Del Mar voters OK measures for council salaries, hotel tax

DEL MAR — Two local measures, increasing council member compensation and implementing taxes on short-term rentals, have both passed following strong voter support. 

Approximately two-thirds of voters, or 66.22%, support Measure A, which will increase Del Mar City Council members’ monthly salaries from $300 to $950 and implement a $400 health care stipend. 

The small city of less than 4,000 people currently pays its council members the lowest stipend of all 18 cities in San Diego County, with a $300 monthly stipend in place since 1988. The mayor is also granted an additional $50 monthly for automobile expenses. 

Measure M, which will require short-term rentals in Del Mar to pay a 13% transient occupancy tax rate equal to local hotels, has wide approval at 71.94% of the vote. 

Additional TOT revenue measure is expected to bring in an additional $75,000 per year for the city. 

Del Mar City Council

Three candidates ran uncontested for three open at-large seats on the council. Incumbents Dan Quirk and Tracy Martinez will return to the council, along with Del Mar Planning Commissioner John Spelich.

Dave Druker did not run for re-election and will step down at the end of the year. 

Del Mar Union School District

Del Mar Union School District incumbent Trustee Gee Wah Mok and newcomer Bill Porter are currently leading the race for two open general seats on the school board, while 2023 appointee Alan Kholos is ahead in the race for a short-term seat. 

Voters were asked to select two candidates from a list of four to fill two general seats, with the top two vote-getters earning a seat on the board. Mok leads with 33.93%, followed by Porter, a special education teacher, with 29.64%; parent and advocate Danielle Roybal is in third place with 20.77%; and Del Mar Schools Education Foundation Vice President Helen Doyle is in fourth place with 15.66%. 

The second race is for a short-term seat on the board, lasting until 2026. Kholos holds a wide lead with 67.43% of the vote against parent Genevieve Okada Goldstone.

Mok and Kholos were the only incumbents for re-election, with trustee Erica Halpern stepping down at the end of the year.