Sanders' Second Choice: Nathan Fletcher

Current mayor endorsed District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis early in the race

When it comes to choosing his successor, Mayor Jerry Sanders made no quips about sharing who he voted for as San Diego’s next mayor Tuesday morning – but he did smirk when asked who his second choice was.

The Republican mayor endorsed District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis early in the race. And he voted for her in the primaries, he said, because he still believes her managerial experience and team-building capabilities are good qualities in a mayor.

However, when asked whom he would have voted for if Dumanis weren’t running, Sanders quickly answered: “Nathan,” referring to the charismatic assemblyman who caused a stir in March by announcing he was leaving the Republican party and continuing the race for mayor as an independent.

“Nathan has the ability to talk to both sides of the legislature,” Sanders said outside the Kensington Community Church Tuesday morning. “The other two [U.S. Rep. Bob Filner and Councilman Carl DeMaio] will only polarize both sides.”

Meet the candidates. Click here for a guide to all candidates running for mayor.

Sanders and Fletcher share some moderate viewpoints – and support for Fletcher may edge out Filner, a Democrat.

Even though Dumanis has trailed in last through most of the campaign, Sanders didn’t go so far as to change his endorsement. He said running against three major candidates is a lot tougher than it was when he ran for Mayor. By no means is he disappointed in Dumanis’ campaign, he reassured.

Sanders commented on the intensity of the months leading up to the primary, saying he’d “never gotten so much mail,” in reference to the high volume of mailers both attacking and supporting the four major candidates for mayor.

The attacks leading up to the election have been particularly fierce, especially between Demaio and Fletcher.

Sanders said his vote for the next mayor wasn’t bittersweet – he’s entirely ready to relinquish his office on the eleventh floor of City Hall. Though he’s still not sure what the next chapter of his life will be, he said.

“Now I’m just going to figure out what I want to be when I grow up,” he said.

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