Re-elected San Diego County supervisors were sworn in Monday morning — with the exception of Nora Vargas, who decided last month not to serve her second term.
Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Joel Anderson both took the oath of office at a swearing-in ceremony at the County Administration Center after winning second terms in November.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to represent my district, and I love my job,” Anderson said. “I love fixing people’s problems. … and I’m so delighted to do it for another four years.”
Anderson said that while San Diego County residents may have different views, it is up to the board to create a “melting pot” to get work done together.
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“It doesn’t matter whether you voted for me or not — you’re my constituent. We’re going to take care of you,” Anderson added.
“I can say with confidence that being a county supervisor is one of the most rewarding, challenging, sometimes very surprising and always fulfilling jobs that I’ve ever had — and it’s so worth it, because together, we’ve been creating the change you sent me here to accomplish,” Lawson-Remer said.
She went on to detail some of the county’s work in her first four years in office, from expanding access to affordable healthcare to creating solutions to reduce homelessness.
“None of this has been easy, and we fought every step of the way, but we’re here, and we’re not stopping,” Lawson-Remer added.
Friend and activist Linda LeGerrette, left, administers the swearing-in of vice chair Terra Lawson-Remer, as she holds the hand of her daughter EevaKai, for her second term on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Meanwhile, Vargas, who also won re-election, concluded her tenure as the representative of District 1 at noon Monday after she unexpectedly announced last month that she would step down rather than serve her second term.
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“My decision to not take the oath today for a second term was not easy, but it was necessary to prioritize my personal safety and security,” Vargas said in a statement Monday. “Thank you for trusting me to represent your needs, voices and interests. It’s been an honor to work tirelessly on your behalf.”
The remaining four supervisors will hold their first meeting of the year Tuesday to elect new officers, including a chair, vice-chair and chair pro tem.
The board is also holding a special meeting next week to decide next steps to fill the District 1 vacancy.
Its agenda for that meeting lays out the potential options for naming somebody to serve out Vargas’ four-year term, which runs to January 2029: Supervisors can appoint a replacement, call a special election or both.
An expedited schedule for appointment applications could enable the board to seat a new supervisor by early February. A special election would take place in April, with a possible runoff in July if no candidate earns a majority of votes.
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Kate Anderson administers the swearing in of her husband Joel Anderson, right, with their twin grandsons, for his second term on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
In social media posts Monday, Supervisor Jim Desmond acknowledged that the board has been in this position recently — when Nathan Fletcher resigned from the board less than two years ago amid sexual misconduct allegations — and urged his colleagues to once again choose to hold a special election.
“The residents of District 1 deserve to select their next representative, for nearly a full four-year term, through a fair and transparent election process; not a political appointment decided behind closed doors,” Desmond said.
Lawson-Remer told The San Diego Union-Tribune Monday she and her fellow supervisors will decide together how to do what’s best for District 1 residents.
Her two concerns in the interim: “How do we make sure that residents of District 1 have a voice both immediately and in the ongoing four years — but also, how do we keep the work of the county moving forward until then?”
Other supervisors have not said which replacement process they prefer.
If the board chooses to call a special election, it could cost the county between $4 million to $6.6 million if both a primary and general election are needed.
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However, the board could authorize either the primary or general elections, or both, be conducted by mail, which could reduce costs.
The county registrar of voters is expected to detail the estimated costs and proposed timelines at the special meeting next week.
Vice chair Terra Lawson-Remer watches the swearing in of Joel Anderson for his second term on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 in San Diego. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Voting rights advocates and residents alike are urging the board to hold a special election, warning that appointing a replacement could compromise public representation and undermine credibility of the new supervisor.
Regardless of their decision, a number of potential candidates have expressed interest in Vargas’ seat.
Three Democrats — San Diego City Councilmember Vivian Moreno, Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre and Chula Vista Councilmember Carolina Chavez — and one Republican, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, have confirmed they are running.
All four were elected to their four-year posts in 2022, so should any be appointed or elected to fill the District 1 vacancy, their departures would, in turn, leave vacancies on their respective councils, leaving their colleagues to decide how to replace them.
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But until a new supervisor is chosen, supervisors will continue to conduct county business with a partial board of two Democrats and two Republicans.
With a population of more than 630,000 residents, District 1 includes Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City, several south San Diego neighborhoods and five unincorporated communities, such as Bonita and Lincoln Acres.
Four suspects were behind bars Friday for allegedly beating a man to death two months ago during a fight at Linda Vista Park.
Arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murder in connection with the violent death of 59-year-old Ruben Rimorin were Juan Garcia Alavez, 21, Juan Manuel Lopez, 26, Brian Reyes, 20, and Franklin Joseph Tuell, 21, according to the San Diego Police Department.
