The race for City Attorney just got a little more interesting, with one of the leading contenders dropping out of the running on Dec. 4, the day filing papers were due at the city clerk’s office. Former state Assemblymember Howard Wayne formally withdrew from the race and, in a prepared statement, would only say, “I concluded for personal, professional and political reasons this was not the right race at the right time.”

Wayne’s withdrawal signals a shift in the dynamics of what was once a four-person race for the city attorney’s seat. Still in the running are Deputy City Attorney Deborah Berger, Executive Assistant City Attorney Leslie Devaney and former Assistant US Attorney Mike Aguirre. Many viewed both Wayne and Aguirre as outsiders trying to break into the office, while Berger and Devaney have a combined 30-plus years working for the city attorney’s office.

Among those who had endorsed Wayne was Assemblymember Chris Kehoe, who, in the wake of his withdrawal, has not yet chosen to endorse a new candidate.

“I think Howard and I were drawing on a lot of the same strengths,” Aguirre said about the effect of Wayne’s withdrawal from the race. “A number of prominent attorneys have now endorsed me that were either leaning towards Howard or who had decided to remain neutral. I think that it gives a tremendous boost to my campaign just because so much of what Howard was about is what I aspire to be about as well.”

Howard and Aguirre battled back and forth to pick up endorsements from several large political action groups, with Aguirre garnering the support of the San Diego Labor Council and League of Conservation Voters. Since Wayne’s withdrawal, Aguirre has picked up an endorsement from Senator Martha Escutia, the Chair of the Judiciary Committee in the State Senate. Escutia had originally endorsed Wayne, but has announced that she will support Aguirre now that Wayne is out of the race. Senator Joseph Dunn of Garden Grove, who had remained neutral on the race, is now supporting Aguirre as well.

The San Diego Democratic Club was also undecided on an endorsement, declaring Wayne, Aguirre and Berger all acceptable candidates.

Despite the lack of an endorsement from the San Diego Democratic Club, Aguirre still feels that his support in the GLBT community is strong, “With the support that I have in the gay and lesbian community, which I am extremely proud of, I think that it starts to build a really powerful coalition. We have labor, the environmental community. I think we have the overwhelming support within the gay and lesbian community. I don’t take it for granted, but I’ve worked really hard to get that support and I want that support.”

The city attorney’s office, with a staff of 324 people, is the chief legal adviser to the mayor, city council and city departments, agencies and commissions. If none of the candidates in the three-person race receives a majority of the votes in the March primary, there will be a runoff election in November between the top two candidates. Calls were made to Deborah Berger and Leslie Devaney for their reaction to news that Wayne had withdrawn from the race, but at press time they had not responded.