ESCONDIDO — Tanner Horsley sees similarities between his work in the armed forces and the work he hopes to do for Escondido if elected to the City Council in November.
“Throughout my life, I have held a steadfast belief in service to country and community,” he said. “My service in the Marine Corps and work with the Navy has taken me on missions around the globe. My new mission is right here in Escondido — to ensure that every resident has access to a clean, safe and affordable place to live.”
Horsley announced his bid for the District 1 seat on the Escondido City Council. The seat is currently held by Councilmember Consuelo Martinez, who was first elected in 2018.
Horsley said his campaign is focused on key quality-of-life issues, including affordability, livability, parks, safety and roadways.
He first came to Escondido as part of a Marine Corps deployment and has lived in the city for nearly 20 years. Horsley has a wife and two daughters who attend public schools in the district he hopes to represent.
After his military service, he earned a degree in information technology and business management and now works in information security at the U.S. Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station San Diego.
Horsley said his daily commute to Coronado has helped him recognize the value of safe, efficient roads with minimal traffic. He added that roadway maintenance and thoughtful upgrades are investments in residents’ quality of life.
He supports expanding the housing supply to help families afford to live in Escondido and access homeownership. He said he would support market-rate housing projects and programs that expand pathways for building accessory dwelling units.
Horsley said he would enforce city code to hold landlords accountable and, as an avid park-goer, would push for park improvements to maintain their role as community assets.
He said that to foster a safe environment, he would advocate for competitive compensation for first responders to help recruit and retain talent. He also supports an approach to homelessness that provides assistance to those in need while preventing Escondido from becoming a destination for residents experiencing homelessness from neighboring cities.
“I have grown to love and appreciate this community and am willing to fight to make Escondido an even better place to live,” Horsley said.
