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Municipal elections in Chula Vista, California (2016)

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2016 Chula Vista elections
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Election dates
Filing deadline: N/A
General election: June 7, 2016
Runoff election: November 8, 2016
Election stats
Offices up: City council
Total seats up: 2
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2016
The city of Chula Vista, California, held elections for two seats on the Chula Vista City Council in 2016. The general election occurred on June 7, 2016. A runoff election was held on November 8, 2016.


In 2015, the Chula Vista City Council decided on four districts for the city. Two of those districts were up for election in 2016. In District 4, four candidates competed for the seat. Medical marijuana, bayfront development, and a sales tax increase were among the issues at play in the election. Read more about the issues at play here.

Elections

Runoff

District 3

☑ Steve Padilla
☐ Jason Paguio

District 4

☑ Mike Diaz
☐ Rudy Ramirez
Chula Vista District 3 City Council, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Steve Padilla 55.95% 12,720
Jason Paguio 44.05% 10,016
Total Votes 22,736
Source: San Diego County Registrar of Voters, "Official 2016 General Election Results," accessed December 8, 2016


Chula Vista District 4 City Council Runoff Election, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Mike Diaz 52.16% 10,205
Rudy Ramirez 47.84% 9,358
Total Votes 19,563
Source: San Diego County Registrar of Voters, "Official 2016 General Election Results," accessed December 8, 2016

General

District 4

RunoffArrow.jpg Mike Diaz
RunoffArrow.jpg Rudy Ramirez
☐ Eduardo Reyes
☐ Emmanuel Soto
Chula Vista District 4 City Council General Election, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Rudy Ramirez 27.81% 2,913
Green check mark transparent.png Mike Diaz 27.32% 2,861
Eduardo Reyes 25.93% 2,716
Emmanuel Soto 18.93% 1,983
Total Votes 10,473
Source: San Diego Registrar of Voters, "Official 2016 Primary Election Results," July 6, 2016

Campaign finance

City council campaign finance amounts as of September 24, 2016[1]
Candidate Candidate for which seat Contributions Expenditures Cash on hand
Steve Padilla District 3 $39,170 $27,517 $38,190
Jason Paguio District 3 $19,564 $15,648 $16,291
Mike Diaz District 4 $6,974 $10,272 $1,191
Rudy Ramirez District 4 $32,084 $29,479 $5,511
Eduardo Reyes District 4 $17,784 $32,943 $1,606
Emmanuel Soto District 4 $8,844 $10,019 $0

BP-Initials-UPDATED.png The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may not represent all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer, and campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Issues

2015 redistricting

In 2015, the Chula Vista City Council voted unanimously in favor of dividing the city into four new council districts. Voters cast their ballot for only one city council seat, and candidates running for a council seat had to live within that district of the city.[2]

Previously, all council members were elected at large, and council members could live in any part of the city. In 2012, Chula Vista voters passed Proposition B, which required each of the city's four council members to live in a different district of the city. However, all members were still elected at-large. Proponents of this measure argued that it ensured representation for Chula Vista's minority and low-income residents.[2]

The city council's 2015 decision included a two-stage implementation process. The District 3 and 4 seats were up for election in 2016. In 2018, the other two seats were elected in the second stage of the process.[2]

District 4 candidates on the issues

Four candidates vied for the position of District 4 on the city council. In addition, this seat was significant because District 4 was considered a struggling part of Chula Vista, dealing with issues such as homelessness and rent control.[3]

KPBS news asked a series of yes/no questions to the candidates running for the District 4 seat on the city council. The questions addressed the candidates' views on several significant issues that the candidates might deal with if elected to the council. Read more about the candidates' responses below.[4]

District 4 candidates on the issues[4]
Candidate Supports mayor and council pay raises Agrees with medical marijuana ban Supports bayfront development Supports taking control of Olympic training center Supports sales tax increase
Mike Diaz No Yes Yes No Other
Rudy Ramirez No Yes Yes Other No
Eduardo Reyes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Emmanuel Soto No Yes Yes Yes No

