Legislative Update
Friday, November 1, 2024
by: Craig Benedetto and Marshall Anderson, California Strategies

Section: Government Affairs




BOMA San Diego

November 2024 ELECTION GUIDE

 

State Ballot Measures

 

The initiatives listed below have been approved for placement on the November 5, 2024 ballot. Included below are the positions taken by BOMA CALIFORNIA.

 

Prop 2 - School Facilities Bond - SUPPORT

This $10 billion bond measure is aimed at funding repairs and upgrades for thousands of K-12 school and community college buildings across CA. This measure would encourage much needed development and enhance our state's economic competitiveness.

 

Prop 3 - Prop 8 Repeal - NO POSITION

This measure would reaffirm the right of same-sex couples to marry by amending the

Constitution to remove outdated language from Prop 8, passed by voters in 2008, which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.

 

Prop 4 - $10B Climate Bond - NO POSITION

Legislative Democrats have introduced this bond measure which would allocate $3.8

billion for drinking water and groundwater, $1.5 billion for wildfire and forest programs,

and $1.2 billion for addressing sea level rise. This funding would help offset some recent budget cuts.

 

Prop 5 - Vote Thresholds - OPPOSE

Currently, most local bond proposals require a two-thirds public vote for approval. If voters pass Proposition 5, this threshold will be lowered to 55% for bonds supporting low-income housing, road and transit expansions, parks, wildfire resilience, and other public infrastructure projects. This measure aims to erode taxpayer protections against

government spending established with Proposition 13 and will result in higher taxes.

 

Prop 6 - Ban Prison Labor - NO POSITION

This measure would restrict forced labor in state prisons. This constitutional amendment aims to eliminate indentured servitude in state prisons, viewed as a lingering form of slavery. The CA Black Legislative Caucus included this amendment in its reparations bill package.

 

Prop 32 - $18/hr Minimum Wage - OPPOSE

This measure would raise the state minimum wage from $16 to $18. The minimum wage has rapidly increased over the last several years, and higher minimum wages have been established for fast food and health care workers. Another increase would further threaten the economic competitiveness of our state and drive businesses out.

 

Prop 33 - Rent Control - OPPOSE

This measure would permit local governments to enforce rent controls. It would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act that generally prohibits cities and counties from imposing rent limits on properties occupied after February 1, 1995. Prop 33 would have an adverse impact on property values and the economic competitiveness of CA.

 

Prop 34 - Restricts Spending by AIDS Healthcare Foundation - SUPPORT

This measure would mandate that specific healthcare providers allocate almost all funds from a federal prescription drug program towards patient care. It would forbid the AIDS Healthcare Foundation from using the organization’s coffers to advance a political agenda through the ballot, and ensure public tax dollars meant for patients are spent on patients.

 

Prop 35 - Managed Care Organization (MCO) Tax - NO POSITION

This measure would establish a permanent tax on managed health care insurance plans. Sponsored by California’s health care industry, this initiative aims to increase funding for Medi-Cal and prevent lawmakers from reallocating these funds to other programs.

 

Prop 36 - Retail Theft/Prop 47 Reform - SUPPORT

Prop 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, would partially roll back Prop 47, increasing penalties for theft and drug trafficking. Prop 36 would address the drastic increase in retail theft and organized retail crime by reclassifying retail theft with 2+ prior convictions as a felony. Retail theft is a key issue impacting not just our industry, but the economic health of our state.

Other Races of Note in San Diego County

 
Federal:

US Senate – Adam Schiff (D) vs Steve Garvey (R)

US House of Representatives

49th CD – Mike Levin (D – incumbent) vs Matt Gunderson (R)

BOMA is supporting Mike Levin, Levin is also supported by numerous police and fire associations, numerous organized labor and building trades unions, National Association of Realtors, numerous environmental groups and organizations, YIMBY Democrats

Gunderson is supported by the CA Republican Party and the Police Officers Association; lists no endorsements on website

All other districts represented by an incumbent and the incumbent is expected to win

State:

State Senate

SD 39 – Akila Weber (D) vs Bob Devine (R)

Weber is supported by numerous organized labor and building trade unions, numerous Democratic Clubs, CA Federation of Teachers, California Consumer Attorneys

