Burdick suspends city attorney bid, backs Peters

February 21, 2008 10:25 AM

SAN DIEGO - Attorney Lee Burdick announced Thursday she has suspended her bid for San Diego city attorney and endorsed City Council President Scott Peters' campaign.  "I think Scott is the most well-qualified candidate for city attorney," Burdick said, adding that Peters would bring a "reasonable demeanor and comportment" to the office.

She defended Peters' past votes on pension benefit deals that contributed to San Diego's $1 billion retirement fund deficit.

 

"I think we need to lay that issue to rest," Burdick said, placing blame instead on former City Attorney Casey Gwinn.

 

"In 1996 and 2002, the City Council and the mayor were told by legal counsel and experts that the (use of) pension benefits were necessary in order to retain competent city personnel and to preserve the city's revenue flow to spend the money on other immediate needs," Burdick said.

 

"They were also told that the continued underfunding of the pension system was completely legal," she said.

 

Peters joined Burdick outside City Hall to make the announcement.

 

He touted the City Council's progress in reforming San Diego's pension system, but acknowledged mistakes.

 

"I think we did make mistakes," Peters said. "We did so thinking we were doing good for the city."

 

Joining Peters in an effort to unseat City Attorney Michael Aguirre are Superior Court Judge Jan Goldsmith, Councilman Brian Maienschein, attorney Dan Coffey and former Aguirre staffer Amy Lepine.

 

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080221-1343-cityatty.html