Republican City Councilman and San Diego mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio held a news conference today to announce he’s creating a bipartisan job creation coalition made up of people from across the political spectrum. That includes several members from a group called Movement to the Middle, which was created during the primaries.
At the news conference, DeMaio was surrounded by Democrats, Republicans and independents, including businessman Scott Dickey. Dickey was one of the founding members of Movement To The Middle, which originally supported Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher during the mayoral primary.
The group stressed corporation and civil politics. And Dickey said he believes DeMaio will fit that mold as mayor, despite criticism that DeMaio can be polarizing.
"His role on City Council was about pushing the limits and making the rest of his colleagues really think about alternative solutions," Dickey said. "So he had to break a little glass along the way."
DeMaio says that around two-thirds of the members of Movement to the Middle have endorsed him, including some Democrats. He said as mayor he would listen to all sides and work with everyone to implement ideas without regard for party label.
"In my administration, everyone will be welcome,'' DeMaio said. "Everyone will be around the table, Democrat, Republican and independent.''
But while some members of Movement To The Middle are now supporting DeMaio, Fletcher may be on the verge of backing Democrat Congressman Bob Filner for mayor.
"I think he wants to stay in public service and I hope that he can help me when I’m mayor," Filner said. "We’re talking about (an) endorsement, but that’s a timing issue."
Christina Di Leva, a spokeswoman for Fletcher, says Fletcher hasn't committed to any endorsements.
Filner dismissed the endorsement of DeMaio by some members of Movement To The Middle. Filner said the endorsements were "amazing'' considering the group's original positions.
"The Move to the Middle has taken a sharp U-turn to the extreme right,'' Filner said.
He said DeMaio ridiculed the group when it came out in support of Fletcher, who failed to make the runoff election.
