2026 North County
San Diego Voter Guide

Asked for the one policy he would push to make housing more affordable for renters, he would update County regulations to allow more "missing middle" housing — townhouses, duplexes, and ADUs — in exclusionarily zoned areas, and provide free pre-approved development plans for those units. He also says the County needs to do much more of its part in building subsidized housing. His platform supports "smart growth and faster approvals," building near jobs and transit, and cutting "redundant reviews." Does not support a real-estate transfer tax, saying it would make it harder to increase "the volume and velocity of housing sales." No position on the housing propositions.

“The County also needs to do much more of its part in building subsidized housing!”

Asked what role the county should play in supporting community food pantries, he names the federal cuts to food assistance under HR 1 as his primary concern, notes that the County is the government responsible for SNAP, and says reducing the harm from those cuts is one of his core reasons for running. He wants the large nonprofits that do most of the county's food distribution focused on North County's areas of highest food insecurity, partnering closely with smaller organizations already doing the work there. His platform lists "protecting critical services from federal cuts" as a top priority. On Measure B, the citizens' half-cent sales tax, which includes a 7% allocation for CalFresh and nutrition, he said in April, "I will leave that to the voters to decide." In October he warned that if it fails, the county will have to make cuts and "people are going to die on our streets," and said he would support adding a sunset clause and an oversight system to monitor spending.

“one of my core reasons for running for this office is to reduce the harms being caused by these cuts.”

Supports publicly reporting police stop and use-of-force data, and independent review of misconduct complaints. Asked whether he supports both, he answered "Yes." His platform pledges to fully fund the Sheriff's Department, and he backs expanded mental-health crisis teams, jail diversion programs, and gun-violence restraining orders. His platform also lists "criminal justice reform."

Asked for one thing he would do to make LGBTQIA+ residents feel safe and welcome, he would invest County resources in local organizations providing inclusive services, like the North County LGBTQ Center. Endorsed by San Diego Democrats for Equality.

“Invest County resources in local organizations that are providing inclusive services to the community, like the North County LGBTQ Center.”

Opposes sharing local data, such as license-plate reader records, with federal immigration enforcement. Asked whether that data should be shared, he answered "No!" He condemns ICE operations in the county and praises the county's legal defense program: "I think it's great the county is fighting that." Finds the county charter measure's reforms reasonable and is "specifically enthusiastic" about its Ethics Commission, while saying he does not necessarily agree with changing term limits.

Answered our questionnaire. Supports tenant protections and stabilization policies in general, so that "our whole community (tenants and landlords)" can thrive. Asked whether he would reintroduce Chapter 14D, the tenant-protection ordinance that failed in September 2025, he commits to continuing the fight for renter rights "in the most effective way I can." He did not answer our question on just-cause protection at six months, relocation assistance, landlord eviction reporting, or rent stabilization individually. On the council he has the strongest tenant record: he voted for the just-cause ordinance on both readings, for rent stabilization, and for the legal-defense pilot. Voted for the Navigation Center rebid. No position on the housing propositions.

“The city should protect families from exploitation in the housing market through tenant protections and stabilization policies.”

Answered our questionnaire. Says the city should play an active role as "the hub of community resources" and commits to redefining its Neighborhood Services Department in that role. The city should also be "a loud advocate for reasonable laws that do not unduly burden aid providers in our communities." He did not answer our question on making it safe for eligible residents to use CalFresh, or on city funding for food access.

“I commit to redefining our Neighborhood Services Department in this role.”

Answered our questionnaire. Asked whether he would commit to directing OPD to publish annual stop and use-of-force data; a surveillance technology ordinance with council approval, published use policies, and annual audits; a written bar on federal data sharing; and independent investigative authority for the oversight committee, he answered all four parts with one word: "Yes." On surveillance, he wants disclosure, transparency, and public conversation about any action that reduces residents' privacy. He voted for the 2025 drone pilot with a stated reservation. He takes no position on Measure S.

“I feel strongly about disclosure and transparency around any and all actions which reduce the privacy of our residents.”

Answered our questionnaire. Says the city "should stand proudly with our LGBTQ+ community" at a time when progress on equity is being attacked, and that beyond visibility, more places for community members to voice their experience would show the city what actions are needed. He did not answer our question on adopting a flag policy that includes the Pride flag. On the council he voted to fly the Pride flag both times and authored the 2023 flag-policy proposal that would have expressly included it.