Devine has been endorsed by the SD County Republican Party; Devine has no website and no other known endorsements

State Assembly

74 AD – Laurie Davies (R – incumbent) vs Chris Duncan (D)

BOMA CAL PAC and the California Business Properties Association PAC are supporting Davies re-election; Davies is also supported by various law enforcement groups, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the CA Hispanic Chamber and the Orange County District Attorney’s Association

Duncan is supported by SEIU, CALFIRE Association, a number of other organized labor and building trade unions and the California Teachers Association

75 AD – Carl DeMaio (R) vs Andrew Hayes (R)

DeMaio lists no endorsements; DeMiao was a former Councilmember for the 5th District, City of San Diego 

Hayes is endorsed by the East County Chamber of Commerce, numerous police and fire associations, Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors, numerous building trade unions, Associated General Contractors, Associated Building Contractors

76 AD – Darshana Patel (D) vs Kristie Bruce-Lane (R)

Patel is endorsed by numerous organized labor and building trade unions, numerous Democratic Clubs, Sierra Club, YIMBY Democrats

Bruce-Lane is endorsed by numerous police and fire associations, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Associated General Contractors and the National Federation of Independent Businesses

79 AD – Colin Parent (D) vs LaShae Sharp-Collins (D)

BOMA CAL PAC and the California Business Properties Association PAC are supporting Colin Parent

Parent is also endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, police and fire associations, organized labor, San Diego Association of Realtors, National Federation of Independent Businesses, YIMBY California and the Southern California Rental Housing Association

Sharp-Collins is endorsed by the CA Democratic Party, numerous organized labor and building trade unions, the CA Teachers Association and the CA Nurses Association

80 AD – David Alvarez vs Michael Williams

Alvarez is supported by BOMA CAL PAC and the California Business Properties Association PAC

Williams is supported by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the CA Republican Party

All other districts represented by an incumbent and the incumbent is expected to win

Local:

County of San Diego

Ballot Measures

Measure G – Let’s Go San Diego – County wide ½ Cent Sales Tax Increase to provide for transportation and transit improvements

Supporters – General contractors, building trades unions, transit and mobility advocates, housing advocates, environmental and planning support organizations

Opponents – Supervisor Jim Desmond, SD County Taxpayers Association

Board of Supervisors

District 1 - Nora Vargas (incumbent) vs Alejandro Galicia

Vargas is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, SD County Lodging Association, the Downtown San Diego Partnership, SD Democratic Party, numerous labor and trade unions, SD Regional Chamber of Commerce

District 2 – Joel Anderson (incumbent) vs Gina Jacobs

Anderson is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, SD County Lodging Association, Deputy Sheriffs Association, the Downtown San Diego Partnership, local and state police organizations, CALFIRE Local 2881, SD Regional Chamber of Commerce, CA Restaurant Association, numerous building trade unions, SD Republican Party and the Southern California Rental Housing Association; Anderson is also supported by the California Apartment Association

Jacobs is endorsed by the SD Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood and “Run Women Run”; no other relevant endorsements listed

District 3 – Terra Lawson-Remer (incumbent) vs Kevin Faulconer

Faulconer is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, SD County Lodging Association, the Downtown San Diego Partnership, CA Restaurant Association, SD Association of Realtors, SD Working Waterfront and the Southern California Rental Housing Association; Faulconer is supported by the California Apartment Association and NAIOP SD

Lawson-Remer is endorsed by the SD County Democratic Party, the Sierra Club, SD County Labor Council, SD County Sheriff Kelly Martinez

City of San Diego

Ballot Measures

Measure E – Penny for Progress – 1 cent sales tax increase to pay for infrastructure, homeless and city services

Supporters – Mayor Todd Gloria and SD City Councilmember Raul Campillo, SD Regional Chamber, NAIOP SD, BIA SD

Opponents – SD County Taxpayers Association

Mayor

Todd Gloria (D) vs Larry Turner (Independent)

Gloria is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, SD Regional Chamber, the SD County Lodging Association, the Downtown San Diego Partnership, YIMBY Democrats, various organized labor groups, including the building trades and SD Democratic Party; Gloria is supported by the California Apartment Association and NAIOP SD