Mayor and council pay raise

In September 2015, the Chula Vista City Council approved a 2.4 percent pay raise for themselves, as well as for the mayor and city attorney. This raised council members' pay from $48,737 to $49,907 per year. The raise was approved by a 3-1 vote of the council, with Councilman McCann voting against and Councilwoman Aguilar abstaining.[5]

The city charter only ties council pay to Superior Court judge salaries, and the council's move also raised the salaries of the Superior Court.[6]

KPBS News asked candidates for District 4 of the council whether or not they supported the council's decision regarding the pay raise.[4]

District 4 candidates on pay raises for mayor and city council members:
Mike Diaz
 Mike Diaz answered NO:
“ All that does is recruits career politicians.[7] ”
—Mike Diaz[4]

Rudy Ramirez answered NO:
“ When I was on the Council during tough budgetary times, I gave up my car allowance and didn’t take the automatic pay increase. I donated it to the Library and Animal Care Facility. If I had to take the vote last September, I would have voted against it and not have taken the raise.[7] ”
—Rudy Ramirez[4]
Rudy Ramirez

Eduardo Reyes
 Eduardo Reyes answered NO:
“ The work of the city council member is to serve the city and its residents. I would not have voted for a pay increase, nor would I vote for any further increases.[7] ”
—Eduardo Reyes[4]

Emmanuel Soto answered NO:
“ I strongly believe that elected officials should not be in control of their own pay. In 2000, the residents of Chula Vista approved Proposition A, which not only made it impossible for City Council to raise their salary but also tied the salaries of the mayor and council to the salary of the superior court judge. If during my tenure on council we are asked to approve salary increases not only would I vote against it but also I would donate the increase back to the city of Chula Vista.[7] ”
—Emmanuel Soto[4]
Emmanuel Soto

Medical marijuana ban

In January 2016, the Chula Vista City Council voted unanimously to maintain the city's laws against medical marijuana, clarifying zoning laws to prohibit its growth. Although the council was undivided in their decision, there was some debate over the decisions. Proponents of the ban argued that allowing growth of medicinal cannabis would lead to more drug use, while opponents argued that allowing a legal market is the best remedy to a black market.[8]

KPBS News asked District 4 candidates whether they supported the ongoing ban on medical marijuana.[4]

District 4 candidates on medical marijuana ban:
Mike Diaz
 Mike Diaz said YES. He said that he supports continuation of the current ban.[4]

Rudy Ramirez said YES.
“ Chula Vista has one of the lowest staffed police departments in the entire state. Apart from our police department, generally speaking, our city staff is not equipped to take on the job of managing this new land use. We should let other cities sort out the issues with managing and regulating dispensaries and learn from their experience in case it is necessary to allow this use sometime in the future because of state law. Legitimate medical marijuana users have many options for obtaining their prescriptions close by. Chula Vista has more important basic problems to handle first.[7] ”
—Rudy Ramirez[4]
Rudy Ramirez

Eduardo Reyes
 Eduardo Reyes said YES.
“ At this time I do not believe it is to the benefit of the city to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in Chula Vista.

[7]

”
—Eduardo Reyes[4]

Emmanuel Soto said YES.
“ I support the council’s current position.[7] ”
—Emmanuel Soto[4]
Emmanuel Soto

Bayfront development

In February 2016, a land exchange was completed and a deal made to begin construction on almost 200 acres of Chula Vista's bayfront. The development prompted a discussion on economic versus environmental concerns for the city.[9]

“ This land exchange represents another Chula Vista project that balances the need of protecting the environment with smart growth principles and supports the city’s vision of developing economically and environmentally sustainable developments.[7] ”
—Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas[9]

KPBS News asked the District 4 candidates whether they supported the plans to develop the bayfront.[4]

District 4 candidates on bayfront development:
Mike Diaz
 Mike Diaz said YES. He said that he supports plans to develop the Chula Vista bayfront.[4]

