Ron Bittner, Ex-Mayor of Escondido, Dies

Ron Bittner, a former Escondido mayor who said he wanted to hold public office because he did not trust politicians and government, died Thursday night after a brief illness.

Bittner, 54, whose droll sense of humor and sarcasm won him many fans, was known as the “gun-totin’ mayor.” When he owned a gun shop, he wore a sidearm to City Council meetings and passed out business cards that read “Have gun, will gavel.”

He was elected to the council in 1978 and served as mayor from 1980 through 1982, when he ran unsuccessfully for state Assembly rather than seek reelection at the municipal level.

After leaving office, he stayed active in local politics, serving as the most vocal opponent of downtown redevelopment and the construction of a new civic center and performing arts complex. He complained at the time that government should not intervene in the free market system of downtown businesses.

In his office he displayed a 48-star American flag and a tapestry of an eagle, the Liberty Bell and the Stars and Stripes.

Of his constant battles with City Hall, he remarked in an interview earlier this year, “Somebody has to be cynical and skeptical about government. Otherwise, government walks all over you.”

Still, Bittner had won the admiration of City Hall staff members and political opponents for his diligence and willingness to do his homework by studying voluminous reports and studies before voting on issues.

“I had respect for him,” said Councilman Jerry Harmon, often Bittner’s opponent on various growth issues. “It was very clear where he stood, even if you didn’t agree with him.”

Funeral arrangements for Bittner, who is survived by his wife, Barbara, are pending.