Key points in organized labor's political rise in San Diego
1988
District-only elections of San Diego City Council members approved by voters.
1996
Jerry Butkiewicz, a pragmatic centrist, becomes secretary-treasurer of San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council.
First major underfunding of San Diego City Employees Retirement System begins.
1998
Convention Center expansion approved by voters.
Padres ballpark approved by voters.
2000
Project-labor agreement reached for Padres ballpark construction.
2001
Democratic activist Donna Frye elected to City Council.
2002
Closed-door bid by council to impose labor terms on SeaWorld falls apart.
Second major arrangement to underfund the city pension system approved by mayor and council.
Former firefighters' union lobbyist Democrat Michael Zucchet elected to City Council.
Pension deficit approaching $1 billion revealed.
2004
City's financial problems grow, credit ratings lowered.
Republican Mayor Dick Murphy re-elected with some public-employee union support.
2005
“Living wage” ordinance passed by council.
District Attorney's Office files felony charges against former pension board members, including Ron Saathoff, president of the firefighters' union, and John Torres, then-vice president of the Municipal Employees Association.
Murphy resigns as city fiscal crisis deepens.
Councilmen Ralph Inzunza, Michael Zucchet resign after federal corruption convictions.
Ballpark Village project-labor agreement signed.
Republican Jerry Sanders defeats Frye in San Diego mayor's race.
2006
Federal grand jury indicts former pension officials, including firefighters union president Ron Saathoff.
Republican Kevin Faulconer defeats Democrat Lorena Gonzalez for City Council.
City Council votes to put Mayor Jerry Sanders' propositions on November ballot: one would authorize privatization of city jobs, the other would require voter approval of future pension benefit increases.
–Compiled by staff writer Philip J. LaVelle