Rudy Ramirez said YES:
“ I was part of the Citizens Advisory Committee on bayfront development. It was a years long process that involved some 24 stakeholders. In my opinion it was a model of civic engagement that exemplified a diverse collaborative process. At the end of the process, the group came to consensus and the plan, the largest coastal development in California, was unanimously approved by the California Coastal Commission. I spoke at that meeting and spoke at many other meetings and my primary focus was to ensure public access to the water and other amenities. Our bayfront development needs to be integrated into Western Chula Vista and provide incentives for revitalization of our aging urban core.[7] ”
—Rudy Ramirez[4]
Rudy Ramirez

Eduardo Reyes
 Eduardo Reyes said YES:
“ The development of Chula Vista's bayfront offers tremendous potential for the city and its residents. However, I believe that involvement of all stakeholders in this project is crucial to ensure all needs are served.[7] ”
—Eduardo Reyes[4]

Emmanuel Soto said YES:
“ Residents of Chula Vista have been waiting for decades for the Bayfront to be developed. We have a great opportunity to create a World class waterfront attraction that will bring thousands of jobs and will be a catalyst for revitalization in the west side of Chula Vista providing much needed commerce and infrastructure. Families like mine will be able to enjoy the attractions of such a unique place with its dynamic mix of parks, trails, retail shops, and a convention center that will be surely put Chula Vista on the map.[7] ”
—Emmanuel Soto[4]
Emmanuel Soto

Olympic training center

In February 2016, the Chula Vista City Council approved a city takeover of the Olympic Training Center, effective January 1, 2017. The vote to approve the takeover was unanimous. Deputy City Manager Kelley Bacon, who headed the negotiations, said that she believed the takeover would be beneficial for not only the city, but the entire region. Negotiations regarding the takeover began after the US Olympic Committee decided that it was losing too much money on the center and approached the City of Chula Vista about taking it over.[10]

KPBS News asked the District 4 candidates whether they supported the city's decision to take over the center.[4]

District 4 candidates on the Olympic Training Center:
Mike Diaz
 Mike Diaz said NO:
“ I don’t support the transition to the city. If the trust fails to run the center, the city will end up footing the $8 million operating cost. The problem with this type of facility, is that you simply can’t close it down. Even if you close it down, there are many ongoing costs just to keep it closed, such as security and maintaining the facilities and grounds in it’s mothball state. It’s the proverbial white elephant.[7] ”
—Mike Diaz[4]

Rudy Ramirez said MAYBE:
“ The jury is still out on this one. I support it only if the benefits to residents from this new city enterprise can be set affirmatively. What I mean to say is that the goals and objectives that benefit the residents need to be stated more clearly and there should be a companion implementation plan that can be monitored. Chula Vista is home to the Little League champions, the International Friendship Games, and countless other amateur sport activities. If we can use this to spin off private enterprise in sports medicine or other activities that could dovetail with our plans for a university, then maybe we’ll have something going. This, though, may not happen simply by chance. We can, however, achieve degrees of greatness through active work by city staff, local chambers of commerce, and other related nonprofits.[7] ”
—Rudy Ramirez[4]
Rudy Ramirez

Eduardo Reyes
 Eduardo Reyes said YES:
“ The Olympic Training Center has not had the momentum necessary to become sustainable. However, there is great potential with the center. I believe that with the right management and vision, this center could provide the city with great benefits.[7] ”
—Eduardo Reyes[4]

Emmanuel Soto said YES:
“ I support the City of Chula Vista’s pragmatism in looking for a model that would allow the city to take control of the Olympic Training Center while ensuring that operating expenses did not take away from the General Funds. We have to ensure that we a have a strong fiscal budget and finding a community partner to be the operator was the best decision. The Operator has already demonstrated that they are a great community partner by offering a baccalaureate degree program at our local community college. The operator is also attached to a local university giving more credibility to their commitment to the region. As a parks and recreation commissioner I would like to see the training center be used more often as a benefit to youth and amateur sports.[7] ”
—Emmanuel Soto[4]
Emmanuel Soto

Sales tax increase

In May 2016, the Chula Vista City Council voted in support of language for a November 2016 ballot measure to raise the city's sales tax by a half-cent. The decision was a four to one vote, with Councilman John McCann voting against it. While the city council vote approved the language of the measure, voters still had to weigh in. In the November election, the measure appeared on ballots for voters' approval.[11]

