Erika Lowery

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Erika Lowery

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

National University, 1999

Personal

Birthplace

Burbank, Calif.

Religion

Christianity

Erika Lowery ran for election to the Southwestern Community College District to represent Trustee Area 2 in California. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Lowery completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in San Diego County, California (2024)

General election

General election for Southwestern Community College District Trustee Area 2

Incumbent Kristine Galicia Brown defeated Erika Lowery in the general election for Southwestern Community College District Trustee Area 2 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Kristine Galicia Brown (Nonpartisan)	59.5	17,966
		Erika Lowery (Nonpartisan)	40.5	12,239

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 30,205
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Lowery in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Erika Lowery completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lowery's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

First, I am a parent, one who is on the spectrum. I am an advocate for education for all abilities and finding the path that works best for them.

I have a background in finance, that implores me to look for cost efficient methods to boost productivity. Having a streamlined process towards graduation and a career will make college more accessible and affordable for all.

Finally, I am a community leader. I have worked with and have personal connections with leaders in education and business. I will utilize these connections to work on internships so that there is real world experience in the field that the students are studying in.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Educational foundation for a livable wage. Community colleges are the most financially prudent method of getting an advanced degree. It is also the fastest, most cost efficient way to a long-term, livable wage.
• Preparing young adults for the future workforce. This includes technology focused careers like artificial intelligence, cyber security, and green jobs.
• Education available for all. This includes those with educational disadvantages. Outreach to high schools and educational organizations as well as the different disabled organizations in San Diego would allow for more inclusion and diversity in the student body.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about having a career focused education. I attended community college as have my children. I understand the need for a transitional level education for some, if for financial or educational reasons. This education needs to be end focused, what educational background is needed to reach the given career goal and utilizing all available resources to achieve the career goal for all students.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I am an avid reader, and I take something with me from everything I read.

But if I had to choose one book for a college level student it would be Who Moved My Cheese by Spenser Johnson. Young adults in college need to understand that the world is fluid, and flexibility is key for growth. Learning new ideas and principles may change their view on life.

Also this book is a something that is an easy read, that can be managed with a busy schedule. I think I have read this book 4 or 5 times, each time that my life seemed to make an unexpected change. And each time, I have taken something different from it.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Accountability to the people. As an elected official, with fiduciary responsibilities to the people, my job is to be their spokesperson.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Fiscal responsibility to the people and students. Creating an atmosphere of focused education. And promoting education opportunities to the student body and prospective students.

What legacy would you like to leave?

My father passed away last year and he left an unwritten and silent legacy on our whole family. Since then my own legacy is something that has always been a question to me and it has led me to be the person I am today.

I want to be remembered as someone that anyone could approach with a problem and I am there to help.
I want to be remembered as someone who loved their family completely and did all she could for them.
I want to be remembered as someone honorable and trustworthy. If I say I will do something, I do my best to complete it.
I want to be create a community that is positive and productive.

Ultimately, I want to leave the world a better place because I was in it.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first major historical event that I recall, when I was 4 or 5, was the gas crisis.

My dad was a police sergeant at the time and his hours were odd. He would be called in at any time during the day or night. Because of this, we always had to have gas in our cars.
I remember the lines to get gas in the Los Angeles suburb we lived in. We would always made sure that our gas tank never was below a quarter of a tank.

I still do this. I usually keep my gas tank above half. There are other items that we keep at home, but those come from living through COVID lock downs. But when it comes to gas, I think that childhood memory was one of the influences.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

I have a sound track that usually is stuck in my head. It can be uplifting fun country music or something more serious.
Right now, it is Hozier Take Me to Church.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Partial List:

Reform California
Republican Party of San Diego County
Republican Women of Southbay
Carol Seabury, Imperial Beach City Council
Jack Fisher, Imperial Beach City Council
Cheryl Quinones, South Bay Union School Board Member
Delia Dominguez Cervantes, Chula Vista Elementary School Board Member
Barbara Elliot Sanders, Former South Bay Union School Board Member

Dr Jean Roesch, Former Coronado Unified School Board Member

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe in complete financial transparency. As an elected official that takes the public money, I want to be as open as legally possible. I understand there are some exceptions to complete transparency, but when it comes to other people's money, the more clear information given is better. I also believe that the information should be easy for the average constituent to access and understand.
I also hold myself to the highest level of accountability. I am a forthright individual and my role in government will reflect that.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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