Mail ballots go out on Monday for the upcoming special election to replace former chairwoman Nora Vargas. NBC 7’s M.G. Perez has the details.
In just a few weeks, voters in San Diego County’s District 1 will have the chance to elect their next supervisor.
Mail ballots go out on Monday and will arrive this week for the upcoming special election to replace former chairwoman Nora Vargas, who was re-elected in November and then unexpectedly resigned in December.
The candidates running include:
- Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre
- Chula Vista Deputy Mayor Carolina Chavez
- Chula Vista Mayor John McCann
- San Diego City Council Member Vivian Moreno
- Louis A. Fuentes, a small business owner
- Elizabeth Efrid, an affordable Energy Consultant
- Lincoln Pickard, former Calexico City Councilman and Imperial County Supervisor
Get top local stories in San Diego delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC San Diego's News Headlines newsletter.
Claudia Hernandez is a voter in the district. For 23 years, she has owned and operated La Concha Bakery on E Street in Chula Vista.
“It’s what everyone thinks about when they think about Mexican pastries. They think about conchas,” she said.
Hernandez said conchas are her number one selling pan dulce. She is a Latina, a business owner, and an advocate for her community.
Local
“We need to address the realities and the challenges that Chula Vista faces especially taking into consideration what is important to this community," Hernandez said.
Monica Lozano is a regular customer who also lives in the neighborhood.
We need to address the realities and the challenges that Chula Vista faces especially taking into consideration what is important to this community.
Claudia Hernandez, Owner La Concha Bakery
“The conchas are the best. I’m always the favorite at work when I bring them," Lozano said.
Lozano is one of the more than 370,000 registered voters living in the County district that is without representation on the Board of Supervisors at the moment. She says representation is important, especially in Chula Vista.
There are decisions still to be made about the continuous flood of raw sewage from Tijuana polluting District 1 waterways. There's also the issue of rising homelessness in communities from Barrio Logan to the border and the beaches. The district also includes Imperial Beach, National City, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, and Chula Vista.
Politics and pan dulce don’t necessarily mix. But they are symbolic of the district's culture and community, where Latinos make up almost 61% of the population. There is also a significant Filipino and Asian community at about 15%. They are the voters the candidates want to connect to within the next month.
Claudia Hernandez hopes her pan dulce is bringing some relief to her customers who face a critical vote on their future.
“Nobody can deny that something sweet brings joy and good feelings to people, so that’s what we try to create," she said.