Supporters of the measure argued that the city needed additional revenue in order to fund its infrastructure costs, while opponents said that a sales tax raise disproportionately affected working-class families and small businesses.[11]

KPBS News asked District 4 candidates whether they supported the sales tax increase.[4]

District 4 candidates on a sales tax increase to fund infrastructure:
Mike Diaz
 Mike Diaz said MAYBE:
“ Only if it can be earmarked for specific purposes, it must not supplant the current budget, and that it have a sunset clause.[7] ”
—Mike Diaz[4]

Rudy Ramirez said NO:
“ The city of Chula Vista has failed to confront and fix its two biggest problems; jobs housing balance and sales tax leakage. These are the two things we need in order to be fiscally sustainable and not have to rely on new taxes. These two issues are also, fundamentally, a result of poor land use decisions and a better path has not yet been set by city officials. Until the city decides to seriously tackle these fundamental problems, a new tax is just an expensive temporary fix for a long-term problem.[7] ”
—Rudy Ramirez[4]
Rudy Ramirez

Eduardo Reyes
 Eduardo Reyes said YES:
“ Chula Vista is in dire need to improve it's infrastructure, buy new equipment and units for police and fire, and support our areas of greater need. These needs are specially true in District 4. A sales tax increase will allow the city to accomplish this goals. I support the ballot measure.[7] ”
—Eduardo Reyes[4]

Emmanuel Soto said NO:
“ We should first be effective stewards of our current tax dollars. I will work to implement economic growth and pro business policies that will result in increased revenue into our city’s general fund to help pay for much needed infrastructure improvements instead of making it harder for residents of District 4 by placing another tax burden on them. In District 4 we still have neighborhoods that do not have sidewalks, which not only is accessibility issue but also a safety issue. Investing in our infrastructure will not only make Chula Vista more accessible to residents and visitors but will also increase the response time for police and first responders. I want residents of Chula Vista to rest assured knowing that the city is dedicated to their safety and wellbeing.[7] ”
—Emmanuel Soto[4]
Emmanuel Soto

About the city

See also: Chula Vista, California

Chula Vista is a city in San Diego County, California. As of 2010, its population was 243,916.

City government

See also: Council-manager government

The city of Chula Vista uses a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, an elected city council—which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body—appoints a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives..[12]

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista California
Population 243,916 37,253,956
Land area (sq mi) 49 155,857
Race and ethnicity**
White 64.8% 59.7%
Black/African American 4.7% 5.8%
Asian 16.4% 14.5%
Native American 0.4% 0.8%
Pacific Islander 0.5% 0.4%
Other (single race) 7.7% 14%
Multiple 5.4% 4.9%
Hispanic/Latino 59.8% 39%
Education
High school graduation rate 82.8% 83.3%
College graduation rate 29.4% 33.9%
Income
Median household income $81,272 $75,235
Persons below poverty level 9.6% 13.4%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2010). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2014-2019).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Chula Vista California election. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Municipal elections in Chula Vista, California (2016) - Google News

See also

Chula Vista, California California Municipal government Other local coverage
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ City of Chula Vista, "Public Portal for Campaign Finance Disclosure," accessed May 18, 2016
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 KPBS, "Chula Vista Leaders Approve Council Districts," July 15, 2015
  3. ↑ San Diego Free Press, "Candidates Summary for Chula Vista’s Struggling District 4," April 15, 2016
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 KPBS, "Chula Vista District 4 Candidates On The Issues," May 12, 2016
  5. ↑ The Star News, "Part-time City Council OKs salary increases," September 19, 2015
  6. ↑ The San Diego Union-Tribune, "C.V. council pay increase considered," September 15, 2015
  7. ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  8. ↑ The San Diego Union-Tribune, "C.V. council opposes growing medical pot," February 3, 2016
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 The San Diego Union-Tribune, "Chula Vista bayfront plan progresses," March 8, 2016
  10. ↑ ABC 10 News, "Chula Vista City Council approves city takeover of Olympic Training Center," February 8, 2016
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Star News, "Tax increase headed for November vote," May 21, 2016
  12. ↑ City of Chula Vista, "Government," accessed September 5, 2014
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