San Diego Mayor's contest heating up

It's time to warm up again with another visit to San Diego.  This time, it's all the campaign news since San Diego election news for the new year from KPBS.  This installment features money and endorsements, exactly the topics I like to write about when I cover Washtenaw County elections for Examiner.com.

KBPS: Start Your Engines: San Diego Mayoral Race Back In High Gear
By Sandhya Dirks
Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Councilmen and mayoral candidates David Alvarez and Kevin Faulconer are starting strong, opening up new campaign offices and once again touting those most prized pieces of electoral swag: endorsements.

At his new campaign office in south San Diego, Faulconer was joined by members of the Latino American Political Association of San Diego, or LAPA.

The association's Vice President Dolores Chavez said she knows some might be perplexed by their choice of the non-Latino Republican. “It’s surprising to a lot of media types, because they think you are a Hispanic organization, you should just totally be focused on the Hispanic candidate,” she said.

That endorsement surprised me.  This next one didn't.

KBPS: Kevin Faulconer Endorsed By San Diego Coalition Of Pastors
By City News Service
Thursday, January 9, 2014

A coalition of pastors in southeast San Diego today endorsed Councilman Kevin Faulconer for mayor.

"We got together as a group and decided not to endorse based on party lines," Rickey Laster of the New Assurance Baptist Church said. "We wanted the best person for the (job) regardless of whether they were Republican, Democrat or Independent. Kevin is the experienced candidate with eight years on the City Council and will get the job done."

Finallyh, here's the money news for the past week.

KBPS: Mayoral candidates are neck and neck in the race for cash
By Joe Yerardi
Sunday, January 5, 2014

San Diego mayoral contenders David Alvarez and Kevin Faulconer are starting 2014 nearly neck-and-neck in the race for campaign cash, according to the first comprehensive report on campaign finances in the runoff phase of the election.

Republican Kevin Faulconer and the independent committees backing him reported having nearly $490,000 in available funds as of Dec. 28.

Democrat David Alvarez and supportive committees reported having more than $425,000 in cash on hand.

Actually, Alvarez is slightly behind.  Time to send money.