Four candidates battling to represent South County on the Board of Supervisors debated housing, homelessness and the Tijuana River sewage crisis during a Thursday election forum.

Several South County organizations, including Albondigas South County and the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, hosted the two-hour event at a Chula Vista library. Carolina Chavez, Chula Vista council member; Paloma Aguirre, Imperial Beach mayor; Vivian Moreno, San Diego council member; and Louis Fuentes, a small-business owner, participated. John McCann, Chula Vista mayor; Lincoln Pickard, a former political candidate; and Elizabeth Efird, an affordable energy consultant, did not attend.

The District 1 seat became vacant after former county Supervisor Nora Vargas announced in December she would not serve her second term. The winner will represent the cities of Chula Vista, National City and Imperial Beach, the San Diego neighborhoods of Nestor, San Ysidro and Barrio Logan, and the unincorporated areas of Bonita and Spring Valley.

Candidates discussed housing, economic development, the cross-border sewage crisis, homelessness, crime and immigration. Here’s how the hopefuls said they would tackle some of those issues.

Homelessness

Aguirre said the county must beef up its follow-up case work to ensure that people are receiving the support they need to get out of homelessness. That could look like “multiple touch points with the same people” who need an identification card, behavioral health services or a permanent address. The county should seek more state funding to cover costs, she added.

Chavez said that while many, including her city, have built some bridge housing and other accommodations for the homeless, she wants to see more resources for mental health.

Similarly, Moreno said the county has not done enough to address its overall shortage of substance abuse services.

“The county only has 78 beds for three million people,” she said. “That, to me, is ridiculous.”

Fuentes said it’s time to try different approaches.

“We have to focus on one group, right now, to have the greatest impact because money is not unlimited,” he said. “Even if it’s 100 people, focus on the 100 people and not just have them on a list.”

Housing

To support the development of more housing, Fuentes said the county can start by reducing costs for permitting, rezoning and annexing. That “should reduce the costs for the construction side, which should reduce the cost (to) either sell it or rent it,” he added.

Moreno said the city of San Diego has “taken the red tape away” to be able to build over 200,000 housing units in her district. She wants that at the county level, too. Additionally, she said the county’s Fire Safe and Vehicle Miles Traveled Efficient smart growth alternative “needs to be looked at.” The alternative aims to push development away from areas at high risk for wildfires and closer to urban areas with public facilities.

Aguirre said housing production needs to be diversified so that people of all incomes can afford what’s being built. “We need to make sure we continue housing production where it makes sense in urbanized areas, in infill areas and not just in wildfire prone areas.” She and Chavez said they support facilitating the production of more accessible dwelling units (ADUs).

Sewage crisis

Cross-border pollution has worsened in recent years, making it one of the most pressing environmental issues for South County communities. For decades, sewage and toxic chemicals have plagued local shorelines and neighborhoods, impacting people’s health, the local economy and military training.

Aguirre said the county “needs to put skin in the game” and that the city of San Diego could also do more to address the crisis, despite it largely being a federal problem. She suggested the creation of a joint powers authority between the county and city to strategize how to better handle Tijuana River sewage flows.

Chavez said both nations’ federal governments are “very far from the border.” She wants better coordination between all levels of government and from both sides of the border. Chavez said she envisions a task force composed of representatives from the local, state and federal governments.

Moreno said funding is key to fixing Tijuana’s leaky system. She wants to see the federal government invest far more funding in the South Bay wastewater treatment plant, beyond the more than $600 million Congress has approved to fix and expand the facility.

Fuentes said that although much progress has been accomplished in recent years, he doesn’t see the current administration freeing up more money “for an area they don’t even know.” But, he added, “they can work diplomatically to force the root of where that sewage is coming from, which is from Mexico.”

San Diego State and Boise State will matchup on Thursday afternoon, both looking to improve their resumes prior to Selection Sunday.

The Aztecs (21-8, 14-6) swept both games from Boise State during the regular season and earned the four-seed in this week’s Mountain West Conference tournament. The Aztecs have received a bye into the quarterfinal round in 19 of the past 20 seasons and have proceeded to win 17 straight games in the quarterfinal round.

San Diego State guards Nick Boyd and Miles Byrd, who were both named All-Mountain West selections earlier this week, have helped the Aztecs go 3-1 since forward Magoon Gwath went down with an injury against Utah State. Gwath had not yet practiced as of Tuesday but appears to be trending to make a return this season.

Boise State (22-9, 14-6) had been flying up the standings in recent weeks, winning nine of 10 games before dropping their regular season finale against Colorado State. Led by seniors Tyson Degenhart and Alvaro Cardenas, the Broncos are looking for their fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance but have yet to win a game in March Madness.

Notable trends:

The total has gone over in five of San Diego State’s last six games.

The total has gone under in eight of San Diego State’s last 10 games against Boise State.

San Diego State has won 11 of their last 13 games played on a Thursday.

San Diego State has won nine of their past 12 games.

Boise State has covered the spread in eight of their past 11 games.

The total has gone under in eight of Boise State’s last 11 games.

Boise State has won six of their past nine games against San Diego State.

INSERT LINKS – OddsShark and TeamRankings

San Diego State vs. Boise State Betting Odds, TV Channel

Spread: San Diego State +2 (-110)

Over/Under: 134.5 (-110)

Moneyline: San Diego State (+115), Boise State (-135)

Records against the spread: San Diego State (12-16), Boise State (16-14)

Game time: Thursday, March 13 at 2:30 p.m. PT/5:30 p.m. ET

TV Channel: CBS Sports Network

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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LAS VEGAS — Veronica Sheffey scored 24 points and Cali Clark recorded a double-double and fourth-seeded San Diego State clinched the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament beating No. 2 seed Wyoming 72-68 in triple overtime of the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Wednesday night.

It was the first triple overtime championship game in MWC history.

Naomi Panganiban scored 17 points, Clark scored 12 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and Kim Villalobos scored 11 for the Aztecs (25-9), who are returning to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2012.

Malene Pedersen scored 19 points, Allyson Fertig scored 17 and grabbed 18 rebounds and reserve McKinley Dickerson had 10 points for the Cowgirls (22-11).

Villalobos’ layup to start the third overtime broke a 64-all tie and the Aztecs led for the remainder. Wyoming never led in three sessions of overtime.

Sheffey’s 3-pointer with 2:02 left in the second overtime gave San Diego State a 61-56 lead — its largest — before Wyoming closed with an 8-3 spurt to force a third overtime. Fertig made two free throws with seven seconds left to knot it and force the extra session.

Villalobos’ three-point play with 2:54 remaining in the first overtime gave San Diego State a 52-47 lead. Wyoming rallied to close the extra session with a 7-2 run to knot it at 54. Emily Mellema’s layup with seven seconds left brought Wyoming into a tie and neither team could convert shot attempts following time outs.

Knotted at 47-all with 2.2 seconds left in regulation, off the inbounds, Pedersen put a up an off-balance shot that was nowhere near the rim to force the first overtime.

The fourth quarter was a display of shooting futility as Wyoming went 2-for-11 from the field and scored four points and San Diego State went 2-for-10 for six points.