Kolender Rules Out Running for Mayor

Saying “I’m a cop, not a politician,” San Diego Police Chief Bill Kolender announced Monday that, as in 1983, he would not be a candidate in a special election for mayor.

Kolender, a Republican who has been police chief since 1976 and is one of the city’s most popular public figures, said that in recent months he has been under “tremendous pressure from an awful lot of people” urging him to run, but added that he is happy with his present job.

“I don’t deny that for the past several months I have been thinking seriously about running for mayor,” Kolender said. “I would have been proud to have been this city’s mayor, but I think this decision is the best for me and my family.”

Former Mayor Roger Hedgecock resigned this month after his conviction on perjury and conspiracy charges stemming from illegal campaign donations he received during the 1983 mayoral race. The City Council last week set the special primary to replace him for Feb. 25. If none of the candidates in the primary receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers will enter a runoff June 3.

Kolender, who under the city’s charter would have been forced to resign as police chief to run for mayor, seemed confident that he could have won the race had he chosen to enter.

“Winning was not the issue,” Kolender said about his decision, adding that he could have raised “all of the money necessary for a campaign.”

The police chief said he would not endorse any of the candidates and “will not get involved in the mayor’s race in any way.”

“I like it here,” Kolender said of his current job. “I’m happy in what I do. I still feel the challenge. But I like to think I’m political, but not a politician.”

With Kolender’s decision, only acting Mayor Ed Struiksma and Democratic Assemblywoman Lucy Killea, both considered prospective mayoral candidates, have not announced their decisions on the race. Both indicated Monday they would not reveal their intentions until after Christmas. The filing period for candidates closes Jan. 3.

Last week, Councilman Bill Cleator and former Councilwoman Maureen O’Connor, both of whom were defeated for mayor by Hedgecock in 1983, said they would again seek the city’s highest elective office. Councilman Mike Gotch, Republican Assemblyman Larry Stirling and Democratic Congressman Jim Bates have withdrawn their names from consideration.

Cleator, a Republican who is anticipating the support of the city’s pro-developer groups, and O’Connor, a Democrat who won the 1983 mayoral primary before narrowly losing the runoff, are the top contenders to date in the 11-candidate field, which also includes former Councilman Floyd Morrow and seven political unknowns.