Local Elections : Field in 4th District Urged to Abandon ‘Marshall-Bashing’

The Rev. George Stevens, bolstered by endorsements from nearly 50 politically potent ministers, called for an end Thursday to the “Marla Marshall-bashing” that has dominated the San Diego City Council 4th District race. But the plea almost immediately went unheeded by some major Southeast San Diego leaders.

Flanked by about a dozen of the pastors and ministers supporting him, Stevens, a candidate in the race, told a news conference at Calvary Baptist Church in Logan Heights that after weeks of sharp criticism of Marshall’s candidacy by community leaders, he believes “it’s time to move on” to more substantive issues such as crime, economic development and growth management.

“I hope that shift will take place today, and I will do everything I can to make that happen,” said Stevens, Calvary’s associate pastor and an aide to Rep. Jim Bates (D-San Diego). “I’ve not made any candidate an issue, . . . and I hope others won’t, either.”

‘Carpetbagger Issue’

Stevens conceded that the persistent and often vitriolic attacks on Marshall--in particular, the “carpetbagger” charges prompted by her move into the district earlier this year--have set the campaign’s tone to date.

He added, however, “I have reason to believe that’s over. I think this race has moved beyond that.”

But several prominent black community activists declined to endorse Stevens’ vision of the campaign during the final 3 1/2 weeks before the Sept. 15 primary.

The Rev. George Walker Smith--president of the Catfish Club, one of the black community’s leading forums--said, “I’m certainly not going to let up. If anything, it’s going to get more intense for Marshall. It’s not for George to tell me or (Rev.) Ellis Casson or anyone else what to do. Marla Marshall is the issue-- the issue.”

Psychologist Carrol Waymon, another well-known political activist, said, “I’m sure we’ve not seen the last of it. This has been the underlying emotional issue in the race so far, and I think it’s going to remain that way.”

Those comments appear to confirm the skepticism that Marshall’s campaign consultant, Rick Taylor, expressed when told about Stevens’ remarks.

But Can Attacks Be Controlled? “It’s one thing for him to say that, but can he control it?” Taylor asked. “I don’t think he can.”

Taylor also questioned whether Stevens’ motives in seeking to quell the controversy swirling around Marshall’s candidacy were entirely altruistic.

“I think at one time, George and his people may have quietly been part of stirring this up,” Taylor said. “But I think they began to realize that, every time there’s a new attack, Marla gets her name and picture in the paper. That’s counterproductive for them. That might be the real reason he’d like to see it stop.”

While Stevens himself, in both his public and private remarks, has studiously avoided criticizing Marshall, he conceded that some of his supporters have been part of the anti-Marshall chorus in the eight-candidate race for the seat being vacated by Councilman William Jones, who plans to resign this fall to attend the Harvard Business School.

When a criticism of Marshall by one of his campaign aides appeared in a recent news story, Stevens noted, he personally apologized to Marshall and chastised the staffer.

“That won’t happen again,” Stevens said. “There are too many important issues to discuss that deal with this district’s future to spend time on that.”

The 4th District includes Southeast San Diego, Paradise Hills, Logan Heights, Emerald Hills, Skyline, and parts of Golden Hill and Encanto.

Wounds of Attack Remain

Smith lauded Stevens’ pledge as “a very appropriate attitude for a candidate.” However, still bristling over Marshall’s characterization of him as a “self-appointed leader” in the wake of his repeated efforts to derail her candidacy, Smith emphasized that he plans to continue his free-swinging rhetoric.

“When anyone attacks me, whether it’s a pit bull or Marla Marshall, I’ll strike back,” said Smith, the former president of the San Diego city school board. “You better believe she’s going to be hearing more from me.”

Waymon added: “There will be more criticism, but I hope it is confined to issues, not personalities. Marla Marshall has the right to run in this race without having her personhood attacked. But carpetbagging is a legitimate issue to discuss. Unfortunately, it’s so emotionally packed that people sometimes lose sight of it and get into personal attacks.”

Meanwhile, the ministers who reaffirmed their support for Stevens on Thursday praised him as someone who, in the words of Bishop George McKinney, “has proved himself on the battlefield for justice and righteousness” during more than 25 years of community service.

Ministers Hold Clout

Traditionally, the ministers have exercised considerable political clout among their congregations and others in the black community--”when they choose to exercise it,” Waymon noted.

“And I think this is going to be one of those times,” Waymon added.

McKinney, pastor of St. Stephens Church of God in Christ, acknowledges that are some legal “limitations on what we can do from the pulpit.” However, he said, the ministers plan to “use our influence as private citizens . . . to encourage (voters) to support our candidate.”

Said Waymon, “They can’t stand up in church and say, ‘Vote for this candidate.’ They can, however, say something like, ‘The candidates who best represent your interests are the ones who have been in this community for years.’ It’s a little more subtle, but the message gets through.”