Everyone makes mistakes. Yes, even politicians. We get that, and so does the average citizen. What gets our goat is when our elected officials attempt to cover up mistakes, circle the wagons or try to sneak around their constituents by using PR stunts.

More fatal, perhaps, is when politicians begin believing their own public relations department. This week, Councilmember Toni Atkins told the Gay & Lesbian Times that she refuses to do an interview with us regarding the city’s pension fund scandal and the recently released Kroll report because I am running for District 3 in 2008. She accused me of using previous editorials, which question her votes to illegally increase pension benefits among other alleged wrongdoings as implicated in the Kroll report, for political gain. “I wasn’t born yesterday,” she said mockingly.

Let me start by saying that several months ago I made the decision not to run for City Council, or any political office for that matter. I’ve had my doubts since mid-May, and after spending the Fourth of July weekend with an elected political friend of mine, it became clear to me that I am not a politician and never will be. I believe in honesty and in always speaking the truth; principles that underpin this paper.

This city’s financial crisis has made national headlines and will impact San Diegans for generations. Whether we want to admit it or not, our elected official and friend Toni Atkins is at the center of this scandal.

Our only agenda, Toni, is to get answers and set the record straight.

During the same conversation in which Atkins refused to speak to the Gay & Lesbian Times about her involvement in the city’s woes, she insisted she hasn’t shied away from questions and has been answering to her constituency.

But speaking to a friendly audience and extreme party loyalists is not answering to constituents. Toni could do just about anything and they’d still drink the Kool-Aid. Atkins should be facing her worst critics and setting the record straight.

If you’ve made mistakes, go to the community and say you did wrong. Tell the community you’ll spend the next two years doing everything in your power to correct any wrongdoing. We’ll cheer! Everyone will eat it up. The community will say: “Finally, a politician willing to own up to her mistakes. And guess what? She’s our politician and we’re proud of her.”

If Atkins is still willing to take advice from a regular person, here goes: Stop listening to everyone around you – they’ve already drunk the Kool-Aid – and start listening to what’s in your heart. This isn’t you. This isn’t the Toni Atkins this paper so proudly named our first-ever person of the year.

And for those of you thinking about running for District 3 after Atkins is termed out, I can tell you that if you don’t weigh in on this pension scandal now, you will not be considered for an endorsement from this paper. If you stand for nothing, you fall for everything. So let’s hear your voices now, not just when it’s politically safe.

This entire catastrophe has only renewed my commitment to this paper and to the community.

And, Toni, since there’s no hidden agenda, no politics, how about answering our questions now?

Readers, why don’t you tell us what you think? Participate in this discussion by writing to the Gay & Lesbian Times. Send letters to editor@uptownpub.com or mail them to P.O. Box 34624, San Diego, CA 92163. All letters must be less than 500 words and include your full name, address and phone number. Only your name will be published. The Gay & Lesbian Times publishes all letters to the editor unedited. Letters received that do not contain subject matter pertaining to the Gay & Lesbian Times will be published at the discretion of the editorial department.

Michael G. Portantino

Publisher