San Diego is climatically reputed for mild season changes, but 2024’s political season is about to heat up.
In the District 3 City Council race, incumbent Democrat Stephen Whitburn faces three challengers:
- Kate Callen (Democrat, professional writer)
- Coleen Cusack (Democrat, pro bono attorney and homeless advocate)
- Ellis California Jones (Republican, small business owner)
District 3 covers all of downtown San Diego, as well as Balboa Park, Bankers Hill/Park West, Golden Hill, Hillcrest, Little Italy and Middletown.
San Diegans will vote in the 2024 Primary Election on Tuesday, March 5. (Got questions about your voting status? Go to sdvote.com.)
To begin to get to know the D3 candidates, The San Diego Sun asked each for a 250-word introduction. Thumbs up– each kept it under the word limit. The following (alphabetically ordered) opening statements are in their own words:
KATE CALLEN
I am a long-time District 3 community activist who is running to empower neighborhood residents and small-business owners.
City Hall has shut out the voices of the people who live and work in D3. Our district is struggling with too much density — D3 had a full two-thirds of San Diego’s 2022 housing permits — and with street parking lost to underused bike lanes. We need repaired streets and sidewalks, more urban forestry and better urban design.
The solution to homelessness isn’t a few hundred tents in a parking lot. Let’s start getting homeless families with kids off the streets and into stable housing. That’s one part of the problem we can fix now.
Let’s provide stipends to prevent evictions and newly-homeless. Let’s replenish the stock of single-room-occupancy units. And let’s stop pretending “more housing” built by for-profit developers will magically produce affordable units. That will only happen with robust public-private alliances.
The “strong mayor” form of government has been a disaster. The city council was supposed to be a check on the mayor’s power. Instead, they have served as Todd Gloria’s rubber stamp. Replacing elected members of community planning groups with the mayor’s cronies is not democracy; it is autocracy. And the time has come for a full public accounting of the 101 Ash Street debacle.
I’m running to give District 3 constituents a seat at the table where decisions are made that impact their communities.
Campaign website: katecallen.com.
COLEEN CUSACK
Coleen Cusack is a parent, an attorney, an educator and a homeless rights advocate. She has lived in San Diego for 34 years, and in North Park since 1998. District 3 is where her son, now a senior in college, grew up, attending local public schools and playing sports in our parks.
As an attorney, Coleen has been fighting to protect the legal rights of San Diegans for over 30 years. In 2001, she successfully challenged the Red Light Camera Photo Enforcement program, revealing its flaws and protecting San Diegans from unjust charges.
Her pro bono advocacy for homeless people addresses and alleviates the challenges they face. As an attorney, Coleen has educated San Diegans from kindergarten through law school. As criminal justice faculty at local universities she helped prepare police officers for their responsibilities, trained law students experientially in how to practice law at California Western School of Law, and recently stepped up during a recent teacher shortage due to COVID-19 to become a K-12 substitute at San Diego Unified.
Coleen is endorsed by Run Women Run and the California Democratic Renters’ Council.
Coleen has spent her career protecting San Diegans, upholding the Constitution, challenging systemic injustice and fighting to improve our city. Coleen will lead with compassion and integrity, will address our housing crisis from a humanitarian perspective and will strive to make the lives of San Diegans materially better.
Campaign website: coleen4sd.com
ELLIS CALIFORNIA JONES
I’m honored to present my vision for San Diego’s District 3 in the 2024 city council race. Born and raised in this vibrant city, I bring a deeply rooted understanding of our district’s unique needs and aspirations. My campaign represents a fresh start, infused with a middle-of-the-road perspective, challenging the status quo, and offering common sense solutions to our district’s challenges.
As a small business owner during the pandemic, I watched as the city over regulated businesses and offered us little to no protection. My experience as an inspector equips me with a unique skill set to facilitate the communication between the city, corporations and citizens. I am committed to fostering an environment where every resident and business of District 3 can thrive.
What sets my candidacy apart is my dedication to ensuring that every voice in our diverse community is heard and valued. Using modern technology, I aim to bridge gaps and build a stronger, more united District 3, where decisions are made with the collective interest at heart. San Diego can be Bigger and Better. It is not just about making policies; it’s about empowering our community, celebrating our diversity, and paving the way for a prosperous future for all.
Finally, before we can focus on the big ideas, the city must solve its smaller issues. Your vote for me, Ellis California Jones III, is a vote for persistent, balanced leadership, and a clear future for our beloved district.
Campaign website: jones3fordistrict3.com
STEPHEN WHITBURN
It has been an honor to serve you as your council member for the past three years. As a fellow downtown resident, I want our neighborhood to be the world-class city center we know it can be. We’re moving in the right direction, but we have work to do.
To reduce street homelessness, I spearheaded the opening of two Safe Sleeping Sites. They have security, restrooms, showers, laundry, meals and connections to housing. So far, over 500 people have moved off the streets and into these sites. This has contributed to a 60% drop in street homelessness downtown in the past seven months, according to the Downtown San Diego Partnership.
We must continue this progress and help the remaining people on our streets get into safer and healthier places. This is my top priority. The city will open 1,000 additional shelter beds this year and we have thousands of units of affordable housing in the development pipeline.
We are adding beautiful parks downtown. The redeveloped Children’s Park, which includes a dog park, has proven immensely popular since opening in November. I helped arrange funding for the East Village Green park which is now under construction and which will also have a dog park. Yet another park is currently being built at N. Harbor Drive and W. Broadway.
We’re making good progress downtown, and I look forward to working together and keeping up the momentum. As I run for reelection, I would be honored to earn your vote on March 5.
Campaign website: whitburnforcouncil.com SDSun
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