August 2, 2000

SAN DIEGO -- Toni Atkins, Third District City Council candidate, continued to set the pace in fund-raising in her race for the council seat currently occupied by Councilmember Christine Kehoe, whose term ends in December. In this year alone, the Atkins' campaign raised a total of $120,939.14. According to a July 31st report filed with the San Diego City Clerk's office, the Atkins' campaign brought in an additional $93,120.32 during the period covered by the report, February 20, 2000 through June 30, 2000. The campaign also reported $54,143.29 cash on hand.

Atkins noted that, as of July 31, she has received contributions from over 1,290 individuals. Additionally, her grassroots campaign has taken in more than 900 contributions of $125 or less and local San Diego area residents accounted for more than 75% of the contributions.

"I'm extremely happy with the level of support that I have been receiving within the district both in terms of volunteers and contributions," stated Atkins. "It is gratifying to know that my campaign to bring about real results on complex issues such as traffic, growth, better city services and quality schools has resonated with the residents and voters of District Three. I believe that many residents and neighborhood groups are supporting me because they recognize the value of my long-standing experience, involvement and commitment to the communities of District Three."

Further enhancing her prospects for victory in November, Atkins was recently endorsed by City Planning Commissioner Gerri Stryker and San Diego Deputy Mayor Harry Mathis. Stryker, a City Heights activist and resident, was a former Third District City Council candidate who received almost nine percent of the vote in the primary. "Toni has been working hard for the residents of District Three. She has helped fight crime, build schools and improve our neighborhoods," remarked Stryker. "I'm happy to lend my support to Toni and urge those who supported me in the primary to get behind the Toni Atkins for
City Council campaign."

Deputy Mayor Mathis, who has represented the First District since December of 1993, also has given his backing to Atkins. "I wholeheartedly support Toni Atkins' candidacy to represent District Three on the City Council," announced Deputy Mayor Mathis. "She is exceptionally well qualified, and has earned the respect and admiration of those of us who have had the privilege and pleasure of working with her on many complex issues during the past several years at City Hall. I know she will do a great job on behalf of her constituents and the people of San Diego citywide."

"I am honored and pleased with the news of my most recent endorsements," said Atkins, who almost won outright in the primary by receiving forty-eight percent of the vote in District Three. "I welcome Deputy Mayor Harry Mathis' endorsement. Truly, he has been an extremely capable and effective leader for his district and the city. And Gerri Stryker has been such a strong community leader and a driving force behind the revitalization of Mid-city. I consider both these highly respectable endorsements as a positive assessment on the viability of my candidacy."

Mathis and Stryker join Atkins' impressive and diverse list of endorsements which include Councilmembers Christine Kehoe and Juan Vargas, Assemblymember Denise Moreno-Ducheny, San Diego Unified School Boardmember Ron Ottinger, the San Diego Police Officers Association, the San Diego Firefighters-Local #145, the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council-AFL-CIO, the San Diego Municipal Employees Association, the Building Industry Association, the San Diego County Apartment Association, the League of Conservation Voters, the National Womens' Political Caucus and The San Diego Union-Tribune.

For more than a decade, starting out as director of a non-profit women's health center, Toni Atkins has been an effective San Diego community leader. Since 1993, she has served on the staff of current Third District City Councilmember Christine Kehoe as both a senior policy advisor on a broad range of issues, including economic development and small business, and as a community liaison to schools, neighborhood associations and senior groups.

Toni is originally from Southwestern Virginia. She graduated from Emory & Henry College with a degree in political science focusing on community organizing. She owns a home in North park and has been a District Three resident for over 14 years.

The Third District includes North Park, Burlingame, South Park, Uptown, Banker's Hill, Normal Heights, City Heights, Kensington, Talmadge, most of Hillcrest and University Heights, all of Balboa Park, and a portion of Golden Hill and downtown.