The Mile of Cars sign in National City. Councilman Jose Rodriguez declared victory in the mayor's race after unofficial returns showed him well ahead. Photo: Der-wuppertaler, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
National City Councilman Jose Rodriguez declared victory in the mayor’s race after unofficial returns showed him well ahead of fellow Councilman Marcus Bush, a result that would end a long era under Mayor Ron Morrison, who did not seek another term. The Star-News reported that as of Thursday morning after the Nov. 3 election, Rodriguez led Bush 4,140 votes to 2,363, with Mitchel Beauchamp at 482 and Jacobb Castrejon at 456. Rodriguez said, “Tonight voters chose a new chapter for our city, and we are ready to get to work. Whether you voted for me or for my opponents, I am going to be a mayor for all of National City.” The totals were still preliminary, the paper noted, with more ballots to count.
KPBS, in an election-night report updated the next morning, also had Rodriguez “with a substantial lead” over Bush and said the winner will inherit an emerging $13 million structural budget deficit. Both candidates had promised to close that gap without cutting services such as the library and the senior nutrition center, KPBS reported. The station, citing the Ballot Book, said Rodriguez had raised more than $70,000 and spent even more, much of it from individual donors and a significant share from labor unions, with about a third of his donors based in National City. He had also put $9,000 of his own money into the campaign since June. Bush had raised more than $34,000 and spent about $26,000, mostly from individuals, two-thirds of them from outside the city.
Independent spending was heavy. KPBS said a committee tied to the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce spent more than $65,000 supporting Bush and a little more than $10,000 opposing Rodriguez, while a committee connected to the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council put nearly $44,000 behind Rodriguez. In National City the mayor is, in most respects, one more member of the council, with added duties over the weekly agenda and a role representing the city at SANDAG and other regional bodies, KPBS noted.
The Star-News also posted unofficial council results: Cindy Lopez led Luz Molina in District 1, 758 to 714, a tight margin that was still being counted, and Ditas Yamane led Edward Nieto and Jerry Cano in District 3, 1,081 to 649 and 411. Those races, like the mayor’s contest, were not yet certified. If Rodriguez’s lead holds, he will take office in December and turn immediately to a budget hole both campaigns agreed was the central problem in a city of about 60,000 just south of downtown San Diego.
