Terry Hoskins
Elections and appointments
Personal
Contact
Terry Hoskins ran for election to the San Diego City Council to represent District 9 in California. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Hoskins completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Terry Hoskins was born in Owensboro, Kentucky. Hoskins' career experience includes working as a police officer. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1983 to 2008. Hoskins earned a bachelor's degree from Ashford University in 2011, a graduate degree from Grand Canyon University in 2013, and a Ph.D. from California Baptist University in 2023.[1]
Hoskins has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- The Purple Heart Association
- The San Diego Police Officers Association
- The Black Police Officers Association
- VFW Post 1512
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Lincoln Club
- Voice of San Diego
Elections
2024
See also: City elections in San Diego, California (2024)
General election
Nonpartisan primary election
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Hoskins in this election.
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Terry Hoskins completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hoskins' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I'm Democrat Terry Hoskins, running for City Council District 9.
As a retired US Marine and SD Police Officer, I will return respect, representation, and ethical behavior to the office.
The experience I will bring to the office is founded on the realization that I have watched, listened to, and seen community members' frustration with elected officials—the lack of representation, respect, and accountability needs to stop.
I am familiar with the community members of District 9. I have worked alongside many of you in every community at one point or another. I have worked with you and for you when many of our City Departments would not or could not. I have participated in many community cleanups in every community for the past nine years. These cleanups were on both city property and private property.
During each of those cleanups, I was in uniform and worked and sweated alongside you!
Before the City had a Neighborhood Policing Division, I responded to issues and concerns surrounding homelessness, the encampments, and nefarious activities that affected the community's quality of life.
I have collaborated with Code Enforcement, regardless of whether it was reporting on potential code violations, accompanying Code Enforcement personnel, and conducting follow-ups for the many properties identified with code violations. The residents of Chollas Creek, you know too well my loyalty to the community; the recycling center's closing down was a collaborative success! - Priority one is public safety. I heard firsthand from people feeling unsafe walking down the street, going to the park, leaving their vehicles parked, shoplifters robbing businesses, solicitation and prostitution, and alcohol/narcotic use happening in front of our families. Property crime is not down; reporting the crimes is down.
- Priority two is preserving single-family neighborhoods. I understand the need for additional housing. Let us increase housing through realistic efforts that recognize density without infrastructure is a fundamental mistake in government. The waiving of developers' impact fees, a large amount of money, could have been dedicated to the failing infrastructure that caused the devasting floods last month, which this administration was aware of. Instead, they now seek to tax the public.
- We reside in the most diverse District in San Diego. Small-owned businesses are vitally important to our District. Yet only a few businesses are open. I will revitalize small business developments, which include small businesses in our diverse communities, especially along University Avenue. Collaboratively, we will increase small family businesses that are the bedrock of our District.
One central element of Public Administration is accountability. We need better accountability and better transparency. Elected officials must be held accountable for failed policies and poor fiduciary responsibility. The time is now when we, the public, ask our elected officials, “Where did the money earmarked for essential infrastructure improvements and maintenance go towards during the last three years? We recall in June 2016, voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition H. Proposition H was to ensure the proper prioritization of essential infrastructure improvement and maintenance, stopping the deterioration of the city’s infrastructure. This administration voted 8 - 1 to allocate this money for other priorities. Who is serving whom?
First, all elected offices are an essential part of our democracy, and the legitimacy of that office is vitally important. There have been too many occasions where an elected official brings discredit upon the office they were elected. For this reason, every elected official should provide a history of personal finances. Does the public want elected officials who have made poor personal financial decisions to have the opportunity to handle the public's money? Additionally, all criminal history should be made public, including traffic and other citations. The quality of a person's elected to an office and the expectation of the elected officeholder should be more than that of other government workers. It may not prevent that person from holding office, but this information should be made public before an election. Transparency, in this case, would add to the legitimacy of office.
I have had many mentors in life, from men and women I served with in the U.S. Marine Corps. To this day, the leadership I observed made me into the man I am today. The fourteen leadership traits and the eleven leadership principles have been the bedrock of my character. If I had to choose one person I admired the most, it would be a Marine I never met. It would be Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph Daly. Daly was a United States Marine, and one of nineteen U.S. service members awarded the Medal of Honor twice. Daly and Major General Smedley Butler are the only Marines who earned two Medals of Honor for two separate acts of valor. Daly is among the most decorated U.S. Marines in history, and over a thirty-year career, saw action in all the major Marine Corps campaigns from 1899 to the end of World War I. He earned his first Medal of Honor during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 and the second in Haiti in 1915. Butler described Daly as "the most fighting Marine I ever knew...It was an object lesson to have served with him." Daly was known more for his leadership skills and ability to unite people of different backgrounds for a common goal. Daly led by example in both peacetime and wartime.
My political philosophy is relatively simple and founded in my public administration doctorate. Additionally, as a retired infantry combat U.S. Marine Sergeant Major and retired San Diego Police Officer, the public not only expects you to make the right decision but also demands that you do. I have been making these decisions for more than forty years. This accountability applies to anyone working in any government office. If not, the elected officials typically demand action is taken accordingly, and that person will be held accountable. Therefore, all elected officials must be held responsible for decisions made in the people's interest. If an elected official makes poor decisions, they must have the moral courage to admit their mistake and learn from it. However, they still must be held accountable. When an elected official attempts to blame others, they have lost all creditability with the public, and this creditability, once lost, will never be given again. Accountability is the pillar of substance for me, my rock of Gibraltar. An elected official must be held accountable for failed policies, failed programs, and failure of fiduciary responsibilities.
