Mayoral Media

For many people in this country, politics has become a spectator sport, more so since radio and television have made it so very easy to follow the daily drama, with television coverage of local government on cable television and with the constant chewing on the cud of local affairs by radio talk show hosts.

We are about to embark on an aggressive mayor’s race in the city of San Diego, and already the power of these electronic “personas” is beginning to jockey for political advantage.

The old-guard Establishment pick, Ron Roberts, conveniently became deputy mayor the same year he is running for the seat of mayor, and so far it looks as though Maureen O’Connor’s engagement calendar is going to take her away from council chambers every Monday, allowing Roberts to preside over the council meetings instead. Quite conveniently, that is also the day that cable television televises these meetings, which looks as though Roberts will have free television coverage in an exaggerated position of authority.

Roger Hedgecock is vying to keep his radio audience and run for the seat at the same time. Hedgecock will not only get three hours of free radio time each day to advance his candidacy, he will get paid royally to do it.

One can, perhaps, cut Roberts a little slack, and maybe the pattern that seems to be developing on Mondays in City Council chambers is simply coincidental. But for Hedgecock, like adults throughout the city who have had to make responsible decisions about conflict of interest, if Hedgecock wants to run, he should find other employment while doing it.

ELAINE R. BROOKS, La Jolla