Foes Use ‘Abbe-isms’ to Hold Councilwoman to Her Words

In politics, a single verbal gaffe can sometimes capsulize an entire campaign, creating a prism through which a candidate’s image and all other issues pass.

For President Gerald Ford, saying that Poland was not under Communist domination during a televised 1976 debate was such a statement. And, for San Diego City Councilwoman Abbe Wolfsheimer, remarks during a recent forum suggesting that wealthy politicians are brighter and less corruptible than poorer ones could prove to be as memorable and damaging.

Since Wolfsheimer made the comment at a forum in Rancho Penasquitos last week, her two opponents--former county supervisorial aide Bob Trettin and University City activist Harry Mathis--have kept the controversy alive, recognizing its value to their campaigns. The political fallout also appears to have lessened the already slim chance that any of the three candidates will secure the 50%-plus victory needed in the Sept. 19 primary to avoid a November runoff.

Remark Provides ‘Symmetry’ to Race

Though Wolfsheimer insists that her comments have been taken out of context, having so much attention focused on, as Mathis consultant David Lewis put it, “what Abbe said and what she says she meant to say” has provided a kind of political symmetry to the race. Because, to a large extent, that same question epitomizes Wolfsheimer’s first four-year term in the 1st District, which stretches along the coast from La Jolla to North City West, extending inland to Rancho Bernardo and the San Pasqual Valley.

Praised by supporters as a fiercely independent, uncompromising devotee to principle, Wolfsheimer has gained a reputation that, paradoxically, is similar to that of the two-term incumbent whom she unseated in 1985, Bill Mitchell. Just as Mitchell blended offbeat ideas and often unintentionally humorous comments into a self-styled brand of political populism, so, too, has Wolfsheimer sought to portray herself as an outspoken advocate of causes ranging from environmentalism to fiscal conservatism.

In the process, her often abrasive, sometimes meandering council speeches have alternately drawn admiration, anger or, occasionally, confusion. And, much as “Mitchellisms” once provided the fodder for jokes passed from office to office at City Hall, “Abbe-isms” now are treated with the same giddy anticipation.

“My constituents like my independence,” said Wolfsheimer, a 50-year-old former law professor. “Yes, I question things and ask for a lot of answers about many of these programs. But most people don’t find fault with that, or see that as being obstructive. They like it, because it’s the only way to make sure their tax dollars aren’t wasted.”

Refreshing Candor or Impolitic Behavior

Wolfsheimer’s critics, however, offer a different perspective. To them, the same acts that her backers point to as examples of refreshing candor, attention to detail or zealous advocacy frequently come across as impolitic behavior and a refusal to recognize that compromise is an integral part of politics and government.

“She seems to take great pride in being a dissenting voice on the council,” said Mathis, a retired Navy captain who, like Trettin, is in his first election. “She pictures herself as the conscience of the council. . . . If I was on the losing end of as many 8-1 votes as she’s been, I’d ask myself, ‘How did I screw up and not convince anyone else I’m right?’ But she wears those 8-1 votes as a badge of honor.”

Wolfsheimer’s comment about the relative integrity of wealthy and less affluent politicians, however, is one that she hopes fades from public discussion before election day.

At the Rancho Penasquitos forum, all three candidates were asked about the major sources of their campaign contributions. In response, Wolfsheimer, who has spent more than $300,000 of her own money during her past two campaigns, likened herself to other wealthy politicians such as John F. Kennedy and Nelson Rockefeller, adding: “It’s my experience that government officials who have personal wealth know better how to manage government funds. . . . And they are least likely to feed at the public trough, and they are least likely to be bought by special interests.”

Mathis quickly pounced on the remark, objecting to the implication that “you have to be rich to be honest.” In a similar vein, Trettin later added: “I never realized that honesty and intelligence depended on the size of your bank account.”

Clarification Issued

Amid continuing news media coverage of the controversy, Wolfsheimer’s campaign issued a clarification that stated in part: “I did not say, nor did I mean to imply, that the wealthy are less corrupt or more honest than the less affluent. We all know that corruption and dishonesty do not discriminate. . . . My point was only to underscore the fact that I am not beholden.”

That effort at political damage control, however, has not dispelled the issue, which Trettin describes as an “outrageous . . . example of how, so often, Abbe’s just out there by herself.”

Indeed, perhaps to a greater extent than any other council member in the past decade, Wolfsheimer has frequently been a one-vote minority on high-visibility issues.

Last year, she cast the sole dissenting vote against the council’s proposed revision of the city’s growth-management plan, preferring a stricter, competing citizens’ ballot initiative. In the end, voters rejected both measures. She was the sole dissenter on council pay raises, a 1986 Belmont Park development agreement, a plan to rename Market Street after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (she favored renaming California 94 instead) and many sales of city-owned land. On dozens of other lesser issues as well, Wolfsheimer’s has been the only red light, signifying a “no” vote, on the council chamber’s vote board.

