San Diego mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher dumps GOP

In the midst of a race for San Diego mayor, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (R-La Jolla) announced Wednesday he is leaving the GOP to become an independent.

In a video explaining his decision, Fletcher said he has decided that partisan politics is "completely dysfunctional."

He said he "struggled' with the decision and knows it may cost him some supporters.

"I don't think we have to treat people we disagree with as enemies," said Fletcher, 35, a former business consultant and Marine who served in Iraq. He was elected to the Assembly in 2008.

Polls have shown Fletcher trailing the mayoral frontrunners, Rep. Bob Filner (D-San Diego) and Councilman Carl DeMaio, a Republican. District Atty. Bonnie Dumanis, a Republican, is also a candidate.

If no candidate gets more than 50% in the primary, the two top vote-getters advance to a runoff.

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-- Tony Perry in San Diego 

Photo: Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher. Credit: Associated Press