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The More the Merrier? Not Always! - Covering San Diego's Mayoral Election

By Gayle Falkenthal


The cast of characters running to become San Diego's next Mayor truly offers something for everyone: from a former police chief to a Harley Davidson dealership owner, Libertarians to Democrats, plus a sprinkling of businesspeople, attorneys, and citizen hopefuls.

The size of the field and the short time frame before the primary creates plenty of challenges for campaign coverage. The San Diego Press Club wanted to find out what kind of decisions are being made in newsrooms, and what are reporters dealing with on the campaign trail?

Reporter Kim Edwards of KGTV 10 News says, ìFor quite a while, covering this race felt like attending the circus: new acts debuting every week, some good, some bad.î Edwards says the race finally came into focus after the first ìofficialî debate as frontrunners started to emerge. ìMost of the top five candidates bring strong, unique qualities to the table. And they are quite different from one another, perhaps making the choice easier,î she said.

Senior editor Russell Lewis of KPBS Radio says every media organization struggles to cover 11 candidates, some of whom aren't really raising money or knocking on voters' doors. Do you cover the so-called lesser candidates? ìIt's the dilemma for the media,î says Lewis. ìYou have to take a hard look.î Lewis says KPBS applies a three-prong test: polling data, funds raised, and editorial judgment.

Staging a debate with so many candidates is difficult. Lewis says it's all but impossible to follow eleven voices on the radio. Nevertheless, the candidates have a fast and furious schedule of debates, particularly between the 4th of July weekend and Election Day on July 26.

Edwards says voters crave information, and they're demanding it from the candidates via the media. ìThey want the winner to provide answers, vision, and reliefî from recalls and scandals, says Edwards. We'll find out whether one was successful before the month is out.


Mayoral Debates A-Plenty

July 5, 12:00 noon Board of Realtors Forum, Location TBA
July 5, 7:00 p.m. League of Women Voters Debate, Location TBA
July 6, 6:30 p.m. La Jolla Town Council Debate, La Jolla Recreation Center
July 8, 7:30 a.m. National Assn. Of Industrial & Office Properties Debate
July 8, 12:00 noon San Diego Chamber of Commerce Debate, Joan Kroc Institute of Peace & Justice, University of San Diego
July 11, 12 noon Conservative Order of Good Guys, Rancho Bernardo Inn
July 13, 5:30 p.m. NAACP San Diego Chapter Community Forum
July 14, 7:00 p.m. San Diego North Chamber of Commerce, Doubletree Golf Resort, Rancho Penasquitos
July 15, 12:00 noon Catfish Club Debate, KGTV-10 Studios
July 17, 6:00 p.m. NBC 7/39 & San Diego Union-Tribune Broadcast Debate
July 21, 6:00 p.m. KGTV, KPBS TV/FM, KOGO-AM, and SignOnSanDiego.com
July 22, 4:00 p.m. Fox 6 News Live Debate
July 22, 8:30 p.m. KUSI 9/51 Broadcast Debate, Sherwood Auditorium, La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art
July 24, 6:00 p.m. NBC 7/39 & San Diego Union-Tribune Broadcast Debate

Posted July 2005