On Sunday Carrie Downey made it official. She’s running to succeed Casey Tanaka as Mayor of Coronado. If elected, Downey will be the third woman to hold the office. Mary Herron and Virginia Bridge preceded her.
Downey made the announcement among more than 50 friends. The guest list was a virtual who’s who of Coronado’s political establishment including Doug St. Denis, Bobby Kennedy, and school board members Lou Smith and Dawn Ovrom. Former Councilman Al Ovrom and his wife Susie hosted the event.
Smith called Downey, “the right fit for the city.” He added, “I love Richard to death. He’s a smart guy, but Carrie understands this community.” Councilman Richard Bailey is Downey’s opponent.
Downey also has the enthusiastic support of the current mayor, Casey Tanaka, and two former mayors, Herron and Tom Smisek. All three were on hand for Downey’s announcement.
For Tanaka, endorsing Downey was a no brainer. “Carrie is the most deserving, most experienced, most ready,” he said.
A long time community activist and council member, Downey has wanted to be mayor for some time. She articulated her reasons in an e-mail to eCoronado.com following her announcement:
During my time on Council I have been extremely successful in identifying and moving my colleagues to adopt changes that benefit our residents, such as moving the council start time an hour later in 2014, getting the needed portable south beach restroom, and making the agenda electronically available back in 2005. I am the only candidate running with a proven track record of consensus building to make changes requested or needed by our residents that are legally possible, which is why all previous Coronado Mayors support my campaign. Our next Mayor needs to understand not only what our residents want but be able to create solutions that can actually be implemented. I understand our community’s past efforts to mitigate traffic, the division among residents on the sometimes opposing desires about traffic and what we can actually accomplish. For over 20 years I have been a part of our community’s history with the Navy, our fantastic schools and our wonderful community Non-Profits that improve life here. I have the experience and skills to lead Coronado.
Carrie Downey
“I am running because I enjoy working with our residents to project our community’s way of life. I have worked hard to provide residents access to all information they need to participate in city decision-making, ”she said.
Indeed Downey championed putting city council agenda packets online so residents could know in advance what was going to be discussed. She also prevailed on the council to change the council meetings start time from 3pm to 4pm so more people could participate.
She also pointed out that she brings to the table not only her legal training, but also a “proven track record of consensus building.”
Two issues that she believes will dominate the race – Caltrans relinquishment of Third and Fourth Streets and the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) – both issue are complicated.
Taking control of Third and Fourth Streets from Caltrans would give the city the power to implement traffic calming measures, such as hawk lights and speed tables, that Caltrans has refused to allow the city to install. At the same time the city would become liable for any and all accidents,” Downey pointed out.
The ALUCP will have important implications for land use in Coronado. Once the plan is completed the city council will have to respond. Again there are financial risks in what steps the city decides to take.
Both issues require someone who can “lead our residents and help them understand the legal and financial risks,” she said.
A mother of three daughters, Downey holds degrees in business administration and law. She served on the city council from 2004 to 2012. After being termed out, she represented the city on the Coronado Hospital Board.
She had not expected to announce her candidacy this early. Keeping to tradition she had planned to announce after Labor Day, but moved her announcement up because of a rumor that had taken hold in social media that she was not running because of her health.
Downey has lived for 22 years with relapsing, remitting multiple sclerosis.
The illness cut short her Navy career, but it has not stopped her from city council and SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments) duties, maintaining a law practice, or teaching a class at the University of San Diego Law School. She also serves on the board of directors and volunteers for a host of service organizations, including Coronado Woman’s Club, the Lions Club and the Coronado Promenade Concerts, the group that puts on the concerts in Spreckels Park every summer.
Downey’s Naval career ended when, after five years of active duty as a JAG officer with MS, she was forced to take a medical retirement because she could not pass the Navy’s Physical Readiness Test in the required time.
To stop the recent rumors, Downey decided to make a formal announcement. Councilman Richard Bailey announced his candidacy in November and has already been raising funds. By the end of December he had already raised $12,600, according to his filing report.
Downey plans to do a bit of fundraising herself. She asked people not only to contribute money, but also to volunteer their time, but that is as much campaigning as she has planned.
In the fall she plans run a traditional race of meet and greets, coffees and candidate forums. She also asked people to write letters to the Coronado Eagle and to eCoronado.com on her behalf.
