Of the four City Council seats on the ballot next Tuesday, two will have an incumbent's name next to them: Myrtle Cole in District 4 and David Alvarez in District 8. The two Democrats are expected to win re-election. The other two races in districts 2 and 6 are a bit more competitive, and a total of nine candidates are vying for the spots.
District 2: Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Point Loma, Midway, Bay Ho, Bay Park, Morena
When Kevin Faulconer won the special election for San Diego's mayor this year, he left behind an open seat in District 2, and Councilwoman Lorie Zapf has her eye on it. Zapf currently represents District 6, but was forced out when redistricting moved her Bay Ho home to District 2. She's facing three other contenders.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Boot
“I feel like I can have more of an impact on this community from the platform of City Council than I could from my position as a federal prosecutor."
Boot said it was the poor quality of roads and streetlights in her own neighborhood, plus the issue of property crimes, that pushed her to run.
Party affiliation: Democrat
Reading guide:
- "Sarah Boot tracks down Lorie Zapf at contentious candidate forum," San Diego CityBeat
- "Boot Blasts Zapf on Convention Center But Won’t Say She Opposes Project," Voice of San Diego
- "The new girl: Sarah Boot," San Diego CityBeat
Key endorsements: San Diego County Democratic Party, City Councilman Ed Harris, San Diego CityBeat, San Diego City Firefighters, San Diego Association of Lifeguards, AFSMCE, League of Conservation Voters San Diego, Sierra Club San Diego.
Property manager Jim Morrison
Morrison said he's run for City Council a handfull of times. He entered the race this year for a chance to address the issue of San Diego's economy.
“We’ve become a spoke of Los Angeles' economy, and we need to become a hub economy where we’re self-reliant.”
Party affiliation: Democrat
Organic fertilizer marketer Mark Schwartz
His website says he supports a free market economy and will champion tax cutting, but Schwartz did not respond to an email request from KPBS for an interview.
Party affiliation: Libertarian
Councilwoman Lorie Zapf
During her time on the council, Zapf says she has focused on basics like infrastructure with her “pothole patrol” and public safety.
"...making sure that we have enough resources for our police so that we have a good quality of life for the people who live there but also that our tourists have a really great experience.”
Party affiliation: Republican
Reading guide:
- "Fact Check: the Squeaky Wheel Approach to Pothole Repairs," Voice of San Diego
- "Zapf, Boot clash at forum," U-T San Diego
- "Commentary: Is Lorie Zapf being gay baited?" LGBT Weekly
Key endorsements: Republican Party of San Diego County, Mayor Kevin Faulconer, San Diego Police Officers Association, Business Leadership Alliance, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego County, Latino American Political Association of San Diego, U-T San Diego.
District 6: Clairemont, Mira Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Miramar and Rancho Peñasquitos
With Zapf running for re-election in the coastal communities, the race to represent District 6 is wide open. The opportunity has drawn five candidates.
San Diego County Taxpayers Association Vice President Chris Cate
“If you have a prospering economy, in my opinion it allows people to be employed, to buy homes, increase the tax base, allow the city to move forward and doing all the things we should be doing.”
Cate, who worked for Faulconer during his first term on the City Council, says his focus is on creating jobs.
Party affiliation: Republican
Reading guide:
- "Council Candidates Debate Before Asian, Pacific Islander Community," Times of San Diego.
- "Downtown lobbyist from Carlsbad seeking San Diego city council seat," San Diego Reader
- "Carlsbad Resident Chris Cate Named Vice President at San Diego County Taxpayers Association," Carlsbad Patch
Key endorsements: Republican Party of San Diego County, Father Joe Carroll, Business Leadership Alliance, Latino American Political Association of San Diego, former City Council President Tony Young, San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts, U-T San Diego.
Educator Carol Kim
Kim, who has a background as a teacher and an HIV prevention program manager, says her top priority is infrastructure.
“Obviously we’ve had budget difficulties over the past how ever many years that have really constrained our ability to address infrastructure in a meaningful way, but I feel like we don't get our fair share..”
Party affiliation: Democrat
Reading guide:
- "Council Candidates Debate Before Asian, Pacific Islander Community," Times of San Diego.
- "Roundtable: Dreams of a City Council Seat," KPBS News
- "Meet Carol Kim," San Diego CityBeat
Key endorsements: San Diego County Democratic Party, San Diego CityBeat, AFSMCE, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest, San Diego City Firefighters, San Diego Lifeguards, League of Conservation Voters, Asian American Pacific Islander Democratic Club.
Security guard De Le
Le emigrated from Vietnam and served in the U.S. Army. He says from food banks to blood drives, he’s been active in the community since he was 14.
“I spoke at the City Council chamber itself on a number of occasions on issues that matter to the community. So I’ve been very engaged and want to bring that experience to the council itself.”
Party affiliation: Republican
Former San Diego Unified school board member Mitz Lee
“I will dedicate myself to improving our streets, to create jobs, to make sure that we have well maintained parks and open space, and expand the library hours.”
You might remember her when she was on the San Diego Unified school board. She currently sits on the city’s Human Relations Commission.
Party affiliation: Independent
Reading guide:
- "Council Candidates Debate Before Asian, Pacific Islander Community," Times of San Diego.
- "Roundtable: Dreams of a City Council Seat," KPBS News
- "Council Candidates Focus on Issues in 6th District Forum," Times of San Diego
Key endorsements: Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of San Diego, former City Councilman and State Assemblyman Tom Hom
Special education assistant Jane Glasson is also running in District 6. She declined to be interviewed by KPBS.
In each of the four City Council district races, if one candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote in the June 3 election, the candidate wins. If no one achieves that in a council race, the top two vote-getters will be in a runoff in November.
