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Councilmen add polish to tarnished image of city: business community encouraged by Faulconer, Hueso.

Article Excerpt
A new year, a new strong mayor, and two new city councilmen in place have many in the business community hoping that the bad old days that have plagued San Diego for so long will soon be a fading memory.

With Jerry Sanders officially in place as the city's first strong mayor, and the City Council finally free of vacancies, the honeymoon appears to be well under way.

On Jan. 23, Kevin Faulconer and Ben Hueso were formally sworn in to finish up the terms of Michael Zucchet, who represented the 2nd District and Ralph Inzunza, the 8th District.

The 2nd District includes Downtown, Point Lorna, the beach communities and Old Town; while the 8th District includes Barrio Logan, Otay Mesa, San Ysidro and the Tijuana River Valley.

Both districts are considered to be emerging economic engines for the entire county, and many business leaders seem to be relieved that leadership voids have now been filled.

A Broader Perspective

"It's been somewhat stagnant for some time," said Doug Wilson, the president and chief executive officer of the Douglas Wilson Cos., and a major Downtown developer who also has South County projects in the pipeline. "To have a full council is a good thing. I think having Kevin's presence is good. I've known him for some time, and I am impressed. He seems to be a very thoughtful, even-handed conscientious individual. That is refreshing, and he seems very focused on representing his district. Downtown is one of the economic engines for that district."

In the 8th District, Cindy Gompper Graves, the CEO of the South County Economic Development Council, said: "The region is growing in South County and Ben has an opportunity to capture this energy and be part of it. We are thrilled to have a voice once again for south San Diego."

She credits Hueso for his business savvy, and said that her group would be working with him "to capture the economic benefits of a third border crossing in Otay Mesa and to address infrastructure needs in San Ysidro."

Wilson said of Hueso: "I've met him, but don't really know him. By reputation, he seems to be well-respected. Barrio Logan abuts Downtown, and is an important part of Downtown. We have to be respectful of its heritage, which is unique."

But while all the districts should be properly represented, he said, they all should keep an eye on the big picture.

"I personally think it's important for all of these districts to understand that they are a...

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