Many on Council Alienated

Argumentative and sometimes patronizing, Wolfsheimer has, through words and deeds, alienated much of the council and others within City Hall. She sued the council and city clerk, forcing a change in sample-ballot language; called for the resignation of two top city officials--a violation of the City Charter, according to City Atty. John Witt, whom she later considered running against--referred to one councilman as a “smart-ass” and lambasted another for his “intolerable . . . lies.”

Displaying a similar style in her dealings with constituents, Wolfsheimer once said she would be happy if reapportionment rid her of two 1st District communities that “I just don’t have the ties to,” and often refers to neighborhoods or pet projects as “my children.”

Whether Wolfsheimer’s performance is seen as indicative of principled independence or ineffective, obstinate nit-picking depends largely on the perspective of the analyst.

“My major complaint with Abbe is her continued inability to build coalitions at City Hall,” said Jim Abbott, president of the Rancho Bernardo Community Council. “Ultimately, you have to judge any councilman on his ability to get four other votes, and that’s where she hasn’t been able to deliver.”

Defended by Environmentalists

But Wolfsheimer’s defenders, led by environmental activists who regard her as one of their closest allies on the council, argue that she has secured her district’s fair share of city dollars and programs. Moreover, they contend that Wolfsheimer’s critics have unfairly attempted to obscure the content of Wolfsheimer’s record--highlighted, they say, by successes in reining in growth in her rapidly developing district--by questioning her style.

“In terms of accessibility and tangible, physical results, she’s been very productive for this community,” said John Dean, chairman of the North City West Community Planning Board.

“Abbe has really been out front on growth management, even though that sometimes means being a lone voice,” said Ron Ottinger of the Sierra Club. “The fact that developers have made her their prime target is proof of how effective she’s been.”

Builders and development-related industries are contributing heavily to the campaigns of Trettin and Mathis, whom Wolfsheimer caustically dismisses as “the bulldozer boys.” About half of the $84,243 Trettin had raised as of Aug. 5 came from development firms, and Mathis, who had collected $62,173 by that date, also has received sizable development donations.

Loans From Developers

Trettin, however, is quick to point out that Wolfsheimer herself collected $69,000 from developers to help retire a debt from her 1985 campaign, a race in which $229,000 of the $313,000 that she spent came from her own pocket. Wolfsheimer, whose late father was a multimillionaire furniture manufacturer, is again largely underwriting her campaign this year, having loaned herself $95,000 to date--enabling her to outspend her two opponents, both of whom have received more contributions.

Elected on a “humane growth” campaign slogan, Wolfsheimer describes her major accomplishment as “reducing the pains we’ve suffered through rapid growth” by pressing for the more parks, recreational facilities, schools and streets to keep pace with development.

As examples, she points to the council’s approval of new libraries and parks in her district, upgrading of sewage treatment, plans for Route 56--which will be the major east-west highway in the North City, and community plan updates designed to preserve single-family neighborhoods. Her opponents, however, argue that many of Wolfsheimer’s “successes” originated with someone else or, in some cases, were at first opposed by her.

Of the two challengers, Trettin entered the campaign better known by virtue of his seven years on former Councilman Mitchell’s staff and subsequent three years as an aide to county Supervisor Susan Golding, whose jurisdiction encompasses the 1st District.

Impressive Endorsements

Capitalizing on that background, Trettin has drawn an impressive list of endorsements from community leaders and groups such as the San Diego Police Officers Assn. and the San Diego Board of Realtors. His resume also permits Trettin, a 34-year-old Rancho Penasquitos resident, to speak of his “decade of first-hand experience” with critical 1st District issues.

“On issue after issue, I had more success in working with city and community leaders as an aide than Abbe has had as a council member,” Trettin said.

Noting that Wolfsheimer was outpolled by Mitchell in the 1st District in both the primary and general election four years ago, Trettin argues that this year’s shift to district-only races “significantly enhances” his chances. Having spent the past seven months campaigning door to door and assembling a large volunteer organization, Trettin said: “Abbe’s money can’t buy the election this time. What she can do with her checkbook I can do by walking.”

Former Submarine Skipper

Mathis, a former Navy submarine skipper, has been less strident than Trettin in his criticism of Wolfsheimer--who, ironically, he endorsed in 1985 and who later appointed him to a mayoral task force on growth. However, using a naval analogy, he, too, makes his disdain for her record clear.

“She’s like the captain of a ship, so she gets credit for the good things that happen, even if she didn’t have much to do with them,” said Mathis, 56. “But she also has to take the hits for the things that go wrong or don’t happen, and there have been plenty of those.”

Seeking to carve out a niche between Wolfsheimer and Trettin, Mathis has tried to position himself as a solid, if decidedly unflashy, team player whose easygoing manner and years of wide-ranging community activism would enable him to “bring people together in a much more constructive way.”

“The councilman should be the one who pulls people and groups together,” Mathis said. “Unfortunately, for the past four years, they’ve been pulled apart.”