1 week Ago By Tony Shin
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Thousands of South Bay residents are heading to the polls Tuesday to vote in a special election to replace former San Diego County District 1 Supervisor Nora Vargas.Seven candidates are vying for the seat, which represents a large portion of southwestern San Diego County, including Chula Vista, National City and Imperial Beach. Candidates vying for District 1 Supervisor seat in April 8 special election (FOX 5/KUSI) Candidates vying for District 1 Supervisor seat in April 8 special election (FOX 5/KUSI) The winner will take over for Vargas, who stepped down in December citing personal safety concerns just weeks after being re-elected in November.
What to know about the special election for Vargas’ Board of Supervisors seatWith about 650,000 residents in the district, many voters say strong leadership is needed to tackle issues like homelessness, infrastructure and the ongoing South Bay sewage crisis.“I’m concerned about the border and the lack of cleanliness and Mexico's contribution to our polluted ocean,” voter Bob Smith said outside Chula Vista City Hall.Sue Dinich, another voter, pointed to the high cost of living.
“There’s a lot of driving forces — the taxes on gas, the parking, the homeless,” she said.Veronica Johnson emphasized the need for public safety. “You can patch a pothole or fix a street, but without public safety, everybody is vulnerable,” she said.
Meet the candidates running for Vargas’ Board of Supervisors seatAccording to Registrar of Voters, Cynthia Paes, more than 370,000 ballots were mailed to registered voters in District 1. However, turnout is expected to be low — around 14 percent.“While all the planning and setup is the same as any election, we typically see lower turnout in special elections, which is unfortunate,” Paes said.
Paes said there are 13 vote centers open throughout the district, as well as 29 official ballot drop boxes. All vote centers and drop boxes will close promptly at 8 p.m.
Voters in line by that time will be allowed to cast their ballot, but no one can join the line after 8 p.m.Mail-in ballots must be postmarked no later than April 8 to be counted.
“I think it’s part of our civic duty,” Johnson added. “Voting is the most important way to communicate your feelings and beliefs.”If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters will face off in a runoff election on July 1.
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