With all the waves here in San Diego, it’s no surprise that many are feeling seasick. Rocking the boat this week, the City Council confirmed that a special election will be held to replace Mayor Dick Murphy, who recently abandoned ship by announcing his resignation April 25.

Still woozy from the previous mayoral race, it’s no surprise that San Diego is Dazed and Confused as to how to navigate out of the latest storm and back to calmer waters.

A special election will take place July 26 with an expected runoff, given no one receives over 50 percent of the vote.

The race has already begun, pitting several viable candidates against one another with more expected to join. This race, however, is different from the one back in November.

With everyone still a bit hung over from the 5,000-proof “write-in Frye” bender, voters will take to the polls in record numbers knowing full well the challenges facing the city.

This Monday alone the city manager laid out his recommendations for budget cuts, putting a few hundred jobs on the line, as well as cuts for childcare programs, community service centers, parks and libraries. Tasting just how dirty the water can be downtown, this is coupled with the city attorney’s investigations of city officials, including the City Council and the mayor. And with Dick Murphy stepping down as a result, San Diego finds itself at a critical juncture – namely, electing a candidate with the know-how to turn this city around.

Destined for fodder at a national level, the corruption trial for Councilmember Ralph Inzunza and Deputy Mayor Michael Zucchet – who are charged with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and extortion for allegedly accepting bribes from strip club owner Michael Galardi – kicked off this week and will only add to the mockery that has motivated the likes of USA Today and Time magazine to coin the phrase “Enron by the Sea” and rank Dick Murphy among the three worst mayors in the nation respectively. Adding to the running joke, yesterday’s front page news pictured Zucchet (soon-to-be interim mayor) en route to trial. That we would consider replacing Murphy – even if temporarily – with someone currently on trial for extortion is extraordinary.

First to announce her candidacy is former write-in candidate Councilmember Donna Frye – seen by many as the favorite given her intensely loyal base and strong institutional support from key Democratic interest groups. But, with no fiscal expertise and no known plan to remedy the $1.4 billion pension-fund debacle, even her die-hard supporters are second-guessing in the name of good common sense.

County Supervisor Ron Roberts, who lost to both Murphy and Frye in 2004, may have “what it takes,” but speculation about his fourth-time’s-a-charm campaign could make him unelectable, ending in yet another embarrassing defeat.

And former San Diego Police Chief Jerry Sanders announced Tuesday that he is now in the running. Squeaky-clean and with a proven track record of success, Sanders may be the candidate to beat. That said, we know little about where he stands on issues, especially those effecting District 3 and the GLBT community. And with speculation around those yet to throw their hats into the ring, including Assemblymember Juan Vargas, a Democrat, and former Port Commissioner Peter Q. Davis, former Port Commissioner Steve Cushman and Assemblymember George Plescia, all Republicans, we may be faced with several plausible candidates.

This is no cakewalk, my friends. San Diego must take a realistic look at what ails this city and select a candidate that not only possesses the integrity and vision, but also the experience and sophistication. Republican and Democratic voters alike need to transcend party lines. This should not be about political affiliation to a particular party, but about being a resident of San Diego. Likewise, the GLBT community may need to prioritize what is best for the city in lieu of politicized issues concerning our community. This is not a race over who supports same-sex marriage or the Boy Scouts lease in Balboa Park –it’s about electing a true leader that will unite this city’s government. It’s time to get real about who is right for the job, not simply supporting our favorite personalities or political underdogs. As a voting bloc that could help take this election, we’ve got some serious thinking to do.