Nathan Fletcher's viral propaganda push

The sole Democrat on San Diego County's Board of Supervisors, onetime Assembly Republican Nathan Fletcher is looking to load up his county staff with social media and video makers to propel him to new political heights.

"We are seeking a Videographer & Editor/Photographer/Graphic Designer ​to work with the Director of Communications and Social Media Manager to plan, create and deliver high-quality multimedia storytelling using videography, photography and graphic design," says a job notice on Fletcher's supervisor website.

"The person we are looking for must demonstrate a strong command of techniques and sophisticated craftsmanship in visual storytelling to accurately inform and effectively engage audiences through social media, web, print, and other digital platforms.

"In this role, the person will develop production strategy, creative direction and brand messaging and manage quality control for all visual deliverables used by the Office of Supervisor Nathan Fletcher in support of its policy, community outreach, and communications initiatives."

Also signing on with Team Fletcher will be a social media manager with "the skills to help us connect directly to target audiences, build trust, create organic online dialogue and expand our reach using digital channels, including website, social media platforms, blogs, email campaigns, mobile, and new innovations in digital."

"In this role, the person will develop strategy and voice of our online communities, create campaigns, write the copy, be our expert on how to get the most from our digital platforms, and analyze the results to ensure the Office of Supervisor Nathan Fletcher is effectively communicating about its policies, positions, initiatives and events with its online communities."

How close the work of the two reputed high-power media recruits comes to verging into the county's political arena is sure to be closely watched by political insiders, especially the job's requirement to "coordinate campaigns with our social media ambassadors and influencers."

Besides that, the new hire must "connect with YouTube influencers to establish and maintain partnerships," and "promote and distribute news content on social media."

Other new employees sought by Fletcher, per two additional job notices on his site, include an LGBTQ+ community representative and a community representative to "act as a liaison to the African American community."

Fletcher, husband of Assembly Democrat Lorena Gonzalez, currently has a staff of nine, according to his website, including director of communications James Canning, formerly with Gallatin Public Affairs of Seattle.

Before Canning arrived at Gallatin in 2017, the firm came under fire by environmentalists for work on behalf of a controversial coal export depot on the Columbia River, according to published reports.

Gallatin partner Bruce Gryniewski defended the company's involvement in the project in a June 6, 2015, Seattle Times account:

"The reality is, energy is a complex issue,” he told the paper.

“We need to explore all of these methods when looking at climate change and drawing lines in the sand is not how the real world operates."

Fletcher's chief of staff Paul Worlie also hails from the world of public relations, having been a public affairs and government relations specialist for Nuffer Smith after a long career as a political operative.

“He is the former deputy executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee,” according to an online write up by the local public relations society. "His past clients have included U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and former U.S. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle."

In February 2017, Worlie became enmeshed in a Fletcher-related controversy when the Union-Tribune reported that a Fletcher nonprofit known as the Three Wise Men Veterans Foundation was paying Nuffer Smith $5000 a month for PR services. Worlie is a onetime board member of the charity.

Three Wise Man, the paper noted, was the beneficiary of $35,000 from special interest contributors, including oil giant Chevron, San Diego Gas & Electric, and casino-owning tribes Barona and Viejas, thanks to fundraising behests by Assemblywoman Gonzalez.