Gotch Sets Eyes Elsewhere as Mayor’s Race Quickens

Councilman Mike Gotch, saying his “long-term political future is in Sacramento or Washington as an elected official,” announced Friday that he will not enter the race to succeed Roger Hedgecock as mayor.

At the same time, Gotch, a longtime leader of the city’s slow-growth political forces, sent out a strong message supporting the possible candidacy of Assemblywoman Lucy Killea, a fellow Democrat.

Former Councilwoman Maureen O’Connor, also a Democrat, was at City Hall early Friday morning to take out nominating papers for the special Feb. 25 mayoral primary. She said she would formally announce her candidacy Jan. 2, the day before the filing period closes.

Killea, who said she would reveal her intentions Monday, confirmed Friday that she and Gotch had agreed that they would not oppose each other in the primary.

“I’m giving myself the weekend to think this out,” Killea said. “I really haven’t had time to give this decision the serious consideration it deserves.”

Gotch, in a brief, handwritten statement, said, “Assemblywoman Killea and I have discussed her possible candidacy for mayor. She would bring City Hall the grace, dignity and ability to unify a divided City Council.”

Killea, 63, a councilwoman from 1978 to 1982, has said she would not seek reelection to the Assembly if she decides to run for mayor. Gotch, 38, would be the most likely Democrat to run for the 78th Assembly District seat if it were open.

Gotch did not set a timetable for his future political ambitions, but he said he would “actively seek” higher office, which would make him unable to commit to serve out Hedgecock’s term and run for a full, four-year term of his own in 1988. He said the next mayor, “for the sake of continuity,” has the “responsibility to . . . serve until 1992.”

While Gotch said he would concentrate on completing ongoing projects in his council district, his clout at City Hall has waned dramatically since his ally Hedgecock left office. He was denied a seat on the important Metropolitan Transit Development Board earlier this month by a council coalition led by acting Mayor Ed Struiksma, and wryly noted during a recent meeting at City Hall that he would have “plenty of free time” under the new Administration.

Killea’s Assembly district overlaps considerably with Gotch’s Council District 6, as both encompass the communities of Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Clairemont. Gotch has served on the council since 1979.

Hedgecock resigned before his recent sentencing on perjury and conspiracy convictions stemming from illegal campaign donations received during his 1983 mayoral election victory over O’Connor and Republican Councilman Bill Cleator, who launched his own 1986 primary campaign Thursday.

Another Democrat, former Councilman Floyd Morrow, who represented District 5 from 1967 to 1979, on Friday paid the $500 filing fee in lieu of collecting 2,000 signatures on nominating petitions, and is officially on the ballot. He is a decided underdog.

Police Chief Bill Kolender, who would have to resign as chief to run for mayor, is said to be leaning away from entering the campaign.

Judith Wolf, a spokeswoman for Struiksma, said Friday that the acting mayor would decide between Christmas and New Year’s whether he’ll join the fray. “He feels he needs some quiet time, away from the office, to think this out,” Wolf said.

Cleator, 58, and businessman John Kelley, 67, also paid the filing fee to qualify for the ballot Friday. In addition to O’Connor, those taking out nominating petitions were Loch David Crane, 37, who listed his occupation as professor of composition at National University; Nicolas Rexford Walpert, 25, a businessman; Keith Miller, 40, who is unemployed; David C. Wagner, 28, a machinist; Edward Jacobsen, 72, who is retired, and Robertson Whittemore, 41, attorney.

If no candidate in the primary receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff between the top two vote-getters would be held in conjunction with the statewide vote June 3.