By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer
As of press time, the unofficial roundup of votes for the District 4 Supervisor seat are pointing to Democratic candidate Monica Montgomery Steppe–the first Black Woman Supervisor in San Diego County.
Early unofficial election results show Montgomery Steppe in the lead, garnering 61% of the vote, with Republican opponent, Amy Reichert, following behind at 39%, according to the Registrar of Voters.
These votes however only include mail and vote center ballots received before election day, the rest of the counting could take a few days or weeks to be formally called. Meanwhile, the County Registrar of Voters is expected to be providing periodic updates and a more clear picture of voting turnout is set to come Thursday Nov. 9 after 5 p.m.
The San Diego County District 4 Supervisor seat has drawn significant attention, mainly because the outcome will swing the balance of power on the County Board of Supervisors, which currently sits at a 50/50 Democratic and Republican split.
Key issues that will hit the soon to be supervisors’ desk include electing a new Health and Human Services director, and contributing to issues such as homelessness, migrant services, deteriorating infrastructure, and mental health crises—all requiring immediate demand and attention from the five supervisor positions.
The Board of Supervisors in San Diego is an elected body of five leaders who control the county’s $8 billion dollar budget, and administers various health, safety, and social services throughout the county.
“It will be an honor to represent the County I grew up in as the first Black Woman Supervisor in San Diego’s history,” said Montgomery Steppe, in a Tuesday night media statement.
“As your Supervisor, I look forward to teaming up with you to tackle homelessness, promote holistic public safety, and invest in our County. Together, we can move the People’s County forward.”
A diverse array of neighborhoods encompass District 4: including parts of the City of San Diego, such as Clairemont, Mission Valley, North Park, and Encanto, as well as La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, and Rancho San Diego.
District 4 residents will be watching closely to see which candidate ultimately prevails in this consequential race. Voice & Viewpoint will also be watching, and will provide timely coverage on our webpage for readers.
