When San Diegans elected a new mayor, it was understood he'd be taking the city in a different direction after seven years under Jerry Sanders.
On Tuesday, after an increasingly intense six weeks in office, Bob Filner delivers his first "State of the City" address.
In just the past few days, newspaper editorialists and blog columnists have referred to Filner as a "bully" who's shown a "lack of competence" and respect for others – including a fellow Democrat who presides over the City Council.
Will whatever 'honeymoon' many observers granted him in transitioning from U.S. lawmaker to municipal chief executive last much longer?
Says Scott Lewis, CEO and columnist of the Voice of San Diego: “He's not comfortable with the fact that people are listening to everything he says, that they're fact-checking it, that they're reacting to it. That it has consequences, and that it might provoke confrontations in a public way that we're not used to."
Last week, Filner confronted Council President Todd Gloria and a senior assistant attorney over conflicting Council appointments to outside board and commissions.
Referring to his own memo of appointments, at least one of which was in dispute at a public hearing, Filner barked: "It doesn't ask for someone to be appointed who is not a member of this council! I just told you that -- you know it very well! You're asking a phony question, and you'll get a phony answer!"
Those he considers fools and phonies try Filner's patience.
So do those, like City Attorney Jan Goldsmith, who obstruct his agenda.
Filner ultimately prevailed over Goldsmith when the city’s top lawyer told him he could unilaterally suspend targeted code enforcement against marijuana dispensaries.
“I would like to re-set the button, as it were," Filner said in an interview with NBC 7.
While furthering the aims of the medi-pot community, the move might run afoul of leading neighborhood activists and businesses -- as well as federal prosecutors.
But Filner has made it clear that what used to be 'business as usual' at City Hall has been termed out.
And that's ruffled feathers.
"In Washington D.C., if you're abrasive with people, that's seen as normal,” says Republican strategist Ron Nehring. “But in San Diego and City Hall, where people are expected to work together, it's really standing out. And he needs to adjust."
Filner's defenders say he was a 'known quantity' to voters.
This, from Democratic strategist Jon Elliott: "Bob's critics? I have one thing to say to them: 'Get used to it.' If they don't like the way he runs it, vote for somebody else, but you're stuck with him for four years. And I say, give the man a chance to see what he can do, and then assess him on his opportunity."
On Monday, Team Filner's media representative did not respond to a request for hints about his State of the City speech, or push-back to his critics.
The mayor will speak tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Balboa Theater in Westfield Horton Plaza.
Observers familiar with Filner’s political platform and priorities suggest the major themes of the address will include:
- Budget balancing, to cover a projected deficit stemming from higher retirement costs linked to pension reform and investment losses.
- Upgrading neighborhood infrastructures, and ‘taking back the city’ from ‘the old power brokers’.
- Improving schools, addressing homelessness issues, and creating jobs by promoting ‘green energy’ high-tech, biotech and ‘clean tech’ industries.