By Jim Lantry

SAN DIEGO—As they posed for yet another picture, Bill Kolender, the newly-reelected sheriff, remarked to Bonnie Dumanis, the newly-elected district attorney, and Greg Smith, the newly-reelected county tax assessor, "a few more and we'll have a minyan."

Never has the number of Jewish political officials in San Diego County been greater. In addition to holders of three of the four countywide offices (only Dan McAllister, the newly-elected tax collector, is not Jewish), Jewish elected officials include two local members of Congress (Susan Davis and Bob Filner), two U.S. senators from California (Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer), the former chair of the local Port Commission, Steve Cushman, and the newly sworn-in chair of  
 Bill Kolender, Bonnie Dumanis, Greg Smith                                                                     the county's Water Authority,

Bernie Rhinerson. When you add in former Mayor Susan Golding and former assemblyman and
soon-to-be state senatorial candidate Howard Wayne, it is clear that San Diego's Jewish population is well-represented in politics.

As he took his oath of office on Tuesday, Jan. 7, accompanied by his wife, Lois, Kolender reinitiated a friendly law enforcement rivalry he had with outgoing Dist. Atty. Paul Pfingst when he turned to soon-to-be-sworn-in Dist. Atty Bonnie Dumanis and crowed that Board of Supervisors Chairman Ron
Roberts had termed him the chief law enforcement officer of the county.

On a more serious note, he said that every part of the Sheriff's Department had improved in the last four years. He thanked the Board of Supervisors for its support and said that he looked forward to increased collaboration among law enforcement, government and the people.

Dumanis, who is the first Jew, the first woman and the first lesbian to hold the post of district attorney in San Diego, took the oath of office surrounded by her family and life partner, Denise Nelesen. She remarked on
Kolender's good-natured ribbing, saying he was a tough act to follow, "particularly with a gun in your holster."


She continued, saying that she had taken a long journey "from a junior clerk typist to San Diego's district attorney." She promised to head an office filled with integrity that would work together more than ever with a new
sense of unity and morale. Dumanis said that in the new DA's office the only yardstick will be an employee's ability to do the job well.

Despite this apparent reference to past problems in the DA's office, Dumanis thanked Pfingst for his contributions to San Diego and acknowledged that he had assembled a talented team.

                                                                        
                                                         Bonnie Dumanis takes oath as district attorney as life partner Denise Nielsen looks on
Dumanis said she looked ahead to tough times. With the state facing a budget crisis of unprecedented size and a rise in violent crime, the job of the district attorney will be even greater, she said. But, she pledged, the
office will be a leaner but stronger organization.

Reflecting on the rash of gang murders since the first of the year, Dumanis said the situation will not be tolerated in San Diego. The district attorneys office will aggressively prosecute crime, she said.
Ending the longest inauguration speech of the day, Dumanis pledged the full resources of her office will be used to keep the community safe.

Later that day, at a reception in the district attorneys office, Dumanis was surrounded by hundreds of smiling employees. Many remarked that the day brought a new era to the office, one they were eager to begin.

County Assessor Greg Smith was acknowledged as the longest-serving county official. Remarking on his boundless energy, newly-named Chairman Greg Cox welcomed Smith as the senior member of the county's public official team. Joined by his wife, Arlette, and his children, Julie and Harrison, Smith thanked his staff for its dedication and professionalism as he took the oath of office for the sixth time.

Also sworn-in on Tuesday were County Tax Collector/Treasurer Dan McAllister and Supervisors Ron Roberts and Bill Horn. McAllister, who was appointed to fill the remainder of former Tax Collector Bart Hartman's unexpired term after Hartman resigned suddenly after losing the election, remarked that in
life everyone is here to help everyone else.

Recalling his days in the Peace Corps when he found himself stricken with a severe local illness and dependent for help on the people he had come tohelp, McAllister said that the highest and noblest cause is to serve others.