Daily Business Report-Sept. 6, 2013

Election Rules Point to

February Mayoral Vote

San Diegans will likely wait until early February to pick their mayor. An initial election has been set for Nov. 19 but at least 20 candidates have filed paperwork to run for mayor. It’s unclear whether all those contenders will make the ballot but as more join the race, the chances of an outright win by any one candidate decrease, Voice of San Diego reports.

If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, the city must hold a runoff election between the top two vote-getters, and that’s unlikely to occur until Feb. 11 due to election processes and laws.

There are plenty of variables that could shift that date, including yet-to-be-finalized plans for the county Registrar of Voters to move to a new office in the midst of the election process.

The runoff clock would start ticking after the Nov. 19 special election. After the initial race, the county Registrar of Voters has up to 28 days to certify election results. That would bring us to Dec. 17, a week before Christmas.

After the registrar finishes certifying the vote, the City Council must approve the results and schedule a second election.

The date it chooses will likely need to reflect state and federal laws that require municipalities to mail ballots to members of the military serving overseas at least 45 days before an election.

Given that requirement, city voters appear poised to head to the polls on Feb. 11.

But City Clerk Liz Maland and county Registrar of Voters Michael Vu were hesitant to confirm that date.

“There are just so many unknowns at this point,” Maland said. “We don’t even know if there’s going to be a runoff.”

Indeed, there’s a laundry list of potential variables.

The City Council could decide on a different date.

The Registrar of Voters, which has agreed to conduct the election, may need more or less time to certify votes or prepare runoff ballots.

Staffers may also be in the midst of moving to the revamped County Operations Center during the election process, though Vu said his office may consider postponing the move if it might negatively impact election work.

“All the different pieces need to come together before there’s any conversation about a move,” Vu said.

— Lisa Halverstadt, Voice of San Diego

 

Qualcomm Unveils Low-Power Wi-Fi Platform

For Major Home Appliances and Consumer Electronics

Qualcomm Atheros Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm, has launched a new chip family as part of its group of low-power Wi-Fi platforms designed to connect to such things as major home appliances like washing machines, air conditioners, hot water heaters, plus consumer electronics and sensors and smart plugs for home lighting, security and automation systems. The company said customers will be able to add Wi-Fi to virtually any product with minimum development effort or cost.

The platforms feature an on-chip processor and memory, which are designed to eliminate the need for a system controller that adds to product cost, complexity and power consumption, the company said in a release. It said ustomers can write their own applications on the Qualcomm Atheros platform instead of simply using it for Wi-Fi connectivity.

Qualcomm Atheros will demonstrate two connected appliances based on the platform during IFA 2013 in Berlin Sept. 6-12 — a washer/dryer combo.

Miramar College to Get New Fire Science/EMT Training Facility

Groundbreaking ceremonies will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 11 for the $16.5 million Fire Science/EMT Training Facility at San Diego Miramar College. The 22,900-square-foot building will serve as the new classroom and active training center for the Fire Science and Emergency Medical Technician program. It will have lab support space, equipment staging areas, classrooms and administrative office space. An outdoor training area will include a drill tower.

Cassidy Turley Awarded Property Management Responsibilities

Cassidy Turley has been awarded property management responsibilities for three portfolios totaling 2 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space in metro San Diego. In July, it was awarded the Hazard portfolio, which totals 530,000 square feet of industrial, office and retail space throughout San Diego County. That was followed in early August with the Josepho portfolio, owned by Roy and Bobbi Josepho, which totals 650,000 square feet of retail, office and industrial space. Most recently, MIG Real Estate, an investment firm based in Newport Beach, signed Cassidy Turley to manage a seven-building office portfolio totaling 650,000 square feet.

Tatiana Berger Named Associate Professor

At the NewSchool of Architecture and Design

Tatiana Berger has been named associate professor of architecture at the NewSchool of Architecture and Design. Berger has more than 20 years of international experience in both professional practice and education. Berger’s work includes designs for multiuse, megaform structures over the Moscow railways; a study for sustainable housing outside Beijing, China; and the reconstruction of the historic Chiado district in Lisbon, Portugal. She was hired by ILF Consulting Engineers as a project manager on the 2014 Winter Olympics project. Berger studied under architectural historian, writer and critic Kenneth Frampton, and she has been a guest critic at Harvard University, ETH Zurich, Moscow School of Architecture, and the School of Architecture in Porto, Portugal

Councilman David Alvarez Joins Race for Mayor

A third well-known candidate entered the special election for mayor of San Diego Thursday when Councilman David Alvarez announced he was running. In a tweet, Alvarez said, “I’m in. Filed my intent to run.” In his social media post, Alvarez, a Democrat who represents District 8, said San Diego needs a mayor who cares about the future of working families and neighborhoods. Alvarez joins former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, also a Democrat, and Republican Councilman Kevin Faulconer as the major contenders for the city’s top seat. Former City Attorney Mike Aguirre also announced his intention to run. There are now at least 20 people vying for the job of mayor. Candidates have until Sept. 20 to file their paperwork for the election. Voters will go to the polls on Nov. 19.