Faulconer to explore potential run for California governor

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced Monday, Jan. 4 he is launching a gubernatorial exploratory committee, the first step in a potential run for California governor next year.

Faulconer, who left San Diego City Hall last month after two terms as mayor, made the announcement on Twitter Monday morning and included a link to his website, http://www.kevinfaulconer.com/.

``No better way to ring in the New Year than taking the first step in turning around California,'' he wrote.

One of his more fervent detractors -- Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego -- fired back on Twitter shortly after Faulconer's initial tweet.

``That's a hard no,'' she wrote, attaching an image of Faulconer and President Donald Trump posing for a photograph together in the Oval Office.

On Saturday, the Republican former mayor endorsed a statewide effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom.

``It's a new year. We need a new governor. Jobs are leaving, homelessness is skyrocketing, and the state can't even issue unemployment checks to people struggling right now to get by. California is better than this. Join me in signing the recall petition,'' Faulconer said in a tweet that linked to the recall petition website.

As of last week, the effort to recall Newsom had received 911,000 signatures, according to organizers. The number of valid signatures from California registered voters needed to qualify for the ballot is 1,495,709 by mid-March.

In December, Faulconer was appointed a visiting professor of community leadership and government innovation at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy in Malibu. His service at the school began Friday. Faulconer will teach a new graduate course, titled ``Innovative Local Leadership,'' in the school's State and Local Policy specialization.