The Best of North County, presented by North County Injury Lawyers, returns for its third year, promising to be bigger and better than ever. Organized by The Coast News Group, this annual contest celebrates the best local businesses, services and professionals in North San Diego County.
The event invites community participation through nominations and voting, ultimately recognizing establishments that provide exceptional service and contribute significantly to San Diego’s North County.
This year, The Coast News Group has partnered with Oregon-based NERUS Strategies, a premier producer of “Best Of” contests in over 50 cities, including Las Vegas, Seattle, Minneapolis, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami and Montreal.
“This year, the contest has been completely reimagined,” said Neil Potter, COO of NERUS. “We have an entirely new ballot experience, a dynamic results website, three-win levels — Gold, Silver, and Bronze — and have added new categories.”
Chris Kydd, Publisher of The Coast News Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration.
“We are thrilled to have this team working with us to deliver a world-class experience. We are investing over $75,000 in promotion to bring the audience to the ballot. To ensure fairness and transparency, the contest operates under a specific set of official rules, governing everything from eligibility and voting procedures to the announcement of winners. To win this year’s contest is truly a win!”
Eligibility and participation
The contest is open to businesses and professionals located within the North County region. There are no fees required to participate, nominate, or win in any category, ensuring equal opportunities for all eligible entities. Nominations and votes are submitted online at TheBestofNorthCounty.com, and participants are encouraged to promote their involvement to garner community support.
The nomination period begins at 12 p.m. on Feb. 24, and ends at 5 p.m. on March 7. The community is invited to nominate outstanding people, businesses, and establishments across more than 250 categories. Once nominees are finalized, the audience votes for one choice in each category, with the option to vote once every 24 hours.
Participants can nominate favorites in 10 topic areas: Eat & Drink, Education, Health & Beauty, Home & Garden, Law, Motors, Real Estate, Services, Shopping, and Things To Do. Nominees should serve North County and its surrounding areas. A minimum of five businesses is required for a category to qualify for the ballot. If a category does not qualify, reasonable accommodations will be made to move nominees to a relevant category.
The regular voting period begins at 12 p.m. on March 24, and ends at 5 p.m. on April 11 at votenorthcounty.com. Votes are tabulated by a third party, and The Coast News Group does not know the results until after the tabulation. Readers can vote in each category once per day, with no minimum number of votes required per ballot.
Winners will be announced on July 18 online at TheBestofNorthCounty.com and honored in The Best of North County special winners’ magazine. In the event of a tie, multiple winners or runners-up may be awarded.
Meet the presenting sponsor
North County Injury Lawyers, led by managing partner Randy Walton, has been advocating for local residents for over 20 years. Walton, a North County resident for nearly 40 years, has represented hundreds of individuals and families in personal injury and wrongful death cases, helping clients recover tens of millions of dollars.
“When I needed a personal injury lawyer, I didn’t want to have to go to downtown San Diego,” says a client of the firm. “I found attorney Randy Walton, who listened to my predicament and spent nearly an hour walking me through what would likely happen in my case. I was kept informed and involved in important decisions and was stoked that the case could be settled for more than I even thought it was worth. I strongly recommend this law firm.”
Recognized as the “Best Personal Injury Law Firm in North County San Diego,” North County Injury Lawyers prides itself on delivering great results and personal service. Their attorneys bring extensive experience in handling a wide range of personal injury claims and have the resources to thoroughly investigate and pursue each case.
About The Coast News Group
Since its inception in 1987, The Coast News has delivered high-quality news, community voice, and storytelling to the North County region. The news organization has grown to cover a majority of San Diego’s populous North County region, continually evolving from print to multimedia platforms while upholding journalistic integrity.
The Coast News Group’s reporting is fact-based, informed, fair, and comprehensive, serving thousands of readers who rely on its publications. Locally owned and operated by the Kydd family, The Coast News Group reaches over 200,000 affluent readers across Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Rancho Santa Fe, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido and recently covering the communities of Bonsall and Fallbrook.
For more detailed information about the contest rules, including specific guidelines for nominations, voting, and winner selection, participants are encouraged to visit the official rules page at thebestofnorthcounty.net/official-rules.
