2000 San Diego mayoral election

The 2000 San Diego mayoral election was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2000 to elect the mayor for San Diego. Incumbent mayor Susan Golding was ineligible to run for reelection due to term limits.

2000 San Diego mayoral election

November 7, 2000

Nominee Dick Murphy Ron Roberts Party Republican Republican Popular vote 203,048 189,939 Percentage 51.6% 48.3%

Mayor before election Susan Golding Republican Elected Mayor Dick Murphy Republican

Municipal elections in California are officially non-partisan, though some candidates do receive funding and support from various political parties.[1] The non-partisan primary was held Tuesday, March 7, 2000. County supervisor Ron Roberts and superior court judge Dick Murphy received the most votes and advanced to the November general election. Murphy was elected mayor with a majority of the votes in the November runoff election.

Candidates

• Dick Murphy, superior court judge[2] (Voter registration: Republican)
• Ron Roberts, San Diego County supervisor and mayoral candidate in 1992[2] (Voter registration: Republican)
• Peter Q. Davis, banker[3] (Voter registration: Republican)
• Barbara Warden, San Diego City Council member[2] (Voter registration: Republican)
• George Stevens, San Diego City Council member[2] (Voter registration: Democratic)
• Byron Wear, San Diego City Council member[2] (Voter registration: Republican)
• Jim Bell, environmental designer[2] (Party Preference: Democratic)
• Janice Jordan[2] (Party Preference: Peace and Freedom Party)[4]
• Loch David Crane[2]
• Glen D. Adkins[2]
• Robert H. Schmitt[2]
• Jim Hart, aircraft mechanic and perennial candidate[2] (Voter registration: Republican)

Campaign

With incumbent mayor Susan Golding termed out and ineligible to run, the primary election attracted a crowded field of candidates. Despite Democrats in San Diego holding 39% to 36.5% lead in registered voters, all but one of the candidates considered serious contenders by the media were Republicans. Many of the candidates had ties to Pete Wilson, the former mayor of San Diego, U.S. senator, and California governor.[3] County supervisor Ron Roberts advanced to the November runoff with 25% of the primary vote. He was joined by Superior Court Judge Dick Murphy, who narrowly defeated banker Peter Q. Davis for second place and a place in the runoff with 15% of the vote.[5]

Due to his advantages in fund raising, endorsements, political experience and his comfortable lead in the primary election Roberts was initially considered the front runner. However, Murphy was able to pull even by campaigning as an incorruptible political independent compared to his "career politician" opponent.[6] Sports also played a large role in the general election campaign, including controversy over a deal where the city agreed to pay the San Diego Chargers for unsold tickets and city participation in the financing of a new stadium for the San Diego Padres.[7]

Murphy ultimately defeated Roberts 52% to 48% and was elected mayor.[8]

Primary election results

San Diego mayoral primary election, 2000[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ron Roberts	69,059	25.7
	Republican	Dick Murphy	42,103	15.7
	Republican	Peter Q. Davis	41,937	15.6
	Republican	Barbara Warden	40,716	15.2
	Democratic	George Stevens	27,983	10.4
	Republican	Byron Wear	24,214	9.0
	Democratic	Jim Bell	8,779	3.3
	Peace and Freedom	Janice Jordan	5,370	2.0
	Nonpartisan	Loch David Crane	3,323	1.2
	Nonpartisan	Glen D. Adkins	1,976	0.7
	Nonpartisan	Robert H. Schmitt	1,547	0.6
	Republican	Jim Hart	1,507	0.6
Total votes			292,904	100

General election results

San Diego mayoral general election, 2000[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dick Murphy	203,048	51.6
	Republican	Ron Roberts	189,939	48.3
	Nonpartisan	H. Diane Dixon (write-in)	172	0.1
Total votes			393,939	100

References

1. "How to Run for Office". The City of San Diego-Office of the City Clerk. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
2. "Election History - Mayor of San Diego" (PDF). City of San Diego. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
3. Perry, Tony (February 12, 2000). "In San Diego Mayor's Race, Wilson Still Sets the Style". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
4. Naples, Nancy A.; Bojar, Karen (2013). Teaching Feminist Activism: Strategies from the Field. Routledge. p. 175. ISBN 9781317794998. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
5. Staff Writer (March 10, 2000). "Murphy Gets Slim Edge in San Diego Race". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
6. Perry, Tony (October 22, 2000). "Integrity Trumps Other Issues in San Diego's Mayoral Race". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
7. Perry, Tony (September 28, 2000). "Sports Takes Lead in San Diego Mayor's Race". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
8. Perry, Tony (November 9, 2000). "San Diego Winner Puts Ethics Panel on Agenda". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 19, 2014.