ESCONDIDO — Voters in Escondido will soon decide on key positions and a sales tax measure in the upcoming fall election. The ballot will include two City Council seats, four school board seats, and a proposed sales tax increase.
The election for City Council will cover Districts 3 and 4.
District 3, which encompasses the south-central part of the city, has incumbent Deputy Mayor Christian Garcia facing off against challengers Christine Spencer and Veronica Cigarroa.
Christian Garcia, appointed to the seat in early 2023, previously served on the Palomar College Governing Board. He is now running to retain his council seat, with campaign priorities including homelessness solutions, public safety, small business support, and affordable housing.
“I am running for a full term on the City Council to continue working on homelessness solutions, public safety, supporting small businesses, and addressing the high cost of living in Escondido,” Garcia stated on his campaign website.
Spencer, with a long history of service in various local organizations, emphasizes maintaining essential community services, balancing the city’s budget, and addressing homelessness.
“I am running to represent our district how it should be, by listening to community members and creating innovative solutions to the current issues facing our city,” Spencer said on her campaign website.
Spencer has served Escondido in various capacities over the years, including as the secretary for the Old Escondido Historic District board, fundraising director and board member of the Escondido Art Association, a member of the Escondido Community Foundation and the San Diego Women’s Foundation, and a member of the Escondido East Rotary Club.
According to her campaign website, Spencer also presently volunteers with Interfaith Community Services, Classical Academies, Old Escondido Historic District Board, Escondido Art Association and St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church.
Cigarroa, a mental health advocate and director of Clubhouse Coalition California, focuses her campaign on homelessness and mental health support.
“Escondido needs strong, thoughtful leadership that prioritizes collaboration to effectively address homelessness, affordable housing, public safety, budget deficits, and support for local businesses,” she noted in her candidate statement.
Even though local races are nonpartisan, Garcia is running as a Republican, Spencer is an independent, and Cigarroa is a Democrat supported by county Democrats..
According to campaign finance reports, Garcia raised $36,929 between July 2023 and June 2024, Spencer raised $2,223 between January and June of this year, and Cigarroa has not reported any financial contributions.
In District 4, where Councilmember Mike Morasco is retiring after 14 years, voters will choose between Judy Fitzgerald, a Republican, and Rod Howell, a Democrat.
Fitzgerald, a former police officer and co-founder of CrossFit Xystum Fitness Gym, prioritizes public safety, homelessness, and small business growth.
“I will always support the Escondido Police Department and seek increased funding to make sure our police officers and firefighters are well compensated, have the resources needed to do their job well, and are empowered to enforce the law free from the pro-criminal attitudes of Sacramento politicians,” Fitzgerald states on her campaign website. “Currently, the Escondido Police Department has eleven patrol officers during the day and seven during the evening. These numbers only allow the department to respond to crime rather than proactively preventing it.”
Howell, a Navy veteran and retired federal government employee, aims to address the city’s budget deficit, improve public safety, fix infrastructure, and tackle homelessness.
“I am tired of seeing increased homelessness, jobs and investment opportunities lost due businesses closing or relocating to other cities,” Howell states. “Our roads and infrastructure are in dire need of repair. Escondido deserves better. I know our potential.”
Fitzgerald has raised $60,616 for her campaign, while Howell has yet to report contributions.
City Treasurer Doug Schultz is running unopposed for reelection.
Voters will also weigh in on Measure I, a proposed one-cent sales tax increase that would raise the city’s current rate from 7.75% to 8.75% for the next 20 years. The revenue from this increase would be directed toward public safety, homelessness, infrastructure improvements, and maintaining parks and open spaces.
In addition, two trustees will be elected each for the Escondido Union School District and the Escondido Union High School District.
EUSD Trustee Doug Paulson is running unopposed for Area 1, while parent and district employee Juan Manuel Vargas is challenging Area 3 Trustee Mark Olson. In EUHSD, retired teacher Clay Brown is challenging Board President Christi Knight in Area 3, and Dara Czerwonka is challenging Trustee Ryan Williams for the Area 4 seat.