“The city should stand proudly with our LGBTQ+ community especially now when we are seeing much of the progress in equity be attacked and lost.”

Answered our questionnaire. Says his office has led the city's response to the crisis facing immigrant neighbors, joining public and less public actions in support of mutual aid and community response, and that the city should at minimum pass a declarative resolution of values affirming every person's right to human rights and due process. He did not answer our question on funding crisis support going forward, or on keeping license-plate-reader and camera data from federal immigration agencies; his "Yes" on police accountability includes a written bar on federal data sharing. On the council he made the motions on every September 2025 immigration item and voted for the crisis-relief funding and the Community Trust Resolution, both of which failed.

“We should, at the very least, pass a declarative resolution of values, especially declaring every human's right to human rights and due process.”

Answered our questionnaire. Would vote for just-cause eviction protection after six months, relocation assistance for qualifying no-fault evictions, and landlord eviction reporting, and supports rent stabilization with a qualifier: a measured approach that allows reasonable adjustments for legitimate costs. Wants the city to use underused city land or buy commercial property to build and keep affordable housing as a public asset. He and fellow D2 challenger Ricky James are the only candidates in the four cities to commit to a specific tenant protection; they split on rent stabilization, which James opposes.

“a measured approach to rent stabilization that protects tenants from extreme rent increases while allowing reasonable adjustments for legitimate operating, maintenance, and capital costs.”

Answered our questionnaire. Commits to "make food security a recurring priority in the annual city budget," and at a minimum to city space and direct funding for local organizations already doing the work. Proposes a community food hub where farms, grocery stores, and restaurants donate safe, unsold food, and investment in local farms in Morro Hills. He is the only local candidate in the four cities to commit to city funding for food access.

“I believe food security should be an essential social service and a city responsibility.”

Answered our questionnaire. Supports requiring the Oceanside Police Department to publish annual stop and use-of-force data; a surveillance technology ordinance requiring council approval, public use policies, and annual audits; transparency on data shared with federal agencies; and independent investigative authority for civilian oversight, with no conditions attached. Would "vote to eliminate Flock systems" (license-plate-reader cameras), shift 10% of the police budget to firefighters and EMTs, and fund mental-health clinicians to respond alongside officers. Opposes Measure S.

Answered our questionnaire. Says he would have voted to fly the Pride flag in 2025 and supports a city flag policy that allows it to always fly. Also proposes a flag recognizing Oceanside's immigrant community.

“I would have voted to fly the Pride flag and will support a clear city flag policy that allows it to always fly.”

Answered our questionnaire. Would fund community-based crisis support for immigrant families affected by enforcement "and make that support a recurring part of the city budget," and says he would have voted yes on the crisis-relief funding the council rejected in September 2025. Supports protections preventing city-owned Flock cameras, license-plate readers, and camera-network data from being shared with federal immigration agencies, and removing the Flock cameras. Proposes multilingual Know Your Rights information in every city building, rapid-response networks, an emergency family-support fund, community navigators, and an "Oceanside Family Protection Network" of nonprofits, faith groups, schools, businesses, legal providers, and immigrant leaders.

“Local police should focus on protecting the community—not acting as federal immigration agents.”

Answered our questionnaire. Commits to three of the four tenant mechanisms Oceanside has rejected — just-cause eviction protection at six months, relocation assistance for no-fault evictions, and landlord eviction reporting — and declines the fourth, rent stabilization, framing the council's job as enforcing fair rules rather than setting prices. He and fellow D2 challenger Oscarin Ortega are the only candidates in the four cities to commit to any of the three. His campaign site separately covers homelessness along the San Luis Rey River Trail and opposition to sprawl.

“Yes, I'd vote for just-cause eviction protection at six months and relocation assistance for no-fault evictions, basic fairness. Yes on landlord eviction reporting too. I don't support rent stabilization.”

Answered our questionnaire. Says running food programs is not the core job of city government and does not commit new city funding for food access. Commits instead to saying publicly that no city department tracks or shares benefit use and that no Oceanside officer has any role in CalFresh eligibility, and is open to making it easier for groups like Oceanside Sanctuary to operate — space, less red tape. The commitment is one of non-interference rather than provision, and it is the only city-level answer in the four cities aimed at the fear-driven disenrollment the question was about.

“a councilmember can make sure the city is never the reason someone's afraid to use help they're legally entitled to.”