Turner is endorsed by the Lincoln Club of San Diego; no other listed endorsements

City Council

District 3 – Stephen Whitburn (D – incumbent) vs Coleen Cusack (D)

Whitburn is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, SD Regional Chamber, the SD County Lodging Association, the Downtown San Diego Partnership and the Southern California Rental Housing Association and is supported by NAIOP SD

Cusack is endorsed by several progressive Democrat clubs, ACCE (a tenant right’s group) and CA Democratic Renters Council

District 9 – Sean Elo-Rivera (D – incumbent) vs Terry Hoskins (D)

Elo-Rivera is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, SD County Lodging Association, the Downtown San Diego Partnership, SD Democratic Party, several labor and trade unions, the SD Regional Chamber of Commerce and several environmental organizations

Hoskins has no listed endorsements

All other council races up this cycle (odd numbered seats) were settled in primary, with the incumbents running unchallenged

City Attorney

Heather Ferbert (D) vs Brian Maienschein (D)

Both Ferbert and Maienschein are “co-endorsed” by the SD County Building Industry Association

Ferbert is endorsed by current City Attorney Mara Elliott, numerous city labor unions, the Asian Business Association and the Yimby Democrats

Maienschein is endorsed by the Downtown San Diego Partnership, SD Democratic Party, SD Association of Realtors, SD Regional Chamber of Commerce and the SD Police Officers Association

Carlsbad

City Council

District 2 – Kevin Shin vs Tyler Collins

Shin is also endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association; Shin is supported by the California Apartment Association and the JOBS PAC Coalition

Collins has no listed endorsements

District 4 – Teresa Acosta (incumbent) vs Greg Day

Acosta is endorsed by SD Democratic Party, Sierra Club, Organized Labor Unions, Carlsbad Police Officers Association, Carlsbad Firefighters Association

Day lists no endorsements 

Chula Vista

Ballot Measure

Measure P – would renew for an additional 10 years, a ½ cent sales tax authorized in 2017 to fund high priority infrastructure in the City of Chula Vista

Measure P is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, the SD County Taxpayers Association

City Council Races (no incumbent in either race)

District 3 – Mike Inzunza vs Leticia Munguia

Mike Inzunza is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, numerous organized labor and building trade unions, SD Democratic Party, Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors

Munguia is endorsed by SEIU, County Supervisor Nora Vargas and Planned Parenthood

District 4 – Cesar Fernandez vs Rudy Ramirez

Fernandez is endorsed by Chula Vista Police and Fire unions, SEIU, Building Trades Unions and County Supervisor Nora Vargas

Ramirez previously served on the Chula Vista City Council and is endorsed by the Southern California Rental Housing Association; Ramirez is supported by the California Apartment Association

Coronado

Mayor (no incumbent) – Michael Donovan vs John Duncan

Duncan is also a City Councilmember and is endorsed by outgoing Mayor Richard Bailey, the Coronado Police and Fire Associations and is supported by the JOBS PAC Coalition

Donovan is a current Coronado City Councilmember and lists no endorsements

El Cajon

City Council

District 4 - Phil Ortiz (is running unopposed)

Ortiz is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, the East County Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors, Republican Party and current Mayor Bill Wells

Escondido

City Council

3rd District – Christian Garcia (incumbent) vs Veronica Cigarroa and Christine Spencer

Garcia is also endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, Escondido Police and Fire Associations and current Mayor Dane White; Garcia is supported by the California Apartment Association and the JOBS PAC Coalition

Cigarroa is endorsed by the SD Democratic Party, SD Carpenters, and the Escondido Mobilehome PAC

4th District (no incumbent) – Judy Fitzgerald and Roderick Howell

Fitzgerald is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, as well as numerous Republican elected officials, including current Mayor Dane White

Howell has no listed endorsements

National City

Ballot Measure

Measure R – Establish a parcel tax – raise money for road and park improvements

Supporters – Councilmember Jose Rodriguez, Building trades unions, SD County Democratic Party

Opponents – SD County Taxpayers Association, Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors, California Apartment Association

City Council

2nd District – Jose Rodriguez (incumbent) vs Randi Castle-Salgado

Rodriguez is endorsed by the SD Democratic Party, Organized Labor and several Democrat elected officials, including County Supervisor Nora Vargas

