DISTRICT 5: VON WILPERT

In San Diego City Council District 5 — which ranges from Scripps Ranch in the south to Rancho Peñasquitos in the west and Rancho Bernardo and San Pasqual in the north — The San Diego Union-tribune Editorial Board endorsed and strongly praised both candidates who advanced to the general election. We suggested it might even take a coin flip to replace independent Mark Kersey with Joe Leventhal, a Republican lawyer who served on the city’s ethics commission, and Marni von Wilpert, a Democratic deputy city attorney. For us, it nearly did. Both are well-informed on city issues and show a penchant for thinking outside the box on public policy. Both grasp that expensive affordable housing programs won’t solve the housing crisis. Both visited city homeless shelters to get insights into the severity of the problem. Both will lead.

In June, each candidate burnished their reputation with thoughtful essays for the Union-tribune in reaction to calls to “defund” law enforcement in mass protests following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.

Leventhal wrote that while “defunding” the San Diego Police Department was not realistic, much could be done to improve police training and to respond promptly when police misconduct is documented. He also made the crucial point that flaws in the criminal justice system extend to judges and courts, not just officers on the street.

Von Wilpert offered an even broader view of America’s race problem, writing that police brutality is part of a much larger phenomenon: “the quiet denial of justice, opportunity and dignity for so many in so many ways.” She supported improved training as well and said that adopting broad, systemic reforms was a better response to injustice than “defunding” police.

Both candidates would be excellent council members. But in what was our closest call of the election year, we endorse von Wilpert. Both have acted during the pandemic to help community members, she helping donate supplies to police officers and masks to grocery workers, he giving doughnuts to officers and lunches to firefighters. Yet von Wilpert’s broader life experiences are better suited to the times. Her focus at the City Attorney’s Office on issues related to homelessness and opioids. Her going to Botswana with the Peace Corps after college. Her moving to Mississippi while in law school so she could provide free legal services to people with HIV/AIDS. That she is a renter unable to afford a home despite having a good job also gives her a personal perspective on how the cost of shelter hurts the middle class, not just poor people.

We recommend a vote for Marni von Wilpert.