The first candidate to take official steps to mount a challenge in next year’s San Diego City Council election is a Chargers employee who has become known to fans through the team’s online videos.
Jordan Beane, the senior producer of Chargers.com, filed documents with the City Clerk’s office last week announcing his intention to take on Councilwoman Lorie Zapf in District 2, which represents Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and Point Loma. Zapf is expected to run for reelection.
Beane also filed a document to create an organization for receiving campaign donations and created a website for the campaign.
While Beane is familiar to Chargers fans for his videos, blog posts and co-hosting an in-house show with former center Nick Hardwick, he has also been active politically with the Pacific Beach Town Council, Pacific Beach Democratic Club, San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action and San Diego County Young Democrats over the past year.
A graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., Beane describes himself on his Twitter account — @jordanbeane_sd — as “a progressive voice for San Diego’s District 2.”
In a post on his website, jordanbeane.com, he conceded that he’s led what many would consider to be “a charmed life,” being paid to cover sports.
Some news:
The Chargers may be leaving, but I’m staying in SD – and I want to work for you.https://t.co/H1mdHFujlP
— Jordan Beane (@JordanBeane_SD) February 7, 2017
“I’m beyond grateful for those experiences, but after nine seasons, trips to 32 NFL cities and 183 games, I realized I could no longer lie to myself,” Beane wrote. “I needed to do something that made a difference. I needed to do something that mattered.”
He said it was difficult to care about football matters in the face of climate change, homelessness and scarcity of affordable housing in San Diego.
“For too many at City Hall, these issues are priorities in theory, but afterthoughts in action,” Beane wrote.
The City Council’s even-numbered districts are up for election in 2018.
Some progressives said recently they would put up a candidate to face council President Myrtle Cole in District 4 in Southeast San Diego, and Councilman Chris Cate is eligible to run again in District 6, representing Clairemont, Kearny Mesa and Mira Mesa.
Councilman David Alvarez will be termed-out after serving eight years in District 8, in Barrio Logan, Otay Mesa and San Ysidro.
— City News Service