DISTRICT 3: WHITBURN

In San Diego City Council District 3 — which includes Downtown, Old Town, Hillcrest, University Heights, North Park, Normal Heights and other neighborhoods — Democrats Stephen Whitburn and Toni Duran, both LGBTQ community members, are seeking the seat being vacated by Chris Ward, who is running for state Assembly. Whitburn’s experience gives him the edge.

Duran has been an aide to state Senate President pro Tem and former District 3 council member Toni Atkins for nearly seven years, working as a district representative in San Diego. But in interviews with The San Diego Union-tribune Editorial Board before the primary election, in subsequent months since the pandemic hit and in responses to an email Q&A from the board, Whitburn has shown better overall command of the issues than his opponent while displaying a deep familiarity with how City Hall works and how local groups can cooperate to get things done.

A San Diegan for nearly 20 years, Whitburn — the director of community development for the American Cancer Society of Southern California — also has a stronger resume. He worked as executive director of San Diego Pride for nearly four years and for the American Red Cross for 10 years and also served on the city’s medical marijuana task force and the North Park Planning Committee.

Whitburn gave us a little pause when he acknowledged removing the endorsement of the city’s police union from his website for about a month after the killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd led to a wave of nationwide protests against police brutality against Black Americans. Whitburn said he removed the endorsement so as not to seem “insensitive or not in line with what the community was feeling at the time.” But full disclosure is always the best path forward in politics, which in many ways is the art of treating different interests fairly.

Ultimately, Whitburn’s experience and grasp of the issues was our deciding factor. Both candidates are appropriately focused on the goals of the city’s Climate Action Plan, a need for longterm city solutions to the homelessness, which is most prevalent in Downtown, and housing, although neither stood out for plans to address the housing shortage with new approaches that spur significant new construction.

On two big District 3 issues — bike lanes and the need for improvements at neglected Balboa Park — Whitburn offered the more comprehensive analysis. His long-established relationships with many of the individuals in and out of government will also help as he tries to advance District 3 causes.

We recommend a vote for Stephen Whitburn.