A special election is scheduled for April 17 in the 6th Council District in
the wake of Stalling's misdemeanor conviction for failing to report
financial dealings with the owners of the San Diego Padres and failing to
recuse herself from votes affecting the Padres.

Rotto had worked as Stalling's director of policy from 1993 to 1996,
leaving her council staff years before Stallings got herself into trouble
over her dealings with Padres owner John Moores, with whom the city has
agreements concerning the building of a new baseball stadium.

The 6th Council District includes such areas of San Diego as Pacific Beach
and Clairemont. This is not regarded as an area with a heavy Jewish
population, so Rotto's high profile in the Jewish community is not
considered a great political advantage in the field of 11 candidates.

Besides Rotto, candidates are Kim Cox, former chair of the San Diego
County Democratic Central Committee; Steve Danon, a chief of staff to
Supervisor Ron Roberts; Donna Frye; Donald Mayes; Larry Murray; Peter
Navarro, who has run close but unsuccessful races for mayor, city
councilman; county supervisor, and congressman; Michael Pallamary, who
ran unsuccessfully in 1995 for the 6th District seat; Earl Richard, who ran
unsuccessfully 36 years ago in the 5th District, and Tom Switzer.

Coincidentally on the same night that Rotto's resignation was accepted by
the AJC board--as the organization has no "leave of absence" provisions--
Councilman Byron Wear of the 2nd Council District gave a presentation to
the AJC about plans for the civilian reuse of the Naval Training Center. 

Wear voiced his support for the campaign in the Jewish community to have
some portion of NTC named for Louis Rose, San Diego's pioneer Jewish
settler who in 1869 created the community of Roseville, where the NTC is
now located. 

The AJC board, led by Marty Block (who also is president of the San
Diego Community College District ) appointed a committee chaired by
Greg Stein, former chief of staff to former Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-San
Diego) to advocate for a Rose memorial at NTC. Other committee members
named are Marc Wolfsheimer and Robin Fox. -- Donald H. Harrison