Castle-Salgado has no listed endorsements on their website, but is supported by the California Apartment Association and the San Diego County Building Industry Association

4th District – Marcus Bush (incumbent) vs Victor Arreola

Arreola is also supported by the California Apartment Association and the JOBS PAC Coalition

Neither candidate lists endorsements

Oceanside

Mayor

Esther Sanchez (D – incumbent) vs Ryan Keim (R – current councilmember)

Keim is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, the Associated General Contractors, Oceanside Police and Fire Associations, San Diegans Against Crime and numerous local Republican elected officials including County Supervisor Jim Desmond; Keim is supported by the California Apartment Association and the JOBS PAC Coalition

Sanchez is endorsed by County Supervisors Nora Vargas and Terra Lawson-Remer, numerous Democratic Committees, numerous organized labor unions and the Sierra Club

City Council

3rd District – Jimmy Figueroa, Tom DeMooy, Laura Bassett and Austin Sorensen

Bassett is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association; Basset is also supported by the California Apartment Association and the JOBS PAC Coalition

DeMooy lists no endorsements

Sorensen lists no endorsements; lists experience as a “mortgage professional”

4th District – Peter Weiss (incumbent) vs Amber Kae Niuatoa and Omar Hashimi

Weiss is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, Oceanside Police and Fire Associations 

Niuatoa is endorsed by numerous building trade labor unions, the Sierra Club

Hashimi has no listed endorsements; lists his background as military and involved in housing and real estate management 

Poway

City Council

District 2 – Tony Blain, Vanessa Springett and Jared Wilson

Wilson is endorsed by Deputy Sheriffs Association; Wilson is supported by the California Apartment Association and the JOBS PAC Coalition

Blain lists a number of personal endorsements

Springett also lists a number of personal endorsements

District 4 – Caylin Frank (incumbent) vs Jenny Maeda

Caylin Frank is endorsed by Deputy Sheriffs Association; Frank is supported by the California Apartment Association

Maeda lists no endorsements on her website

San Marcos

City Council

District 3 – Alan Geraci vs Danielle LeBlang

LeBlang is endorsed by SD County Building Industry Association, Deputy Sheriffs Association; LeBlang is supported by the California Apartment Association

Geraci is endorsed by numerous organized labor and building trades unions, the Sierra Club, SD Democratic Club

District 4 – Ed Musgrove (incumbent) vs Natasha Zinder Hilmes

Musgrove is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, Deputy Sheriffs Association, North San Diego Association of Realtors, Associated General Contractors; Musgrove is supported by the California Apartment Association

Hilmes is endorsed SD Democratic Party and the Carpenters Building Trades Union; Campaign Motto – “Put Residents First Over Developers Profits”

Santee

Mayor – John Minto vs Kelli O’Brien

Minto is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, Deputy Sheriffs Association

O’Brien lists no endorsements

City Council

District 4 - Dustin Trotter vs Augie Scalzitti

Trotter is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, Deputy Sheriffs Association, East County Chamber, Santee Chamber 

Scalzitti was a member of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District Board and lists no organizational endorsements

Vista

City Council

District 2 - Jeff Fox vs Anthony White

Fox is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, Deputy Sheriffs Association and various Republican organizations; Fox is supported by the California Apartment Association

White is endorsed by a number of Democratic organizations and Democrat elected officials

District 3 – Katie Melendez (incumbent) vs Denisse Barragan

Melendez is endorsed by the SD County Building Industry Association, Vista Firefighters Association, SD Democratic Party, building trades unions and the Sierra Club

Barragan is endorsed by the Deputy Sheriffs Association, SD Police Officers Association, the North San Diego County Realtors and a number of Republican elected officials; Barragan is supported by the California Apartment Association

 

DISCLAIMER: The information in this guide is an attempt to gather relevant information of note to BOMA San Diego members.  The endorsement/supporter list is by no means complete.  Where links are not provided, it was because a website could not be reasonably found.  Where endorsements are not included, it’s because they were also not reasonably found.  BOMA San Diego strongly encourages members to do their own research, including using the links to view the candidates’ websites.