Released on: February 22, 2008, 8:14 am

Press Release Author: Charles Gallagher

Industry: Government

Press Release Summary: Candidate for Mayor of San Diego, Steve Francis, seeks
comprehensive effort to fight urban blight, unemployment and homelessness in the
City of San Diego

Press Release Body: San Diego, CA- January 21, 2008 - San Diego mayoral candidate
Steve Francis participated in several local events in San Diego honoring the legacy
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Today on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I join millions
of Americans in honoring the legacy of a great and noble man," said Francis. "Dr.
King\'s leadership in the civil rights movement opened our eyes to the injustices in
our world, and helped us all dream of a brighter future. Forty years after his
passing, Dr. King's work has brought our nation closer to achieving the ideals of
freedom, equality and a color-blind society," Francis stated.
Francis participated in celebrations of the life and legacy of Dr. King, including
the YMCA's annual Dr. King Breakfast, the Bayview Baptist Church's Dr. King
Dedication and Memorial Breakfast, the 20th Annual All People's Breakfast at Golden
Hall and the 28th annual Dr. King Parade in downtown San Diego at Petco Park.

"Though we have made great social and economic progress as a nation, there is much
work that lies ahead of us. According to the American Community Survey, San Diego's
African-American community has a higher rate of unemployment than the rest of the
city, and 30% of local African-American children live in poverty," said Francis.
"These social inequalities are unacceptable. Every child, regardless of racial
background, must have an equal opportunity to participate in our dynamic economy and
prosperous society. In the spirit of Dr. King, we must come together as one
community, and push for reform that will change lives," stated Francis.

As candidate for mayor of San Diego, Francis is pursuing an ambitious urban
renaissance plan for San Diego's downtown and southeastern neighborhoods, where
thousands of families, particularly African-American families, face the day-to-day
realities of poverty, unemployment, crime and homelessness. "We need new initiatives
to clean up our urban streets, bridge the digital divide, and provide every child
with an equal opportunity to experience the benefits of San Diego's economy," stated
Francis. Francis identifies several key actions he would take as Mayor of San Diego
to alleviate the economic disparity experienced by African-American families and
other disadvantaged families. Francis has outlined his strategy in his vision
statement at www.steveformayor.com/steve_vision/Inspiring.pdf.

About Steve Francis
Steve Francis, businessman and entrepreneur, is a candidate for Mayor of San Diego.
At the heart of his independent mayoral campaign is the desire to free San Diego
from the grip of special interests and to restore fiscal integrity, ethics and
transparency in city government. Francis, best known as co-founder and Chairman of
AMN Healthcare (NYSE:AHS), has pledged that he will remain free from the influences
of special interests by not accepting any political contributions from lobbyists,
thus ensuring that the voices of everyday San Diegans will be heard.


Web Site: http://www.steveformayor.com

Contact Details: 10531 4S Commons Drive, Suite 166 - PMB 117
San Diego, California 92127-9212
United States

Charles Gallagher
Steve Francis for Mayor
858-320-7506
stevefrancisformayor@momentumws.co.uk