Homelessness, finances and small business promotion feature prominently in the competition for two seats on the Escondido City Council on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Incumbent Christian Garcia faces challengers Christine Spencer and Veronica Cigarroa to retain his District 3 seat, which captures the section of the city east of Interstate 15 and south of downtown.
District 4, which takes in most of the city west of I-15, is wide open this election season due to the retirement of councilman Michael Morasco. Newcomers Judy Fitzgerald and Roderick Howell will compete to be his replacement.
Asked to list the three reasons why they decided to run, a few common themes emerged. As has been the case in recent city elections across the region, homelessness looms large. And a return to fiscal equilibrium also gets attention given the city’s existing budget deficit.
A recent synopsis created by city staff acknowledges an ongoing structural deficit that the council, to date, has closed with one-time fixes and “a hardline on expenditures and staff.” Short-term fixes, according to city administration, have included delaying the purchase of equipment and vehicles, deferred maintenance of city facilities — including parks — and underfunding city reserve accounts.
Measure I, a one-cent increase in local sales tax, will appear on voters’ ballots this year, creating a new revenue stream designed to create a permanent deficit solution.
Garcia, Howell and Spencer said they also support the referendum.
Candidates shared their top reasons for running:
District 3
Christian Garcia is a current high school teacher and former Palomar College trustee appointed to fill the council’s District 3 seat in January 2023, after redistricting moved incumbent Joe Garcia to the newly redrawn District 2.
Top-three issues: Increasing public safety “including homelessness solutions that get people off the streets and into supportive housing as well as making sure police and fire have the resources they need to do their jobs,” small business support “by streamlining regulations (and) recruiting more businesses” and addressing the high cost-of-living by “supporting new housing opportunities, keeping utility rates low, and opposing tax and fee increases like the proposed county mileage tax.”
Christine Spencer is director of grants and impact at Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas. A member of the old Escondido Historic District Board and the Escondido Community Foundation, she also volunteers at Interfaith Community Services.
Top-three issues: Finding and implementing “the correct changes and initiatives to balance the budget while ensuring that vital services for the public are maintained.” Protecting essential services including “the Library, the California Center for the Arts, senior programs, recreation services for youth, help for people experiencing homelessness, and a full staff of City of Escondido employees.” Growing business “in the downtown district in E. Valley Parkway.”
Veronica Cigarroa is a mental health professional who worked with TURN Behavioral Health Services in Escondido as program director for more than 10 years and now consults with the organization.
Top-three issues: Reducing homelessness by spending general funds on the issue and ending Escondido’s status as “the only North County city not participating in a regional alliance that meets to address homelessness.” Meeting affordable housing standards by “simply applying a little pressure on developers for affordable housing, rather than giving out sweetheart deals to big donors.” Balancing the budget with “a more fiscally responsible and community-focused approach.”
District 4
Judy Fitzgerald is a former city planning commissioner, a former police officer in Carlsbad and Oceanside and co-founder of Escondido gym CrossFit Xystum.
Top-three issues: Fighting homelessness by “prioritizing Escondido residents, or those with ties to our community, who are receiving the homelessness services in our city,” increasing law enforcement staffing which currently “only allow(s) the department to respond to crimes rather than proactively preventing them,” and promoting small business from “efforts to streamline the permitting process,” to creating “a ‘getting to yes’ culture on new development projects that bring new housing and commercial opportunities to Escondido.”
Roderick “Rod” Howell worked for the U.S. Department of Defense for 45 years, starting out in the Navy and retiring as a contracting officer, a role that had him overseeing military contracts.
Top-three issues: Finding solutions to homelessness that are “compassionate, long-term solutions that address the root causes of the issue, while also ensuring public safety.” Exploring “creative ways to increase city revenue to fund essential services, improve infrastructure, and invest in community projects” and unlocking “untapped potential” in Escondido, especially regarding “resources like the California Center for the Arts, the 15 freeway corridor, and beautiful natural spaces that are not being utilized to their full potential.”