FOR

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 22, 2013

Contact: Rachel Laing (619) 929-7946

SAN DIEGOS PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS BACK NATHAN FLETCHER FOR MAYOR
A broad coalition of public safety employees announced their support of Nathan Fletcher for mayor on Tuesday, including the San Diego City Firefighters, Lifeguards, Police Officers Association, Deputy City Attorneys, San Diego County Probation Officers, Peace Officers Research Association and San Diego School Police Officers Association. Together, we represent the men and women who work day in and day out to keep San Diegans safe, and we are proud to come together in support of Nathan Fletcher as our next mayor, said Frank DeClercq, president of the San Diego Fire Fighters, Local 145. Nathan fought for our country, and he not only knows what its like to put your life on the line so that others may be safe, but he has also shown us that he will make safety a priority for all our communities as he leads our city forward. Fletcher, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and East Africa, said he was honored to have the trust of those who risk their lives to protect the public. The city must honor that dedication by helping ensure theyre able to carry out their duties, he added. The status quo has failed to prioritize public safety, and as a result, our citizens have less protection, Fletcher said. Over the past seven years, our population has grown but our police force has shrunk. The city has done nothing to address a lack of coverage in our Southeastern neighborhoods, and were failing to meet the national standards for response times to emergency calls tens of thousands of times per year. We have to do better, and when Im mayor, keeping our neighborhoods safe will be a top priority. Since launching his campaign last month, Fletcher has earned the endorsement of a number of local, state and federal elected leaders, including Gov. Jerry Brown, Congressmembers Juan Vargas and Scott Peters, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, Assembly Speaker John Perez and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, State Sens. Marty Block and Ben Hueso, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, Chula Vista Councilmember Mary Salas, Escondido Deputy Mayor Olga Diaz, Southwestern College Governing Board President Humberto Peraza, Sweetwater Authority Chair Jose Preciado, and former San Diego County Democratic Party Chair Jess Durfee, as well as 16 state Legislators with whom Fletcher served during his time in the Assembly.

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Also backing Fletcher are the Municipal Employees Association; Biocom; the California Small Business Association; Union Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 230; the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters; Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 89; UNITE HERE Local 30; United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Providers; the National Electrical Contractors Association; a coalition of interfaith clergy representing San Diegos underserved neighborhoods; the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors and military veterans representing the United Veterans Council and American Combat Veterans of War.
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