The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously decided to fill the vacant District 1 seat by special election during a special meeting on Jan. 14, 2025. The special election is scheduled for April 8, and all registered voters in District 1 are eligible to participate.
On Jan. 6, former District 1 supervisor Nora Vargas resigned due to personal safety and security concerns, creating a vacancy for the board of supervisors chair. In response, the board called a special meeting to determine how to best fill the vacancy.
The agenda for the special meeting primarily focused on three different options for filling the vacant District 1 seat.
The first option for filling the position involved the appointment of a supervisor by the current board, based on an application submitted by interested candidates. The second option offered a special election to be held on April 8, 2025. The third option utilized elements of both options, with the appointment of a supervisor being conducted and upheld until the formal election of a new supervisor on April 8.
The board unanimously voted for the second option, which means that the District 1 seat will remain vacant until a special election for a new District 1 supervisor is called in early April. The District 1 office, which covers the regions of San Diego north of the U.S.-Mexico border and south of Barrio Logan, has not responded to The UCSD Guardian’s request for comment at this time.
Until then, District 3 Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer is temporarily assuming chair, as she was vice chair prior to Vargas’ resignation. District 3 encompasses the coastal cities north of Coronado and south of Carlsbad, including UC San Diego.
The election will include seven vote centers in District 1, and mail-in ballots will be sent to registered voters in early March. A special election could cost the county anywhere from $2 million to $6.6 million, depending on if the county will need to have both a primary and general election.
A Vote Center model that utilizes in-person voting locations is estimated to cost the county between $2.9 million to $3.3 million per election. A vote-by-mail election that uses only mail-in ballots is estimated to cost the county less, ranging from $2.0 million to $2.4 million.
Lawson-Remer shared her thoughts on the cost of the election during the board meeting.
“It is very unfortunate, the cost of this to our county, especially given our current fiscal environment. I think it’s a huge blow. But ultimately, the price of democracy is invaluable. I think we have an obligation to ensure the voices of the people of District 1 are heard,” Lawson-Remer said.
In a statement to The Guardian, District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond also expressed support for the board’s decision.
“I believe this presents a new opportunity for the Board to operate more efficiently and stay focused on the issues that truly matter to San Diegans,” he said. “In the past, we’ve seen meetings consumed by political posturing and debates over issues beyond our jurisdiction. My hope is that, moving forward, we can have more productive discussions and make decisions that directly improve the lives of our residents.”
Democrat Vargas’ resignation created the potential for a shift in the current political balance of the board. District 3 Supervisor Lawson-Remer and District 4 Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe are both Democrats, while District 2 Supervisor Joel Anderson and District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond are Republicans.
A variety of local political figures from across the political spectrum have expressed interest in running for the position, including Democrats Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, San Diego City Council member Vivian Moreno, and Chula Vista City Council member Carolina Chavez and Republican Chula Vista Mayor John McCann.
The Guardian will continue to monitor the special election as it unfolds.
