By Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer
Bowlegged BBQ was abuzz on Saturday, January 6th, as San Diego City Council District 4 Candidate Chida Warren-Darby officially launched her campaign. The launch came just 60 days shy of the special election to fill the seat vacated by Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe on December 5th, 2023, to begin her new role on the County Board of Supervisors.
Surrounded by a host of well-wishers and supporters, Chida used her debuting remarks on her “Community Comes First” platform. She reminded some and shared with others her history of growing up in the Fourth District as a product of its schools and a family steeped in giving to this community. She said the struggle continues for all our communities to create a space where we not only thrive but where we are celebrated as well.
“It continues to be a hard journey, but the legacy of this district is resiliency,” Warren-Darby said.
During her remarks, Warren-Darby outlined her desire to ensure a more community-informed approach to public safety, a commitment to empowering community organizations, and a commitment to further investing in the district’s business community.
“If we want to create a space where more of our restaurants, farmers markets, bookstores, barber shops, coffee shops, and community gyms can start and thrive… well, that means we need better parking solutions. It means we need to create housing to accompany those employees. This will help to keep our communities intact, and grow sustainability,” she remarked.
She went on to say that “instead of talking about you or around you, I will do what I have always done. I will talk TO you and with you. And that’s not going to change when I am in that City Council seat. I won’t say one thing in this campaign and do another thing in the office. I am going to listen, and you are going to get results.”
The City Council seat really represents a forum to continue working for a community she has deep roots in. She comes from the San Diego Unified School District, attending schools from Oak Park Elementary to graduating from the School for Performing and Creative Arts. She is a graduate of the University of San Diego and a past Executive Director of the original San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce, which her mother, Mrs. Gerri Warren founded and Warren-Darby led after her.
She was intimately involved in the creation of the annual Gold Coast Classic, which started in the District Four community. She served as co-publisher and managing editor of the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper after her mother’s death and long before state and local funding was made available she created programs for young girls involved in the legal system who were coming out of sex trafficking. One of her biggest achievements was a town hall meeting held in the community that brought together over 400 persons who were both victims and former perpetrators of sex trafficking.
Many of the individuals lining up to support Warren-Darby remember her years of service and help to others, when there was no recognition for doing so.
Warren-Darby says she looks forward to the debates and continued conversations with residents of the district. She believes that it’s their votes, and not endorsements based on political connections, that will make the difference in this special election. Her message: “If you are not registered, then please do so. Every vote will count.”
