Jerry Sanders (politician)
Gerald Robert "Jerry" Sanders (
July 14,
1950–) is a
Republican politician,
Mayor of San Diego,
California, and former
Chief of Police.
.
Sanders was born 1950 in
San Pedro, California. He lives in the neighborhood of Kensington with his wife Rana Sampson. He has two daughters, Lisa and Jamie.
During his senior year at
San Diego State University, Jerry Sanders became a police officer with the
San Diego Police Department. He served in the Police Department for 26 years,
1973–
1999, ultimately serving as Chief of Police from
1993 until
1999. During his tenure, he and the department's employees gained national recognition for their pioneering work with community policing and, with active assistance from the community, achieved a more than 40% decrease in crime during the six-year period he led the department. He also re-organized the department, making it more responsive to the community, reaching out to neighborhoods, and utilizing more than 1,000 volunteers to address San Diego's public safety needs.
Sanders left the Police Department to become president and CEO of the
United Way of San Diego County (
April 1999). During his tenure, the local United Way dramatically increased fundraising and decreased overhead costs. In addition, he served as the United Way Community Campaign Chair in 2002.
Sanders was appointed to the board of the
American Red Cross San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapters (July 2002) after the local CEO was fired by the national headquarters in the aftermath of controversy concerning the Alpine Fire. He helped recruit Navy Rear Admiral Ronne Froman to be CEO, and oversaw the turnaround of the local chapter, which resulted in support for victims of the
Cedar Fire, praise from former critics for the transparency of fundraising efforts, and a staff re-organization that substantially reduced overhead costs.
Sanders had also been active in the private sector, serving as founding partner and consultant for local high-tech start-ups involved with homeland security and infrastructure assessment. He is currently board chair of the San Diego Police Foundation, established to raise private funds for SDPD equipment and programs. He serves on the board of STAR/PAL, the San Diego Chapter of the
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, San Diego State University's Dean's Advisory Board, and Coronado First Bank (in organization). Sanders has served on the Wells Fargo Community Bank Board, the Mediation Center's Board, the National Conference for Community and Justice Board, VERA Institute's Advisory Board on Foster Children, and the Children's Initiative. Sanders has been nominated to the National Red Cross Board of Governors.
Jerry Sanders was elected mayor in a special run-off election held
2005-11-08, receiving 54% of the vote against city council member
Donna Frye. Sanders is the first mayor under the new "strong mayoral" form of city government. He appointed Ronne Froman as Chief of Staff. To help the city get back on its feet financially, Sanders has proposed two measures to be submitted to the voters: contracting out of city services, similar to programs for
San Diego County and
Phoenix, and requiring a vote of the people before raising city pension benefits again. Sanders is opposed to reducing pension benefits.
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City of San Diego Mayor's Website*
Interview with Jerry Sanders
