When Greg Cox issued the oath of office to new members of the Downtown San Diego Partnership board, he threw in a few extra oaths, like having them swear to work diligently “with state and local officials, especially County Supervisor Greg Cox.”

The keynote speaker for the director installation luncheon was City Councilman Michael Zucchet who represents most of Downtown. Noting Cox had left the room, he joked he meant to ask him to give his regards to Supervisor Ron Roberts, a big critic of Zucchet’s and the existing City Council. “He’s a good guy,” Zuchet said, getting a laugh from the crowd. “He’s running for mayor so I guess he has to say stuff.”

In accepting the position of partnership president at the Jan. 21 luncheon, John Kratzer told board members there would be a pop quiz on the organization’s bylaws at its first meeting.

Kratzer is president of JMI Realty, which is building the ballpark and master developing the 26-block district. He said his major partnership initiatives will mirror what already is under way, including:

• The new business and retention program.
  
  
• The second phase of the Clean And Safe program that is funded by extra property taxes on Downtown owners.
  
  
• The new library. “The mayor’s library, is, in our opinion, maybe as important as the ballpark.”
  
  
• The North Embarcadero Plan.
  
  
• Civic Center Plaza.

Other partnership officers for 2004 are vice chair, Nancy Scull of Luce Forward; secretary, Michael Johnson of Carrier Johnson; and treasurer, Steve Mueller of DG Energy Solutions.