After touting his supposed leadership of the San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System (SDCERS) Board, Ray Ellis could come up with few specifics to bolster his claims at last night’s District 1 debate between the candidates for City Council.

As the former president of San Diego’s pension board, Ray Ellis claimed to be a “real pension reformer,” but he admitted last night that he was not responsible for any day-to-day operations and failed to cite any pension reforms he implemented during his tenure on the pension board.

A recent review of City records also shows that Mr. Ellis missed numerous SDCERS meetings, including six of seven meetings of the SDCERS Investment Committee in 2011, which oversees the investment of the System’s 5 billion dollar portfolio.

“You have to actually show up in order to lead,” said Councilmember Sherri Lightner.

Lightner clearly demonstrated her deep understanding of the most important issues facing the communities within her district, ranging from implementing real pension reform to fixing our streets, eliminating traffic congestion and improving public safety.

Lightner’s attendance record on the City Council offers a distinct contrast between the two candidates.  Councilmember Lightner has missed only two council meetings out of hundreds in her nearly four years on the council.  She missed one in order to be in her community at the site of the University City jet crash in 2008, and another to attend the funeral of a Carmel Valley civic leader.

The people of District 1 need more than words,” said Councilmember Lightner. “They need results. That is what I have delivered since taking office -- real results on everything from fixing the city’s finances to implementing the largest street resurfacing project in our city’s history to preventing overdevelopment in our communities.”

District 1 includes the communities of Carmel Valley, Del Mar Mesa, La Jolla, Pacific Highlands Ranch, Torrey Hills, Torrey Pines and University City.