San Diego

Calling for “a new attitude and a new day” in the San Diego City Council 4th District, the Rev. George Stevens has announced his candidacy for the seat now held by William Jones.

Stevens, a special assistant to Rep. Jim Bates (D-San Diego), said that though Jones has not officially declared his intentions about this fall’s race, the incumbent has “told everyone but the press” that he does not intend to seek reelection. The 4th District includes Southeast San Diego, Paradise Hills, Logan Heights and parts of Golden Hill and Encanto.

The centerpiece of his campaign, Stevens said, will be an anti-crime program that includes strict police enforcement of a 10 p.m. curfew for youths under 18 years of age--with possible fines for parents of frequent violators--and police infiltration of street gangs.

“We’re not going to change anything in the 4th District until we change the attitude among kids that it’s OK to buy drugs and OK to use drugs,” said Stevens, the 55-year-old associate pastor at Calvary Baptist Church. “Until that happens, it’s like putting a brand new suit on a kid who still has on dirty underwear.”