The San Diego Democratic Club (SDDC) voted last Thursday to endorse 2008 Democratic hopeful Stephen Whitburn for the District 3 City Council seat. Whitburn received 69 percent of the vote – nine percent more than he needed to earn the club’s endorsement.

“I am so proud to have the endorsement of the San Diego Democratic Club,” Whitburn said as he accepted the endorsement. “I am really looking forward to the year ahead and appreciate everyone who took part in endorsing me.”

The former SDDC president is one of six candidates in the race to fill the seat being vacated by current Councilmember Toni Atkins in 2008.

Todd Gloria and former District 3 Councilmember John Hartley also vied for the endorsement. Rocky Neptun, a member of the Green Party and chair of the San Diego Renters Union, was also present.

SDDC president Andrea Villa said that while Democrats are only eligible to receive the club’s endorsement, she was pleased to have Neptun present at the debate.

“[Neptun’s presence] showed a willingness to participate, which I really value,” Villa said, noting she was “pleased to have as full of a perspective as [the SDDC] could get on the panel.”

Absent from the debate were Republican candidates Robert E. Lee and James Hartline.

Prior to making the endorsement, the candidates answered questions from the audience, who packed the room beyond capacity. Questions ranged from concerns about affordable housing and smart growth to the candidates’ opinions about City Hall and the budget.

There was also a discussion about whether the club should endorse a candidate nearly one year before the primary election, which will take place in June of next year.

Councilmember Donna Frye, who was present, spoke not only in favor of making early endorsements but also in favor of Whitburn.

“I have great respect for all the candidates and for those who are supporting the candidates, but my candidate is Stephen Whitburn,” Frye said. “I’ve been around a lot of elected officials, and, for me, it’s not just the words, but it’s the deeds, and the deeds tell a lot – especially what people do when people are not watching. I believe Whitburn is a man of integrity [and] a man of honor, and I think he will do the best job.”

Frye said early endorsements allow a candidate to work on getting their voters to the polls.

“Everything else is necessary and important, but when you can put the endorsement process behind you and spend time talking to voters … it makes a huge difference,” Frye said, noting that Mayor Jerry Sanders has already been endorsed by the Republican Party in his campaign for re-election.

But not everyone present supported making the endorsement.

“The Republicans have endorsed Mayor Sanders because he is an incumbent,” said longtime club member Phillip Diamond in response to Frye. “We don’t have the ability of knowing an incumbent, and I don’t think we should be endorsing this early. A later endorsement is more thoughtful, more measured and more judicious.”

The membership passed a motion to endorse, with 117 members voting in favor and 47 opposing.

Other groups, including GLBT Vote 2008, San Diego Democrats for Disability Rights, the San Diego chapter of Democracy for America, and San Diego for Democracy, have also made endorsements.

Of the 255 ballots that were cast, Whitburn received 175 votes to Gloria’s 65 and Hartley’s four. Ten members abstained, and one vote was thrown out.