Oceanside voters will see one of North County’s longest local ballots in November, with two City Council districts, the mayor’s position, city treasurer and a tax measure to decide.

Incumbent Mayor Esther Sanchez faces one challenger, District 3 Councilmember Ryan Keim. The two have been at odds often at council meetings often the past four years. Usually Keim takes a more conservative, pro-growth stance against the mayor’s efforts to back residents with concerns about the traffic, noise and other inconveniences that come with development.

Sanchez, an attorney and former public defender, has been on the council since 2000 and was first elected mayor in 2020. Keim, a former Oceanside police officer, was appointed to a vacancy the council in January 2019 and then elected to a four-year term in 2020.

“The homeless crisis and crime associated with it is one of the most pressing issues facing local governments today, and we need to confront it head on,” Keim said in response to Union-Tribune questions.

“Using a compassionate two-prong approach, we should provide critical services to those that will accept them, but just as importantly we need to diligently address the crime and quality of life issues surrounding the crisis,” he said.

Sanchez said the city needs to shift its priorities to more supportive services for the homeless.

“The city spends between $11 million and $15 million on homeless every year,” Sanchez said. “The new shelter has been open a year, and it has become a revolving door, with homeless now in our residential neighborhoods.

“My opponent’s majority council policies have not worked,” she said. “We can do better! Longer stays at the shelter and more transitional and permanent, supportive housing, like Greenbrier Village. Let’s re-prioritize funding and listen to expert advice.”

Homelessness, public safety, beach preservation and small business success are the top issues on most candidates’ minds, though not always in that order.

Like most cities, school boards and other local agencies in California, Oceanside switched from citywide elections to a district system a few years ago. This year Districts 3 and 4 are open, and only residents of those two districts will have a council member to choose.

Laura Bassett, Tom DeMooy, Jimmy Figueroa and Austin Sorensen are the candidates for the District 3 seat now held by Keim.

Bassett is a real estate broker and longtime volunteer in community theater and the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce. She’s the daughter of Colleen O’Hara, who served two terms on the Oceanside City Council in the 1990s. She sees public safety as the top issue facing the council.

“Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of Oceanside’s residents is at the forefront of my commitment,” Bassett said in her response to questions. “I firmly believe in continuing full funding for our brave police and firefighters, giving them the tools they need to protect and serve our community effectively.”

DeMooy also listed public safety as No. 1 and said that, if elected, he would work for “stronger e-bike safety and education courses for our children, teens and adults,” along with “stronger bike and pedestrian safety rules throughout Oceanside.”

As for homeless issues, DeMooy said he supports increased outreach to the chronic unsheltered and suggested temporary pop-up tents be provided during bad weather, with city and county oversight.

Figueroa also said that homelessness issues top his list and that affordable housing should be part of the solution.

“Creating more affordable housing opportunities is essential in preventing and decreasing homelessness,” Figueroa said.

“When housing costs are reasonably priced, and housing opportunities are readily available, we significantly reduce the likelihood of households becoming homeless or being displaced and pushed out of their community,” he said. “This includes maintaining and protecting mobile home parks in our community. Mobile home parks are a critical form of affordable housing for all populations, especially for seniors.”

He also would support more youth recreation and after-school programs, which tend to boost public safety and the quality of life, Figueroa said, and he would prioritize road repairs and traffic calming.

Sorensen said overdevelopment tops his list.

“Oceanside is going through a rapid growth phase and is having a lot of buildings coming in but not the infrastructure to accommodate, causing issues on the road and parking,” Sorensen said. “We need to have full plans for any new developments and how these developers will … fix any possible issues that will arise, making sure they are creating solutions not more problems.”

In District 4, incumbent Peter Weiss has two opponents, Omar Hashimi and Amber Kae Niuatoa.

“Homelessness requires full community engagement,” said Weiss, another candidate who listed it as his top concern.

“The goal is to match homeless people with support services and housing and to reduce homelessness as best we can,” he said. “I also believe that there needs to be consequences for those that break the law and refuse services and treatment. We need to hold people accountable for their actions.”

Public safety and more housing “across all income levels — especially entry level/workforce housing,” Weiss said. “We need to find a way to have our residents live and work in Oceanside rather than commuting.”

Niuatoa led her list of issues with housing for seniors and the homeless.

“We need to secure affordable housing and keep people in their homes, especially seniors, the fastest-growing homeless population,” Niuatoa said.

“With Social Security checks averaging $1,700 and rents at $3,200, we must promote ADUs and smaller homes to help veterans, teachers, and young families,” she said. “Paying private security to shuffle the unhoused inland wastes resources and burdens first responders. Instead, we need a multi-prong approach including safe parking, mobile showers, and low-barrier shelters that lead to permanent housing.”

She also would push for better public transit and shuttle services, and priority for the “small businesses that give Oceanside the character residents and tourists know and love.”

Hashimi said he would “fight for new, lower-priced housing that’s affordable for working families, seniors, retired military, LGBTQ-youth who’ve aged out of county programs and others.”

He also would work for small business growth and to improve public safety issues such as poorly-lit streets and parks, and unsafe bus stops on busy roads without pedestrian crosswalks.

Incumbent City Treasurer Victor Roy has two challengers: Jack Fernandes and Phyllis Dominguez. Roy was first elected to a partial two-year term as city treasurer in 2018. He was elected to a four-year term in 2020.

Incumbent City Clerk Zeb Navarro, first elected in 2020, is unopposed as a candidate for a second term.

Oceanside voters also will decide whether to extend for an additional 10 years Measure X, the temporary half cent sales tax increase approved in 2018 and set to expire in 2026.

Millions of dollars raised so far by Measure X has been used for police and fire protection, city street repairs, recreational programs, homeless services and more.