Answered our questionnaire, and is one of two candidates in the field, both Oceanside D2 challengers, with a surveillance-ordinance position. Supports OPD publishing annual stop and use-of-force data, and a surveillance technology ordinance — council approval, published use policies, annual audits — applied to the license plate readers and private camera network already in service, not only to new tools. Conditional on independent investigative authority for the oversight committee: he wants the difference between full record access and a parallel investigation settled before committing. Declines a written bar on sharing data with federal agencies, preferring one general standard limiting misuse of resident data. Opposes Measure S.

“Yes, I support a surveillance technology ordinance: council approval, published use policies, annual audits, applied to what's already in service (license plate readers, the camera network), not just new tools.”

Answered our questionnaire. He says a council's role goes beyond following state law, describing it as treating every group in the district the same way, and he supports adopting the written flag policy Oceanside has failed three times to produce. He would treat a park event permit and a Pride Month proclamation differently from the flagpoles themselves, with the same access any other group gets.

“I would not have voted to raise the flag, and that hasn't changed. I support adopting a written flag policy so this stops being relitigated every year.”

Answered our questionnaire. Says a city owes every resident the same services, safety response and due process regardless of status. Declines to say how he would have voted on the Community Trust Resolution or the crisis-relief funding, noting he was not seated and has not seen the language, and does not commit new dedicated city funding for crisis support going forward. On the license-plate-reader and camera data he gives the same answer he gave on policing: a general privacy and use policy limiting misuse of resident data, not a commitment written around one specific agency.

“A city owes every resident the same services, safety response, and due process, regardless of status.”

Answered our questionnaire. Drawing on her work as a school counselor, the one change she names is continuing the district's mental health support from counselors and social workers and expanding it "where we can, as fiscally possible." She says the social work team serves Tier 3 students with the highest needs, including students with attendance concerns, and that the district will keep funding it "provided funding sources are available, while ensuring we maintain a positive budget." She cast the lone no vote against closing Reynolds Elementary in March 2023; asked about it, she called it "the most heartbreaking board meeting" and a very difficult vote, made on safety concerns after the board had anticipated a renovation.

“We will continue to fund our social worker program provided funding sources are available, while ensuring we maintain a positive budget.”

Answered our questionnaire. Says three of the district's community schools are designated food distribution sites, and that OUSD works with community partners, food bank providers, and the City of Oceanside to connect campuses to local food distribution and choose locations that best serve families. She did not answer our question on adding school pantries. She signed a March 2025 letter urging Rep. Darrell Issa to oppose federal cuts to SNAP, as did all five OUSD trustees.

“Through our community schools partnerships, we continue to expand opportunities.”

Answered our questionnaire. Says writing restorative practices and Alternative-to-Suspension programs into board policy "is something to consider," and that for now, being able to change and modify the programs as needs arise lets the district make improvements and adjust to its student population.

“Writing board policy regarding restorative practices and Alternative-to-Suspension programs is something to consider.”

Answered our questionnaire. Says OUSD follows current law and the Education Code on supporting LGBTQ+ students, that LGBTQ+ students disproportionately experience harassment and bullying, and that the district is committed to a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment with equal access for every student. She did not answer yes or no on whether OUSD should continue to have no parental-notification policy.

“LGBTQ+ students disproportionately experience harassment and bullying and it is important to ensure students have access to a safe learning environment.”

Answered our questionnaire. Supports Board Policy 1445, which sets guidelines to keep schools safe and welcoming for all students regardless of citizenship or immigration status, and voted to approve it. On the April 2026 move of North Terrace middle schoolers onto Camp Pendleton, she says families who were affected or had concerns about their child's placement were offered a guaranteed intradistrict transfer on request. She signed the March 2025 letter opposing "an unaccountable immigration and border enforcement regime," as did all five trustees.

“Our students deserve to know that they belong and are welcome on our campus and that measures are in place to protect them.”

Answered part of our questionnaire. Says he deeply values the district's social workers and support teams in keeping vulnerable students engaged, and that as one-time federal and state funding expires, the board's priority must be "identifying sustainable budget reallocations and expanding community partnerships." He did not answer our questions on the one change he would make, keeping seven social workers, or the district's 286 unstably housed students.

“I deeply value the role of our school social workers and support teams in keeping vulnerable students engaged.”

