Susan Golding
Encyclopedia
Susan G. Golding is an American
Republican politician
from California
, best known as the former two-term mayor of San Diego. She is currently president and CEO of the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation in San Diego. and formerly president and CEO of the Golding Group, a strategy consulting firm and a Senior Fellow of Public Policy at the University of California at Los Angeles. She also serves on the boards and advisory committees of several organizations, including the Pacific Council on International Relations and the International Republican Institute
.
Golding was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma
, but grew up in Lafayette
and Indianapolis, Indiana
. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Government and International Relations from Carleton College
, and a Master's degree from Columbia University
. Golding married Stanley D. Prowse, an attorney.
They moved to Atlanta, where she was a college instructor at Emory University
.
In 1974 they moved to California and she was Associate Publisher of NewsPress, a community newspaper.
After they divorced, Golding raised her two children, Samuel and Vanessa, as a single mother under her maiden name.
In 1984 Golding married Dick Silbermann, a financier and prominent Democrat. They divorced in 1991 after Silbermann was convicted of money laundering
.
, serving 1985-1992.
In 1992, Golding was elected mayor of San Diego. She campaigned as a progressive Republican, as a supporter of gay rights, affirmative action, environmental protection, and pro-choice views. Her first campaign was a bitter one against political science professor Peter Navarro
, whom she narrowly defeated. She became the first Jewish mayor of San Diego.
Her major accomplishment as mayor was to streamline city government for businesses, including setting up a "one-stop" shop for permits. She helped set aside 52,000 acres (211 km²) in the city as part of a comprehensive Multiple Species Conservation Plan. She also increased police funding and patrols, created neighborhood service centers, and helped create the city's first winter shelter for the homeless. During her administration, she was instrumental in San Diego hosting the 1996 Republican National Convention
at the San Diego Convention Center
. This helped soothe the pain of losing the 1972 Republican National Convention
, which was originally scheduled for San Diego but moved under a scandal.
Golding and the city council faced a problem getting funding for the convention, however. They felt it was too politically risky to raise taxes or cut services. They were accused of paying less into the city's pension fund instead.
At one time Golding was considered as a candidate for U.S. Senate
or Governor of California
. She made a run for Barbara Boxer
's Senate seat in 1998, but had to drop out due to lagging polling numbers and fundraising difficulties.
in town and attract a second Super Bowl
to the city. In it, the city agreed to expand the stadium, which was later renamed Qualcomm Stadium
, and add 35 new luxury boxes. In exchange, the Chargers promised to stay in San Diego through 2020.
However, the deal also contained an agreement by the city to buy any tickets the Chargers didn't sell starting in the 1997 season—thus preventing Chargers home games from being blacked out in San Diego. Opponents of the deal got 50,000 signatures for a referendum on this portion of the deal, but it was thrown out by a superior court judge.
In part due to the controversy over the so-called "ticket guarantee," Golding didn't run for reelection in 2000.
Golding lives in San Diego and is currently CEO of The Golding Group, a lobbying and marketing company, and is Senior Fellow of the UCLA School of Public Affairs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, best known as the former two-term mayor of San Diego. She is currently president and CEO of the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation in San Diego. and formerly president and CEO of the Golding Group, a strategy consulting firm and a Senior Fellow of Public Policy at the University of California at Los Angeles. She also serves on the boards and advisory committees of several organizations, including the Pacific Council on International Relations and the International Republican Institute
International Republican Institute
Founded in 1983, the International Republican Institute is an organization, funded by the United States government, that conducts international political programs, sometimes labeled 'democratization programs'....
.
Golding was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, but grew up in Lafayette
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
and Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Government and International Relations from Carleton College
Carleton College
Carleton College is an independent non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. The college enrolls 1,958 undergraduate students, and employs 198 full-time faculty members. In 2012 U.S...
, and a Master's degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. Golding married Stanley D. Prowse, an attorney.
They moved to Atlanta, where she was a college instructor at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
.
In 1974 they moved to California and she was Associate Publisher of NewsPress, a community newspaper.
After they divorced, Golding raised her two children, Samuel and Vanessa, as a single mother under her maiden name.
In 1984 Golding married Dick Silbermann, a financier and prominent Democrat. They divorced in 1991 after Silbermann was convicted of money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
.
Political life
Golding was elected to the San Diego city council for 1981–1983. In 1984, she was elected to the Board of Supervisors for San Diego County, CaliforniaSan Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
, serving 1985-1992.
In 1992, Golding was elected mayor of San Diego. She campaigned as a progressive Republican, as a supporter of gay rights, affirmative action, environmental protection, and pro-choice views. Her first campaign was a bitter one against political science professor Peter Navarro
Peter Navarro
Peter Navarro is a Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine and holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University...
, whom she narrowly defeated. She became the first Jewish mayor of San Diego.
Her major accomplishment as mayor was to streamline city government for businesses, including setting up a "one-stop" shop for permits. She helped set aside 52,000 acres (211 km²) in the city as part of a comprehensive Multiple Species Conservation Plan. She also increased police funding and patrols, created neighborhood service centers, and helped create the city's first winter shelter for the homeless. During her administration, she was instrumental in San Diego hosting the 1996 Republican National Convention
1996 Republican National Convention
The 1996 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States convened at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California, from August 12 to August 15, 1996...
at the San Diego Convention Center
San Diego Convention Center
The San Diego Convention Center is the primary convention center in San Diego, California. It is located in the Marina district of downtown San Diego near the Gaslamp Quarter, at 111 West Harbor Drive...
. This helped soothe the pain of losing the 1972 Republican National Convention
1972 Republican National Convention
The 1972 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held from August 21 to August 23, 1972 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. It nominated the incumbents Richard M. Nixon of California for President and Spiro T. Agnew of Maryland for Vice...
, which was originally scheduled for San Diego but moved under a scandal.
Golding and the city council faced a problem getting funding for the convention, however. They felt it was too politically risky to raise taxes or cut services. They were accused of paying less into the city's pension fund instead.
At one time Golding was considered as a candidate for U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
or Governor of California
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
. She made a run for Barbara Boxer
Barbara Boxer
Barbara Levy Boxer is the junior United States Senator from California . A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives ....
's Senate seat in 1998, but had to drop out due to lagging polling numbers and fundraising difficulties.
The Chargers deal
In 1995, Golding helped spearhead a deal to expand Jack Murphy Stadium in order to keep the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in town and attract a second Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
to the city. In it, the city agreed to expand the stadium, which was later renamed Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
, and add 35 new luxury boxes. In exchange, the Chargers promised to stay in San Diego through 2020.
However, the deal also contained an agreement by the city to buy any tickets the Chargers didn't sell starting in the 1997 season—thus preventing Chargers home games from being blacked out in San Diego. Opponents of the deal got 50,000 signatures for a referendum on this portion of the deal, but it was thrown out by a superior court judge.
In part due to the controversy over the so-called "ticket guarantee," Golding didn't run for reelection in 2000.
Golding lives in San Diego and is currently CEO of The Golding Group, a lobbying and marketing company, and is Senior Fellow of the UCLA School of Public Affairs.
Quote
- The [Republican] party's strong position on abortion is just one example of how the GOP is out of touch with the majority of voters. In California the abortion issue has come to symbolize a view about the working woman versus the woman at home. The tone adopted by some statewide GOP candidates has lacked compassion and lacked understanding and has turned Republican woman voters off and into the Democratic Party. (State Republican Convention, 2000)