On Monday, the San Diego Union-Tribune blasted mayoral candidate Donna Frye in an editorial pitting her remedy to cure the pension-fund crisis against her opponent Jerry Sander’s. The U-T elaborated at length on Sanders’ plan, using dynamic language like “slashing costs” and “tough measures,” listing ways in which he’ll “rein in the runaway retirement system.” The editorial left you thinking – and the other 600,000 San Diegans that read the U-T each day – wow, this guy has a plan.

At the bottom of the editorial, given you’ve read that far, the U-T details the lack of detail in Frye’s proposal, and disagrees with her plan to bring San Diegans to the polls two more times to vote in special elections: once to grant her exclusive powers to negotiate with labor unions and file bankruptcy without the City Council, and again to approve her plan to temporarily increase sales tax. Effectively dismissing both, the U-T claims the council would never approve a ballot initiative that excludes them from decision making, nor would the public reach a two-thirds majority in favor of a tax hike. At the end of the day, Sanders looks like he’s got a real, viable plan, and Frye, well, she’s got nuttin’.

Should Frye sweat what the U-T has to say? You better believe it. The power of the media lies in its ability to change people’s perceptions and shape public opinion. From the political insider to the little old lady across the street, public perception is everything in this every-vote-counts tug of war.

Is the U-T right? That’s not the point, and if you think it is, you’ve missed the boat entirely. Frye’s going to tap out at 44 percent, period, unless she is able to counter claims that she doesn’t have a plan or that her plan is ineffective. Frye’s campaign can’t just scoff at the U-T’s criticisms. It doesn’t matter if they publish lies, or if “everybody knows” the U-T isn’t held in high esteem. Everybody doesn’t know: people read it, believe it, and they vote accordingly. Frye’s cult-like following, her base, and other people who have followed her career already know why they are voting for Donna. It’s the fence sitters and everyday San Diegans – who vote based on TV advertisements or the quick article they happen to catch – that Frye must reach. Those supporting and surrounding her know she’s the right choice for mayor, but we aren’t the people who need to be convinced.

Frye’s been plugging “The Triple A, Donna Frye’s Comprehensive Financial Plan” that is listed on her Web site, which outlines in 30 easy-to-read steps how Frye will solve what she calls the astonishing financial mess of the city. But the plan is vague and fails to give voters tangible examples they’ll be able to take with them to the polls. If Frye wants to win, she needs an itemized list of cuts that shows voters specifically what costs she will slash and exactly how much the city would save annually if San Diego elected her as mayor and adopted her plan. Just like a household budget (which, by the way, are what voters can relate to), each line item should give us a forecasted savings. The doggone honest truth that the city has no way of knowing how much we are in debt until there is an audit doesn’t excuse Frye from providing specifics as to how she plans to balance a $1.4 billion-plus deficit.

Cuts are unpopular, but so is bankruptcy. Frye’s got to get the job before she can convince voters to go to the polls in a special election to grant her exclusive powers to take the city into bankruptcy. She’s got to prove that she has a detailed plan that can pull the city out of the red.

Donna is coming across like a politician who’s asking San Diegans to grant her the autonomy and power to save San Diego without committing to a plan of attack voters can place their confidence in. Frye, we’re putting our confidence in you. If those around you won’t give you good advice, it’s time to start listening to what other people are saying.