CARLSBAD — Lively exchanges, an animated crowd, and a pause in proceedings due to a few unruly audience members made last Monday’s candidate debate between Democrat incumbent Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and former Republican mayor of San Diego Kevin Faulconer anything but dull.
Around 200 people attended the District 3 county supervisor candidate debate on Sept. 16 at the Windmill Food Hall in Carlsbad. The event was organized by the Carlsbad, Encinitas and Solana Beach chambers of commerce and moderated by The Coast News reporter Claire Strong.
Each candidate was given two minutes to express their views on various topics, including homelessness, housing and Palomar-McLennan airport.
The debate had only just begun when discussions were halted after two audience members refused to comply with the “no filming” policy despite numerous warnings.
Once the debate resumed, the candidates enthusiastically outlined their differing visions for the newly drawn District 3, which spans the coastline from Coronado to Carlsbad and includes Point Loma, Mira Mesa, Carmel Valley and the inland communities of Harmony Grove, Rancho Santa Fe and Rancho Penasquitos.
The board is currently controlled by Democrats, who have three seats, while Republicans have two.
Homelessness was arguably the most prominent theme throughout the night. Lawson-Remer said the number of shelter beds for people living on the streets had gone from zero to 1,000 on her watch, while Faulconer claimed the board’s inaction had cost the county millions of dollars in state funding.
Another flashpoint between the pair was Lawson-Remer’s attendance at committee, subcommittee and San Diego Association of Governments meetings.
Faulconer accused his rival of missing 74% of them, prompting Lawson-Remer to interrupt the former mayor and call him a liar before she was asked to let him finish. In response, the incumbent claimed Faulconer missed 84% of SANDAG meetings during his time in office.
In her closing statement, Lawson-Remer vowed, if re-elected, to focus on gun violence and mental health services and to continue “fighting to make San Diego a safe haven for reproductive freedom.”
Faulconer, meanwhile, promised to “work with everyone to benefit everyone” and said his number one goal was to “get the job done for San Diego.”
Watch the full debate below:
