Municipal elections were held in San Diego in 2016 for mayor, city attorney, city council, and ballot measures. The primary election was held on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Five of the nine council seats were contested. Two city council incumbents ran for reelection.
Municipal elections in California are officially non-partisan, although most members do identify a party preference. A two-round system was used for the election, starting with a primary in June followed by a runoff in November between the top-two candidates if no candidate received a majority of the votes in the first round.
Incumbent Kevin Faulconer ran for a second term as mayor against former San Diego City Councilmember Ed Harris and former California State Assemblymember Lori Saldaña.[1] He won election in the primary with over 50% of the vote.
Seats in districts 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 were up for election. Sherri Lightner (District 1) and Todd Gloria (District 3) were ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits. Incumbent Marti Emerald (District 9) chose not to seek reelection.[3]
Republicans hoped to overturn the Democratic Party's 5–4 majority by flipping District 1 from Democratic to Republican.[4]
District 1
District 1 consists of the communities of Carmel Valley, Del Mar Mesa, Del Mar Heights, La Jolla, Pacific Highlands Ranch, Torrey Hills, Torrey Pines, and University City. Incumbent Sherri Lightner was ineligible to run due to term limits. Republican Ray Ellis and Democrats Barbara Bry and Joe LaCava were expected to run to replace Lightner.[4] In January 2016, LaCava announced that he had decided not to run.[5] Morning of March 3, 2016 Louis Rodolico entered the race followed that same afternoon by Bruce Lightner, husband to the incumbent Sherri Lightner, and Kyle Heiskala, two days layer a policy advisor on Sherri Lightner's City Council staff, pulled papers to run for the District 1 seat.[6]
Since no candidate received a majority of the votes in the June primary, Bry and Ellis were slated to advance to the November runoff election.[7] However, on August 12, 2016 Ellis announced that he would be withdrawing from the election.[8] Despite effectively conceding the race, Ellis's name still appeared on November ballot.[9] Bry was then elected to the City Council in November.
San Diego City Council District 1 election, 2016[7]
On December 12, 2016, the new council was sworn in. For their first action, the council voted 6–3 to appoint Myrtle Cole as council president. David Alvarez, who was considered the other main candidate for the position, was joined in opposition to Cole's appointment by newly sworn in council members Ward and Gomez. Although both Alvarez and Cole were Democrats, Cole was seen as more moderate or centrist than Alvarez.[14]
Boards of Education
Three of the five seats on the independent San Diego Unified School District Board of Education were up for the general election. Richard Barrera ran unopposed. All three incumbents won reelection. Only one seat was up on the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees. Incumbent Mary Graham won reelection.
Ballot Title: Charter Amendments Regarding Redistricting of Council Districts in the City of San Diego
Ballot Language: "Shall the City Charter be amended to update the process related to redistricting of City Council districts, including amendments to expand the citizen Redistricting Commission from seven to nine members, to clarify and expand the timeline for the appointment and qualification of members, to provide for alternate members on the Commission and appointing panel, and to explain the effective date of boundaries."
Measure A
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
198,064
71.93
No
77,306
28.07
Total votes
275,370
100.00
Measure B
Ballot Title: Charter Amendments Regarding the Authorization and Issuance of General Obligation Bonds and Revenue Bonds
Ballot Language: "Shall the City Charter be amended to update provisions related to the authorization and issuance of bonds, to reflect changes in state law, and simplify and conform the City's processes with the California Constitution?"
Measure B
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
215,776
79.31
No
56,301
20.69
Total votes
272,077
100.00
Measure C
Ballot Title: Charter Amendments Regarding the Levy, Assessment and Collection of Property Taxes and the Repeal of Provisions for Collecting Property Taxes the City Cannot Collect Under State Law.
Ballot Language: "Shall the City Charter be amended to clarify the manner in which the City levies, assesses and collects property taxes in the City, and to repeal provisions regarding property taxes the City is not able to levy as a result of Proposition 13 and related state law?"
Measure C
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
184,271
67.32
No
89,450
32.68
Total votes
273,721
100.00
Measure D
Ballot Title: Charter Amendment Regarding Power to Fix Salaries
Ballot Language: "Shall City Charter section 70 be amended to conform to existing provisions related to the Strong Mayor form of government, by updating titles of specified officers and clarifying who has authority to fix their salaries and the City's compensation schedules; to specify the City's legal duty to comply with California's collective bargaining laws in establishing annual compensation schedules; and to update language?"
Measure D
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
211,923
77.17
No
62,683
22.83
Total votes
274,606
100.00
Measure E
Ballot Title: Charter Amendments Regarding the Budget and Appropriations Process for the City of San Diego
Ballot Language: "Shall the City Charter be amended to update the process related to budgeting and appropriating funds, to consolidate provisions that appeared throughout the Charter and to clarify the approval process for the City budget?"
Measure E
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
225,949
83.17
No
45,719
16.83
Total votes
271,668
100.00
Measure F
Ballot Title: Charter Amendments Regarding Financial Operations of the City of San Diego
Ballot Language: "Shall the City Charter be amended to update the City's financial operations, including amendments regarding the certification of funds, the authorization and payment of claims, the management of funds, the disposition of proceeds of the sale of City-owned real property and the establishment of reserves?"
Measure F
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
218,384
81.13
No
50,807
18.56
Total votes
269,191
100.00
Measure G
Ballot Title: Charter Amendment Regarding Audits of Accounts of City Officials and Officers Upon Their Death, Resignation, or Removal from City Office
Ballot Language: "Shall the City Charter be amended to update language and to repeal the requirement that the City Auditor conduct audits and investigations of City officials and officers upon their death, resignation, or removal from City office?"
Measure G
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
192,814
70.20
No
81,853
29.80
Total votes
274,667
100.00
Measure H
Ballot Title: Charter Amendment: Infrastructure Fund
Ballot Language: "Shall the Charter be amended to require certain unrestricted General Fund revenues to be deposited in an Infrastructure Fund used exclusively to pay for capital improvements including streets, sidewalks, bridges, bike paths, storm water and drainage systems; public buildings including libraries, recreational and community centers; public safety facilities including police, fire and lifeguard stations; and park facilities, but expressly not used for new convention center facilities and new professional sports venues?"
Measure H
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
186,617
65.02
No
100,395
34.98
Total votes
287,012
100.00
Measure I
Ballot Title: Referendum of Ordinance Regarding Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage
Ballot Language: "Shall Ordinance O-20390 be approved, establishing that employers are to compensate employees working in the City of San Diego with earned sick leave of up to forty hours a year and a minimum wage of $10.50 an hour upon the Ordinance's effective date, $11.50 an hour on January 1, 2017, and increasing with the cost of living on January 1, 2019 and annually thereafter?"
Measure I
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
193,300
63.84
No
109,500
36.16
Total votes
302,800
100.00
November measures
Measure A
Ballot Title: San Diego County Road Repair, Transit, Traffic Relief, Safety and Water Quality Measure
Ballot Language: "Shall an ordinance be adopted to: repair roads, deteriorating bridges; relieve congestion; provide every community funds for pothole/street repairs; expand public transit, including improved services for seniors, disabled, students, veterans; reduce polluted runoff; preserve open space to protect water quality/reduce wildfires by enacting, with independent oversight/audits, a 40-year, half-cent local sales tax ($308 million annually) that Sacramento cannot take away?"
Measure A
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
720,158
58.37
No
513,646
41.63
Total votes
1,233,804
100.00
Measure B
Ballot Title: Ordinance Amending the County General Plan, County Zoning Map and County Code, and Adopting the Lilac Hills Ranch Specific Plan
Ballot Language: "Shall this Initiative be adopted for the purpose of amending the County General Plan, Zoning Ordinance and Code of Regulatory Ordinances and approving the Lilac Hills Ranch Specific Plan ("Plan")? The Plan provides for the development of a 608-acre master-planned community including 1,746 dwelling units, three commercial centers, a public park, 10 private parks and 16 miles of trails. The project site is generally located north of Escondido and east of I-15 in the unincorporated area of North San Diego County."
Measure B
Choice
Votes
%
No
735,894
63.54
Yes
422,322
36.46
Total votes
1,158,216
100.00
Measure C
Ballot Title: Downtown Stadium Initiative
Ballot Language: "Should the measure be adopted to: increase San Diego's hotel occupancy tax by 6% to build a City-owned downtown professional football stadium and convention center project, and fund tourism marketing; effect the project financing, design, construction, use, management, and maintenance, including a $650,000,000 contribution and 30-year commitment by a professional football entity; end Tourism Marketing District assessments; adopt a development ordinance, and related land use, sign, and zoning laws?"
Measure C
Choice
Votes
%
No
306,887
56.36
Yes
237,597
43.64
Total votes
544,484
100.00
Measure D
Ballot Title: Facilities and Tourism Tax Initiative
Ballot Language: "Should the measure be adopted to: among other provisions, increase San Diego's hotel occupancy tax up to 5%; end Tourism Marketing District; allow hoteliers to create assessment districts and use hotel occupancy taxes for downtown convention center and not a stadium; prohibit contiguous expansion of existing convention center; create downtown overlay zone for convention and sports facilities; create environmental processes; and allow Qualcomm stadium property's sale for educational and park uses?"
Measure D
Choice
Votes
%
No
303,144
58.88
Yes
211,739
41.12
Total votes
514,883
100.00
Measure E
Ballot Title: Charter Amendment Regarding Qualifications, Vacancy, and Removal from Office for Mayor, City Attorney, and City Council
Ballot Language: "Shall the Charter be amended to include a new article adding: incapacity, felony conviction, and removal as grounds for vacancies in office; a procedure for calling a special election to remove an officer for cause; a revised procedure for filling vacancies; to require the City Attorney be a licensed attorney; and to define authority during vacancies and enforcement of office forfeiture?"
Measure E
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
419,748
87.06
No
62,400
12.94
Total votes
482,148
100.00
Measure F
Ballot Title: Charter Amendment Regarding Required Term of Service for Certain Terminations or Suspensions of Deputy City Attorneys
Ballot Language: "Shall the City Charter be amended to change the term of service required of Deputy City Attorneys, for protection from termination or suspension without good cause, from two years or more of continuous service to one year or more of continuous service, which protection would continue not to apply to layoffs due to lack of work or insufficient appropriations?"
Measure F
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
317,803
68.27
No
147,720
31.73
Total votes
465,523
100.00
Measure G
Ballot Title: Charter Amendments Regarding The Citizens' Review Board on Police Practices
Ballot Language: "Shall section 43(d) of the City Charter be amended to rename the Citizens' Review Board on Police Practices as the Community Review Board on Police Practices, to replace references to "City Manager" with "Mayor and City Council," and to require the board to review all deaths occurring while someone is in the custody of the San Diego Police Department and all police officer-related shootings?"
Measure G
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
404,803
83.09
No
82,372
16.91
Total votes
485,747
100.00
Measure H
Ballot Title: Charter Amendments Regarding Purchasing and Contracting Processes for the City of San Diego
Ballot Language: "Shall the City Charter be amended to: require contracts for public works, goods, services, and consultants to be awarded through a competitive process in accordance with rules adopted by ordinance, remove the position of Purchasing Agent, eliminate the requirement to publish certain notices in printed newspapers, and update other provisions consistent with state law?"
Measure H
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
360,127
77.09
No
107,047
22.91
Total votes
467,174
100.00
Measure I
Ballot Title: Charter Amendment Regarding Balboa Park and San Diego High School
Ballot Language: "Shall City Charter section 55 be amended to authorize the City Council to lease the dedicated park property in Balboa Park currently occupied by San Diego High School, to the San Diego Unified School District for educational, cultural, recreational, and civic programs and activities, provided that the property is used for a public high school?"
Measure I
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
383,025
77.92
No
108,565
22.08
Total votes
491,590
100.00
Measure J
Ballot Title: Charter Amendment Regarding Use of Lease Revenue from Mission Bay Park
Ballot Language: "Shall Charter section 55.2 be amended to: increase, from 25% to 35%, the allocation of annual Mission Bay Park lease revenues exceeding $20 million, for capital improvements in San Diego Regional Parks; allow Council to add City-owned parkland to Mission Bay Park's boundaries; combine and coordinate construction of Mission Bay Park improvements identified in this section; and extend operation of this section until 2069?"
Measure J
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
336,810
71.10
No
136,933
28.90
Total votes
473,743
100.00
Measure K
Ballot Title: Charter Amendment Requiring Run-Off Election for the Offices of Mayor, City Attorney, and Councilmember
Ballot Language: "Shall the Charter be amended to eliminate the provision that elects a candidate for Mayor, City Attorney, or Councilmember to office if the candidate receives a majority vote in the June primary election, and instead require a run-off election at the November general election between the two candidates who received the most votes in the primary election?"
Measure K
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
280,075
59.03
No
194,412
40.97
Total votes
474,487
100.00
Measure L
Ballot Title: Charter Amendment Regarding the Timing of Elections for Citizens' Initiative Measures and Referendum Measures
Ballot Language: "Shall the Charter be amended to require qualified citizens' initiative and referendum measures to be submitted to voters on the next November general election ballot and not at a June primary election, unless the Council chooses to submit the measure to voters prior to that election?"
Measure L
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
305,638
65.79
No
158,911
34.21
Total votes
464,549
100.00
Measure M
Ballot Title: Affordable Housing: Increasing the Limit on the Number of Units the City and Certain Public Agencies are Allowed to Help Develop
Ballot Language: "Shall the voters increase by 38,680 the maximum number of housing units the City and certain other public agencies are allowed to help develop, construct, or acquire for people with low incomes, without this ballot measure approving specific housing units, providing funds for development, removing requirements that otherwise apply, or taking any other action?"
Measure M
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
328,588
66.41
No
166,171
33.59
Total votes
493,311
100.00
Measure N
Ballot Title: Non-Medical Cannabis Business Tax
Ballot Language: "If California voters approve Proposition 64 legalizing marijuana in the state, shall the City adopt an ordinance imposing a gross receipts tax, for general revenue purposes, on non-medical cannabis (also known as marijuana) businesses operating in the City, initially set at 5% and increasing to 8% on July 1, 2019, having a maximum rate of 15%, generating an undetermined amount of revenue and continuing indefinitely?"
