Gov. Jerry Brown is speaking up for Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher. The Democratic governor has issued a statement his political adviser calls an observation of working with Fletcher for a year.
It is not a formal endorsement. The statement reads:
"Nathan Fletcher stands out from the pack especially when he voted to close a big tax loophole that rewards companies that ship jobs out of California. In the face of partisan pressures, he maintains his independence and calls it like he sees it."
Fletcher made news last spring when he left the Republican Party to run for mayor as an independent candidate. Polls show him and Congressman Bob Filner - the lone democrat in the race- in a close battle for the second runoff spot in next week’s mayoral primary.
Democratic Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom has endorsed Filner for mayor.
If no candidate wins a majority of the votes in Tuesday's primary, the top two vote-getters will move on to the November runoff. Republican City Councilman Carl DeMaio leads in the polls.
