SAN DIEGO – Interim Mayor of San Diego Todd Gloria, who is part-Filipino, announced earlier this week that he is not going to be a candidate in the special November election to complete the term of former Mayor Bob Filner.

Filner resigned in disgrace on August 30, less than a year after being elected to the position. The former Filipino World War II Veterans champion and long-time San Diego congressman Filner resigned as part of a plea deal with the city after being accused of sexual harassment by several women.

Gloria, who served as the city council president, replaces Filner as mayor on an interim basis until San Diego residents vote for a new mayor in a special election on November 19.

Shortly after taking office on August 30, Gloria, a Democrat, announced that he would not run to complete the three years left in Filner’s term.

As of press time, Gloria has not responded to Asian Journal’s emails seeking an interview.

Gloria told City News Services that Filner left the office with “substantial and serious” problems that needs to be addressed.

His first task as interim mayor was to develop a team dedicated to putting San Diego first and moving the city forward.

“The Office of the Mayor will be staffed by experienced, responsible, and responsive individuals who share my goal of moving the city forward in a transparent, collaborative way,” said Gloria in a statement.

In a separate statement with CNS, Gloria said he decided not to run for mayor “at this time” because of the enormous responsibilities and the mess Filner’s administration created.

“In the few days since I assumed the duties of mayor, it has become clear to me that the problems left by Bob Filner are substantial and serious,” he said. “The enormous task of cleaning up City Hall while ensuring District Three is represented requires me to lead a focused team effort that produces quick results for San Diego.”

“San Diegans can count on me to lead our City with honesty and integrity. We will resolve the problems left by the previous administration,” he added.

Gloria has served as a city council member since 2008. He was chosen to be the council president last year.

In a 2009 interview with San Diego Upown News, Gloria described his ethnicity as, “Basically half Native American (Tlight-Haida, an Alaskan tribe), a quarter Filipino and then a little bit of Dutch and Puerto Rican.”

(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend September 7-10, 2013 Sec A pg.1)