess Durfee described Fletcher’s switch from Republican to independent as “another leopard trying to change his spots in an election year.”
“Frankly, this is one of the most cynical political ploys we’ve seen in San Diego in decades,” Durfee said at the time.
Now it appears Fletcher could be the front-runner for the Democratic Party’s endorsement this year.
“We’ve all seen the difficulty our city’s faced over the past few months, but there’s an opportunity now to close that chapter on San Diego and to really talk about moving forward,” Fletcher said. “And I know what a great city we are and what a great future we have and I believe that I’m the leader that can move us forward, that can unite San Diegans and really get us going in the right direction.”
The other high-profile Democrats in consideration have either ruled themselves out — Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins and former state Sen. Christine Kehoe — or haven’t yet decided — Council President Todd Gloria and former Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña.
Saldaña said Tuesday she has been encouraged by others to run.
“I am listening to people making the case of why I would be a good candidate,” she said. “Also, there is the consideration that right now we have no women in the race.”
The City Council will vote Wednesday on a proposed date of Nov. 19 for the special election which could end up being an epic battle between bitter foes — DeMaio and Fletcher.
The two men sparred early and often throughout the 2012 mayoral primary and the bad blood continued well after Fletcher was knocked out of the race.
City Councilman Kevin Faulconer and county Supervisor Ron Roberts are also eyeing a possible run for mayor.
After losing the mayoral contest last year and finishing his assembly term, Fletcher joined Qualcomm as a senior director of corporate development and teaches a course on government and politics at UC San Diego.
Fletcher said his core values have remained the same throughout his political transformation, but he continues to be dogged by critics who call him a political opportunist who will say and do anything to get elected.
“His biggest hurdle is probably that he started Republican and became a Democrat so you always have to be able to explain that to the voters to a degree,” said Carl Luna, a political-science professor at Mesa College. “He has the advantage in the short special election season that he can run on his personality which is probably his strongest asset.”
Fletcher said, “Political parties change. People change. Those core values and beliefs, those don’t. I’ve always believed every child should have a quality education. People that work hard and play by the rules should have access to economic opportunity. We should preserve and protect our natural resources and environment. But the party that I believe best applies those (principles) does change.”
When asked last year how he would win the mayor’s race, Fletcher often joked: “Get the most votes.”
Asked the same question Tuesday, he had the same response and a reporter pointed out that strategy didn’t work so well last time around.
Fletcher said, “I know. Now I’m going to do it this time.”
