UPDATE: 11:42 p.m., June 5, 2018:
The race to replace termed-out incumbent David Alvarez in San Diego's City Council District 8 continues to be close.
With 30 percent of the precincts reporting, Vivian Moreno, a staffer in Alvarez’s office, leads with 38 percent of the vote. San Ysidro school board member Antonio Martinez is running second at 29 percent of the vote.
Community activist Christian Ramirez has 23 percent and businessman Zachary Lazarus has 10 percent.
The top two will head to a run-off in November.
UPDATE: 8:50 p.m., June 5, 2018:
Four candidates are competing to replace termed-out incumbent David Alvarez in San Diego's City Council District 8.
With 15 percent of the precincts reporting, Vivian Moreno, a staffer in Alvarez’s office, leads with 39 percent of the vote. San Ysidro school board member Antonio Martinez is running second at 28 percent of the vote.
Community activist Christian Ramirez has 22 percent and businessman Zachary Lazarus has 10 percent.
The top two vote getters will head to a run-off in November.
Original post:
Four candidates competed to replace termed-out incumbent David Alvarez in San Diego's City Council District 8.
District 8 is geographically split into two distinct regions.. To the north, Grant Hill, Barrio Logan and Sherman Heights sit in the shadow of downtown’s skyscrapers. The south portion includes Otay Mesa, San Ysidro and the world’s busiest international border crossing.
Both regions struggle with pollution.
In the north, it is linked to industrial activity along the waterfront. In the south, there’s dirty air from cross-border traffic and dirty water fouled with sewage spills.
Community activist Christian Ramirez says four generations of his family live in the district and he wants to keep neighborhoods safe and healthy.
Alvarez staffer Vivian Moreno cites her seven years of experience working in the district as proof she is determined to keep neighborhoods safe and to lure investment into the district.
San Ysidro school board member Antonio Martinez calls himself the fighter the district needs at city hall. He put neighborhoods and families first.
Small businessman Zachary Lazarus says he cared about people in need and he wanted to build strength within the community. He promises to fight for residents.
Monte Jones, director of the Logan Heights Community Development Corp., wants to see a district that shines. He says that can be as simple as installing better streetlights and fixing sidewalks and roads.
“We don’t expect our council office to get everything done. But if they’ve got the support of the community and organizations behind them, a lot more can get done in city hall,” Jones said.
With no incumbent on the ballot, community activist Philomena Moreno says the race was a chance for the district to have a fresh start and allow a new representative to set the region’s reputation at City Hall.
“Have a good relationship with the mayor, a good relationship with the other council members, and work together to give us justice across the board,” Moreno said.