Answered part of our questionnaire. Supports expanding community partnerships, "such as expanding school pantries with Feeding San Diego," so that no child goes hungry. He did not answer our question on Libby Elementary's pantry.

“to ensure no child goes hungry or falls through the cracks.”

Answered part of our questionnaire. His priority is protecting instructional time. He wants teachers empowered to maintain orderly classrooms with "clear, predictable consequences," and says that when one student repeatedly disrupts a class, it takes away from the other 29 who are there to learn. He cites figures of 70% of students struggling in math and 60% in reading and writing, and opposes policies that create heavy administrative burdens or disrupt learning. He did not answer our question on writing restorative practices and Alternative-to-Suspension into board policy, or our follow-up on whether he would want less restorative practice.

“I believe we must empower our teachers with the authority to maintain orderly classrooms and ensure that actions have clear, predictable consequences.”

Answered part of our questionnaire. On inclusion and campus safety, commits to every school being "an orderly and welcoming environment where all students can focus on achieving their academic potential," and supports "clear, lawful, and stable district policies that protect our families." He did not answer yes or no on whether OUSD should continue to have no parental-notification policy.

“I am fully committed to ensuring that every school in our district is an orderly and welcoming environment where all students can focus on achieving their academic potential.”

Supports retaining the seven-person social work team, and wants district leadership to evaluate eligible recurring state funding, including through the district's Local Control and Accountability Plan, alongside the relative impact of other spending, with outside funding as a supplement. For students without stable housing, Joey prioritizes reliable transportation, school continuity, timely enrollment, meals, counseling, and connections to family resources. The first-year change Pearson names is a shared public dashboard of the district's priorities and its measures of learning, attendance, and student well-being, with an initial public version in year one.

“I approach attendance as a student-support and access issue, recognizing the effects of housing instability, transportation, mental health, and whether students feel safe and connected at school.”

Supports expanding pantries where there is unmet need and a sustainable plan, including at additional community schools. For Libby, says sustainability planning should begin before the outside funding ends, with the district and partners reviewing demand, costs, staffing, and renewal or replacement funding, then building a model that can expand where needed. Plans to learn from a UCLA colleague's community-schools work at the Riverside County Office of Education and from Oceanside Sanctuary's food pantry and its work with Feeding San Diego, and to explore voluntary food drives, while saying dependable access requires a reliable supply and ongoing support. Wants to measure households served, consistency of distribution, and family feedback.

“No student should have to learn while hungry; in fact, learning is largely unavailable to students who do not have their basic biological needs met.”

Supports restorative practices and the Alternative-to-Suspension program, and says the board should set clear expectations for accountability, safety, and restorative discipline through policy. Says suspension calls for discretion, with less exclusionary interventions used when they can address behavior while maintaining safety, and expulsion reserved for serious circumstances permitted or required by law, with due process. Also says teachers and students deserve safe classrooms, which takes administrative backing, family communication, and effective responses to repeated disruption or threats. For students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and other underserved students, wants to examine repeat incidents, lost instructional time, safety, and successful reentry across schools and student groups.

“I support restorative practices and Alternatives to Suspension, and I do not believe sending children home should be the routine answer to misconduct.”

Does not support a parental-notification policy, the kind of rule some districts have adopted requiring staff to tell parents when a student asks to use a different name, pronouns, or gender identity at school. Wants the district to keep its current approach of having none, beyond what the law requires. Speaks as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Calls parents and guardians essential partners, and expects district counsel to turn legal requirements into clear procedures so individual educators are not left to navigate them. If existing requirements put students at risk, is prepared to take a principled public stand, including advocacy and appropriate legal challenges.

“Every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and included at school, including students who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Supports the core safeguards of Board Policy 1445, the district's immigration-enforcement policy, adopted unanimously in March 2026 to comply with a new state law (AB 495). It bars immigration agents from school buses and nonpublic areas of campus without a judicial warrant, bars staff from collecting immigration status, and requires staff not to obstruct an agent who enters anyway. Plans to review the full adopted policy before endorsing every provision. Supports keeping teachers and other employees out of physical confrontations with federal agents, paired with refusing consent to unauthorized access and documenting and escalating incidents.

“Schools should be safe, welcoming places where immigrant families can participate in their children's education.”

Calls students without stable housing some of the most vulnerable children the district serves, and says that as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal she has seen how housing instability affects attendance, learning, and well-being. Wants CUSD to make sure these students' rights under the federal McKinney-Vento Act — immediate enrollment, transportation to school, and full access to programs — are honored in practice, with all staff well informed on the law, and wants schools and the district partnering with county and community agencies on housing, health, and basic needs.