Rimorin was found gravely injured about 3:45 a.m. Oct. 18 on a sidewalk in the 6800 block of Osler Street, just west of the park, SDPD Lt. Chris Tivanian said. Paramedics tried in vain to revive the victim before pronouncing him dead at the scene.
It remains unclear what sparked the deadly fight.
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The suspects were being held at San Diego Central Jail without bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Friday afternoon.
National City’s Pepper Park can soon expand in size by nearly 50%, thanks to a ruling this week by the California Coastal Commission to approve the National City Balanced Plan.
The approval of the plan at the CCC’s Wednesday meeting, developed by the Port of San Diego, means that not only will the popular park have the ability to increase in size, big changes are coming for commercial, recreation and maritime uses on the National City bayfront.
“We are grateful to the California Coastal Commission for its support of the National City Balanced Plan,” said Danielle Moore, chair of the Board of Port Commissioners. “The progress we have made has been anchored in tireless collaboration with the community, business leaders and, of course, the city of National City. It’s about bringing more recreational opportunities to the bayfront while also streamlining and strengthening maritime operations, and we are eager to bring these projects to life.”
Other components of the balanced plan include:
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Realigning Marina Way to serve as the buffer area between commercial recreation and maritime uses
The closure of Tidelands Avenue between Bay Marina Drive and West 32nd Street, and West 28th Street between Tidelands Avenue and Quay Avenue, around six acres, to increase terminal efficiency by eliminating redundancies
The development of a recreational vehicle park, tent sites, cabins and the “ultimate development of up to two hotels with up to 365 rooms, as well as dry boat storage,” a port statement read
A connector rail project to connect the existing rail and loop track located on the National City Marine Terminal to additional rail car storage spots at the existing Burlington Northern Santa Fe National City Yard east of the National Distribution Center
The Board of Port Commissioners must accept the CCC’s certification, then the port and city can begin the process of completing the above projects.
“I am proud of the work we have done to help create a lasting legacy for National City, the Port of San Diego, and the entire region,” said Port Commissioner GilAnthony Ungab. “Nearly a decade in the making, this plan balances the interests of the community and many other stakeholders, addresses public access, maritime, and recreation uses, and expands waterfront access in my community.”
The National City Bayfront is 273 acres of waterfront land and 167 acres of water, and includes the National City Marine Terminal, Pepper Park, Pier 32 Marina, the Aquatic Center and pieces of public art.
Mayor Todd Gloria announced an initiative Wednesday intended to expand housing options in neighborhoods by integrating small-scale residences such as townhomes, rowhomes and cottages into an area’s existing character.
The Neighborhood Homes for All of Us initiative is also intended to support community land trusts — nonprofit organizations that acquire land to create permanent affordable housing.
“Since Day 1 of my administration, I have been focused on building more homes that San Diegans can actually afford — and getting them built faster,” Gloria said at a news conference Wednesday. “‘Neighborhood Homes for All of Us’ is the latest piece of that puzzle. This innovative program will break down the barriers that have gotten in the way of building the type of housing that I believe is ideal for young families and first-time homebuyers for whom the dream of homeownership has long felt out of reach.”
Around 80% of land zoned for housing in the city is restricted to single-family homes, which continue to increase in price, Gloria said. And a significant portion of new housing being built consists of apartment buildings with primarily studio and one-bedroom units, leaving working-class families fewer and fewer options for homes.
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Neighborhood Homes for All of Us is intended to increase the housing supply and allow community land trusts to keep housing affordable in disadvantaged communities for low- to middle-income families.
“San Diego is an incredible place to raise a family, and more families need the opportunity to do that in San Diego’s existing, highly desirable single-family neighborhoods where their kids can learn and play in a great community,” City Planning Director Heidi Vonblum said. “But today, that comes at a price that is out of reach for too many. Integrating more options for families requires careful and thoughtful planning, with input from existing and future community members across the city, to ensure these new home opportunities for San Diego’s families are built in ways that best enhance and benefit San Diego’s amazing neighborhoods.”
The initiative will roll out in two phases. In the first phase, beginning this week and continuing through next summer, San Diegans can help determine what the neighborhoods can look like. The public will be able to see renderings showing small-scale neighborhood homes within San Diego’s existing communities, along with new regulations that “provide a clear pathway for building these homes,” according to a statement from Gloria’s office.
Phase 1 will also include an open house and ways for the community to provide feedback and concerns.
Phase 2, scheduled for the second half of 2026, will be for city staff to develop regulations allowing for the building of more neighborhood homes in a way informed by the public feedback.
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The initiative is partly funded through a Regional Early Action Planning grant from the San Diego Association of Governments.
