OCEANSIDE — This November election is stacked for Oceanside voters, who will decide on the city’s next mayor, two council seats, two school board trustees, city treasurer, city clerk and a ballot measure determining whether to extend Measure X, a half-cent sales tax another decade.
Mayor
Incumbent Mayor Esther Sanchez will face Deputy Mayor Ryan Keim, who will forgo running for his current District 3 for a shot at the mayor’s seat.
Sanchez has been on the City Council since 2000, serving for 20 years before she was elected mayor in 2020. She is the first woman and first Latina to be elected Oceanside mayor.
On her campaign website, Sanchez states she has taken the lead on creating more parks along with the El Corazon Senior Center and Aquatics Center and was behind saving Goat Hill Park Golf Club, Oceanside Public Library and the Brooks Street Pool from cuts and closures. She has also expanded affordable housing and protected rent control for seniors and veterans.
“We must implement our Climate Action Plan, address traffic and parking issues, become bicycle-friendly, and embrace agri-tourism/preserve our agricultural lands,” Sanchez states. “We must shelter our unsheltered, create employment centers, address food insecurities and meet affordable/workforce housing needs.”
Keim was first appointed to the City Council in 2019 during the council’s transition from at-large seats to district elections. In 2020, the former Oceanside police officer was elected to represent District 3.
In an interview with The Coast News last year, Keim said his top three priorities include addressing homelessness and crime, fixing the city’s disappearing beaches, and unifying the city in its fight to maintain local zoning and housing control.
“For so long, we have taken a back seat to these critical issues… we cannot let up, we have to have advocacy and strong leadership,” Keim said last year.
Sanchez raised $30,281 between Jan. 1 and June 30, with backers including $500 from Yasukochi Family Farms, another $500 from Donal Yasukochi of Oceanside, $1,000 from Margaret Matthews of Oceanside, $1,000 from Rena Marrocco of Vista, $700 from Sally Haggerty of Oceanside and $400 from Let Oceanside Vote, among others.
Keim outpaced Sanchez with $51,921.76 raised in that same time period, with contributions including $5,500 from the Infrastructure PAC of the Associate General Contractors of San Diego, $4,000 from Cheryl Stewart of Oceanside, $2,000 each from Lisa Evans and Tom Evans of Evans Farm in Oceanside, and $1,500 from Tom Aldrich of The Brick Hotel in Oceanside. Yasukochi also donated $300 to Keim’s campaign.
Overall, between 2023 and 2024, Keim has raised just over $103,000 and Sanchez has raised $48,181.
District 3
Four candidates are vying for the District 3 council seat: Jimmy Figueroa, Tom DeMooy, Laura Bassett and Austin Sorensen.
Figueroa is the donor relations manager for TrueCare, a local healthcare clinic, and the former executive director of Operation Hope-North County, a homeless shelter for single women and families. He grew up in the Tri-City neighborhood and has lived in District 3 for over 30 years.
According to his website, Figueroa prioritizes addressing homelessness and creating more affordable housing options, improving public safety with more prevention-based resources, supporting first responders and the police department’s current efforts serving the city under the 21st-century Community Policing model, economic stability, implementing the Climate Action Plan and preserving sandy beaches.
“I firmly believe that together, as a community, we possess the power to make lasting positive changes in our neighborhoods and create opportunities for all,” Figueroa states on his website.
DeMooy, another long-time District 3 resident of South Oceanside, has been active in the city’s Neighborhood Watch Program for several years. He also served as a MainStreet Oceanside board member, a Downtown Advisory Committee member, and a volunteer for the Oceanside Independence Day Parade.
According to his website, DeMooy is “dedicated to reducing crime, graffiti, disorder, and homelessness.”
Bassett, another Oceanside lifer, is an independent real estate broker, a licensed professional fiduciary, and a local volunteer. She has assisted the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce with events, including Harbor Days and Operation Appreciation, and has been a long-time volunteer at the historic Star Theatre downtown.
Bassett hopes to improve the city’s local economy, preserve and enhance city beaches, acquire more housing for Oceanside families, improve public safety by supporting city police and firefighters, and maintain a balanced budget with wise spending of taxpayer dollars.
According to her website, Bassett’s “professional experience starting businesses and working as a fiduciary, along with her degree in accounting makes her uniquely qualified to handle budget issues and cutting waste without affecting Oceanside’s unique charm.”
Sorensen is a small business banker at U.S. Bank. The Coast News was unable to find other information regarding Sorensen at this time.
Between Jan. 1 and June 30, Bassett raised the most funds with $50,028.81 in contributions, Figueroa raised $14,352.43, and DeMooy $650. Sorensen has not reported any campaign contributions raised at this time.
District 4
In District 4, incumbent Councilmember Peter Weiss will face Amber Kae Niuatoa and Omar Hashimi.
Weiss previously served as city engineer, public works director, city manager and mayor before taking over the District 4 seat in 2020.
“I am familiar with all aspects of local government, I have the skills, experience and unique qualifications to represent the City. I have demonstrated my support for businesses and overall economic development to expand the City’s tax base,” Weiss states on his website. “Over the past few years we have created a positive investment environment that has successfully attracted new businesses and development. We need to continue those efforts in order to provide programs and services to our community.”
Niuatoa has served as Brother Benno’s volunteer and teaches sociology at MiraCosta College, where she graduated.
According to her website, Niuatoa was asked by fellow residents to step up to represent her district.
“District 4 deserves new leadership and a representative who puts community interest over investor interests,” her website states. “I promise to address community concerns, including the housing crisis, infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and the local economy.”
Hashimi, who lives in the Rancho Del Oro community, is a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserve, a real estate investment director, and a small business owner. His priorities include addressing housing and homelessness, encouraging small business development, improving public safety and implementing environmentally sustainable solutions for the city.
“My background in housing and real estate management and the skills I gained serving our country will be pivotal when tackling the housing crisis, figuring out our role in climate stabilization, creating a welcoming environment for small business growth, and protecting the health and safety of our residents,” he states on his website.
Between January and June, Weiss raised $59,428.07, Niuatoa $9,244.15 and Hashimi $681.39.
Other City Elections
Incumbent City Treasurer Victor Roy will face challengers Phyllis Dominguez, a local businesswoman, and Jack Fernandes, an experienced businessman and treasurer.
City Clerk Zeb Navarro is running for reelection unopposed.
Voters will also decide whether or not to extend Measure X, the city’s half-cent sales tax, for another 10 years.
Measure X revenue helps pay for public safety, road upgrades and repairs, infrastructure, free youth programming and homeless aid. The city’s Citizen Oversight Committee reviews all Measure X projects and makes recommendations to the City Council.
In June, the Oceanside City Council agreed to ask voters on this November’s ballot whether to renew Measure X.
Two terms on the Oceanside Unified School District Board of Trustees are also up for election this year.
Rosie Higuera is challenging incumbent Trustee Mike Blessing for the Area 5 seat. Emily Wichmann is challenging incumbent Eleanor Evans in Area 2.
Editor’s Note: The Coast News has updated Keim’s and Sanchez’s campaign contributions to reflect all campaign contributions between 2023 and 2024 so far.