An elected official is just that, an elected official who is voted into office by the men and women of their District. The voters in District 9 are not naive and remember failed promises. They believe a person's word is their bond. They believe respect is earned and is not an entitlement. Therefore, an elected official must be trustworthy (Word is their bond), have believability (Researched all sides of an issue to make a decisive decision), possess loyalty to the people who placed them into office (Broken promises destroy trust between the public and that elected officials), display unselfishness (Focus on the current office, not making decisions believed will take them further in the political arena), and pursue the people's wishes (The elected official was placed in the office to do the will of the people, not the other way around), respectful of everyone (Regardless of gender, race, religion, and sexual preference), and look respectful when representing the public (Exhibit pride in your appearance).
I have many qualities that contribute to my being a successful officeholder. I am my worst critic; I know myself and always seek self-improvement. I strive each day to set an example. I have had the unique ability to make sound and timely decisions, and many of my choices were decisive. I constantly seek responsibility and am responsible for my actions and those I have not. I believe in teamwork and have always trained my people to work as a team. I do not tolerate disrespectful behavior from anyone, and I will call you out professionally. Last but not least, a successful person must be genuine. People are not fools; they can see through the facade of a person.
As an elected official, you are the leader and representative of the people who elected you. First and foremost, you must seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions. Elected officials must set an example in everything they do, as they represent the public. Elected officials must work hard to gain the knowledge to be 100 % proficient when they take office. Still, they must continually seek self-improvement in personal growth and strive to be technically and tactically proficient in everything they do or say. It is essential to ensure your team has the same character traits as you, train your people as one team, and know their strengths and capabilities. An elected official must put their staff in a position to be successful. If a member of your team fails, then you have failed. If a team member is successful, then your team has succeeded. Lastly, an elected official must remember to thank and praise first responders every opportunity they have to do so. During the COVID pandemic, only a few positions continued daily as if everything was the same, especially at the beginning, with little to no COVID-protected masks. First responders were not allowed to work from home as they had no choice but to go to work; they were the unsung heroes. One must not be arrogant or biased to acknowledge the truth as an elected official!
The legacy I would like to leave behind is that of unselfishness. I have always praised the men and women who worked for me. A person's success is the result of many solid men and women. Additionally, I wish to be considered an honest, loyal, caring, dependable person who desires to protect those who cannot defend themselves and believes in the same justice for everyone.
One of the first historical events I recall occurred in high school. As a freshman, I played high school football. I was walking home from football practice in August 1977. Upon walking into the trailer we were renting, I realized my mother was crying emotionally. It was then I learned that Elvis Presley had died. Arguably, Elvis is the most significant cultural figure of the 20th century. As with most of the people who lived in the region of the southern states, Elvis was a living icon. Oddly enough, approximately one year before he died, my mother, sister, and I saw him in concert in Evansville, Indiana, in October 1976.
Worked on Ferry Boat that transported vehicles across the Green River in Kentucky
Hillbilly Elegy, "A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis"
by J.D. Vance
It is an extraordinary testimony to the brokenness of the white working class and their strengths.
I do not read fictional books, sorry1
"My Way," by Frank Sinatra, released a popularized song in 1969.
I'll explain being unable to help all the veterans I see on the streets.
It has been a daily struggle for me not to feel responsible for the men who served alongside me in harm's way many times. This sense of responsibility remains to this day. I have had many Marine Brothers who have succumbed to the horror of war while being safe at home. I have walked among giants and am a better man for it. The price of freedom is costly.
George Jones released a song in 1962 titled "Wild Irish Rose." The song tells a heartfelt story of a service member after returning from the Vietnam War. If you never heard the music, I ask you to google it and listen. Here are just a few verses.
"They sent him to Asia to fight in war.
He came back home crazy and askin' what for?
They had him commited, Oh his medals and all
To a mental hospital with rubber walls.
They cut off the funding.
O they cut off the lights he hit the street running,
That cold winter night.
Now the streets are the only place he can call home
He seems oh so lonely, but he's never alone.
He lies there holding his Wild Irish Rose," The public should be afforded the opportunity to observe discretionary funds from all public elected offices. The ability to review line items of discretionary funds would add to the transparency of elected offices.
An elected office should not require the candidate to have previous government or political experience to qualify. The more experience a person has in dealing with the public, experience in dealing with subordinates, and having extremely high-stress occupancy would better prepare potential candidates for elected offices. However, this should be optional, and some of the best leaders in our nation were not career politicians.
The most helpful skill sets are a combination of many skill sets, but I believe they fall into these categories: interpersonal skills, organization skills, technical skills, and leadership. You can apply a combination of abilities, qualities, and experiences to perform tasks well. These can include soft skills such as interpersonal skills, organization, and leadership, as well as technical skills such as research, computer programming, accounting writing, and more. Elected officials must understand that leaders are not born but made.
I do not like comedy, and I don't tell jokes.
I am honored to be endorsed by two former City Councilmembers, District 9 Marti Emerald and District 4 Myrtle Cole. Additionally, I am honored to be the only candidate endorsed for San Diego City Council by the San Diego Police Officers Association.
The biggest mistake many of our politicians make is the decision to spend the people's money in such a manner that the money belongs to elected officials. Unfortunately, we have seen too many occasions where our elected officials believe they know better than the people. It happens not only financially but also with policymaking. SB-10 is the perfect example of a lack of financial transparency and government accountability. The waiving of development fees in an effort to increase density in single-family neighborhoods was not what the people desired. The elected officials will be held accountable for purposely making decisions that are contrary to the wishes of the people.
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.
See also
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 4, 2024
