Council President

by Scott Peters
December 2005

Councilman Scott Peters was unanimously elected by the San Diego City Council as the first Council President in the history of the City of San Diego on November 28, 2005. Below is an excerpt of his acceptance speech:
“These are challenging times for our City and for this Council. I’d like to thank you for this honor and your confidence in me.

For the past two years, our City Council has faced unprecedented legal and financial challenges. One friend and colleague died; two more were indicted, tried and resigned; and the Mayor abruptly left. For the past four months, there have been only six of us to make decisions that require five votes. Morale is at an all-time low among our city employees who deliver services to taxpayers every day, and the city’s image has been tarnished in national news and commentary. If crisis brings opportunity, we are certainly in an enviable spot.

And it’s certainly time for a fresh start. We’ve taken two steps in that direction already. Two weeks ago, San Diego elected a new mayor. I met with Mr. Sanders -- he wants to work together with us. Over the past two weeks, our city attorney and I have had our most productive discussions ever; he has made a new commitment to work as part of a team. As a third step, today, I commit to that as well.

Political campaigns are a time for us to debate issues and emphasize our differences. But now that the mayoral campaign is over, and with only weeks to go before the elections in districts 2 and 8, it’s time to leave the politics of campaigning behind. It’s time to work together again to make San Diego a better place to live, work and raise our children. We must look forward not backward, build bridges not burn them, and with hope, think the best of each other, instead of with cynicism, expecting the worst.

This City Council cares about moving ahead, rebuilding confidence and trust, and correcting our city’s financial condition. We will do that hand-in-hand with our new mayor. I cannot promise that as an independent legislature we will always agree with the mayor, the city attorney, or even each other. But we are committed to listening, communicating and finding common ground for solutions.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “I do the very best I know how; the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out alright, what is said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”

A year from now, I want to sit here and read from these same notes and want my evaluation from the taxpayers, my colleagues and all of you to be, “Job well done. You did what you said you would do. You did the very best you knew, the very best you could.” And that’s all I’ll need.

I am deeply grateful for confidence in me and your support today and over the next 12 months. Thank you.”