“Our goal should be stability, continuity, and consistency at school, even when life at home is uncertain.”

Supports food pantries and expanded meal programs at district schools. Calls California's universal school meals program a huge change in how schools support students, and wants to build on it by extending food support to weekends and non-school hours and by partnering with local food banks and community organizations to offer pantries for families. Says these programs work best when they are dignified, easy to access, and free of stigma for students and families.

“I support building on [California's universal school meals program] by providing extended times… like on weekends or during non school hours”

Supports restorative practices as an alternative to suspension, drawing on her experience as a principal, and says school discipline has traditionally affected different student populations in different ways. Calls restorative approaches a way of learning from incidents rather than the absence of accountability, and says they require clear expectations, trained staff, consistent follow-through, and following the Education Code where a situation needs immediate disciplinary action. Pairs them with counseling and mental-health support as prevention, and wants the practices kept fair, consistent, and transparent so every campus stays safe for students and staff.

“restorative practices, when implemented well, help students take responsibility, repair harm, and stay connected to school, while suspensions often push struggling students further behind.”

Asked whether she supports AB 1955, the state law that bars schools from requiring staff to tell parents about a student's gender identity without the student's consent, she says she supports the LGBTQIA+ community and the current state laws that support it. Says every student deserves to feel safe and supported at school, and also believes strongly in family partnership: staff should help students with those conversations at home when they are ready, with counseling and resources available to families. On the board she has cast three consistent votes: against delaying the Pride flag decision in May 2023, for the Forward Together diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging plan in July 2023 (which she seconded), and for flying the Pride flag in May 2026.

“I support the LGBTQIA+ community and the current state laws that support this community.”

Says every child has a constitutional right to a free public education regardless of immigration status, and that schools must be places where students and families feel safe enough to show up every day. Wants every California district to follow state guidance on limiting immigration enforcement's access to campuses, protect student records, and make sure families know their rights in their home languages, with multilingual family outreach and partnerships with community organizations that can connect families to legal and other resources. On the board she voted for Board Policy 1445 on immigration enforcement at both readings.

“When families are afraid, attendance and learning suffer, and our job is to keep every child in the classroom and ensure that they are safe and feel safe.”

Supports a district social worker whose role reaches past attendance outreach to the whole family, ideally a joint position split-funded with the City of Carlsbad and Oceanside, and possibly more than one. Calls the one-year increase in socioeconomically disadvantaged students from 21% to 30%, "pretty significant" and says the district's main lever is partnering with the city and county. He also wants full-day kindergarten districtwide and an expanded transitional kindergarten program.

“If you can address the systemic issues… I think you're going to have a much better result.”

On federal food cuts, says schools should do as much as they can with their funding to feed students who have come to depend on school meals. Open to a school food pantry after a site-by-site needs study, and would rather combine resources with existing community pantries than duplicate them. Points to Calavera's weekend take-home fruit-and-vegetable program as a model.

“Schools should do as much as possible with their funding to provide food to their students… we have students that have come to depend on food at school.”

"Definitely in favor" of bringing in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), which the district lists as not started; he believes MTSS staff already do similar work on the academic side and that extending it to behavior would be "a pretty easy move" with training. Acknowledges a history of harsher discipline for students of color in Carlsbad, and would use the data to find whether it is concentrated among particular assistant principals — to train or, if need be, replace them — or whether early problems go unaddressed and escalate into suspensions. Read the district's suspension rates by race, he said they match his understanding and should be addressed.

“There's definitely been historically an issue with minority students receiving harsher discipline within Carlsbad.”

Would have voted yes on the May 2026 resolution to fly the Pride flag; he says he attended that meeting and spoke in favor, and spoke for the Juneteenth flag the same night. Supports the district continuing with no parental-notification policy, with a qualifier: any approach would likely need safeguards where a student's mental health rises to a risk of physical harm.

“it's important for our district to recognize our history, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and to support groups in our schools today that may not feel fully supported.”

Says the district's immigration policy and the Board Policy 1445 language should be easy for families to find online — "no question." If an immigration agent comes to campus, teachers should contact administration immediately and escalate so the district deals with law enforcement; he would not require teachers to physically intervene, though he says he personally would.