San Diego had been a Manager-Council form of government since 1931.  Originally that form of government consisted of a city manager and a seven member council of which one was city Mayor.  Later additions to the council included more Mayoral control as well as three additional council districts, raising the number to ten. Today there are eight districts and recently San Diego has transformed its government from the City Manager to the Strong Mayor form.  This change was voted on by the city in 2004 and has started its first trial on January 1st 2006.

MAYOR OF SAN DIEGO

 Mayor Jerry Sanders will be the first ever Strong Mayor of San Diego.  He was elected with 54% of the vote in a special run off election that took place in November 2005.  At 55 years of age Mayor Sanders has done his fair share for the fine city of San Diego.  Starting as a San Diego Police officer Sanders worked his way to Chief of Police where he served from 1993 - 1999. In his six years as head of the police department, Sanders is credited with lowering the crime rate by 40% as well as charging the police staff with becoming more involved in their community. After leaving the police force in 1999 Sanders became the CEO of the United Way of San Diego and also spent some time on the board of the American Red Cross San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapters.  Experienced and qualified Sanders pledges to return San Diego to her splendor.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT SCOTT PETERS (DISTRICT 1)

 Scott Peters has been on the San Diego City Council since 2000.  Scott serves as Chair on the City's Committee on Rules, Open Government and Intergovernmental Relations, and on the Budget and Finance Committee. He attended Duke University and later went on to receive his law degree from New York University School of Law. In the midst of a successful but unsatisfying law career Mr. Peters left his San Diego firm to become San Diego Deputy County Counsel.  He hasn't looked back since. 

COUNCILMEMBER KEVIN FAULCONER (DISTRICT 2)

    Elected only nine days after the new form of government took charge, Kevin is the newest member of the San Diego City Council.  He has been active in his district since before he was elected to his position.  He served on and over saw the Mission Bay Park Committee, which remains on the top of his agenda for 2006. 

COUNCILMEMBER TONI ATKINS (DISTRICT 3)

    Toni Atkins has been on the City Council since she was first elected in 2000. Atkins had also served as the Deputy Mayor of the city of San Diego when there was a vacancy in 2005. Miss Atkins is the chair on the City Council’s Committee on Budget and Finance, and is vice chair of both the Land Use and Housing as well as Natural Resources and Culture committees. She is well known and regarded as the leader in the push for affordable housing in San Diego.  In fact her efforts helped set aside 55 million dollars for affordable housing projects in 2001.  She is also a leader in worker rights and neighborhood beautification and has worked to open and run numerous parks in her district. Miss Atkins has received numerous awards from her work and has the honor of being a graduate from the Senior Executive Program at the prestigious John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
 

Council President Pro Tem Tony Young (DISTRICT 4)

    Council Member and District 4 representative Tony Young is San Diego's President Pro Tem.  That means he will undertake the duties of   Council President until a termed president is elected.  Mr. Young was born in Madrid Spain and moved back to San Diego where he earned his teaching credentials. It was his role as a public school teacher that got Tony interested in community affairs.  His interest remains high and it shows in his priorities for 2006: include public safety, community economic development, and increasing opportunities for young people to become successful. Tony is also involved in anti-gang groups as well as Able Disabled advocacy groups.

COUNCILMEMBER BRIAN MAIENSCHEIN (DISTRICT 5)

    Brian was elected to City Council in a historic victory in 2000. He netted 63% of the votes which is the most ever received when running against an incumbent.  He has served diligently ever since. The recipient of the 2003 Legislature of the Year Award and was also awarded the Top 40 to watch under 40 Award.  Brian wins his constituents over with his belief that government should be accountable to taxpayers and as a community volunteer and long time resident of his district.

Councilmember Donna Frye (DISTRICT 6)

    Donna Frye has been a councilmember since 2001 who fights for an honest government and prides herself on being accountable to the public. Frye diligently fights to upgrade all core city services including, but not limited to, sidewalks, recreation centers, libraries, police and fire protection. It was Frye's insistence that meetings be more available to the public and in 2004 they were. Donna is also known as a budget hawk who has kept a close eye on San Diego spending in the past and plans to continue in the future. Frye is also an energy nut and has fought to keep energy conservation and innovation in the fore front of policies.  It was with her help that new buildings that incorporate alternative energies receive their permits faster.

COUNCILMEMBER JIM MADAFFER (DISTRICT 7)

    Jim was elected to City Council in 2000 and had worked as a Chief of Staff to Councilmember Judy McCarty prior. He is the currently the Chair of the City Council’s Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee as well as Chair of the Mission Trails Regional Park Task Force, and a member of the Rules Committee and the Natural Resources and Culture Committee. Mr. Madaffer is currently fighting to obtain more land for Mission Trails Regional Park as well as modernize and update the library facilities in his district. Both Jim and his wife are life long San Diego residents.

COUNCILMEMBER BEN HUESO (DISTRICT 8)

    On the council, Ben serves on the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee, the Land-Use and Housing Committee, and Natural Resources Committee. He is a friend of the Gay and Lesbian community and a Latino representative. Currently 27% of the city of San Diego is Latino and has had trouble with their representation in the past. Ben has lived in District 8 all his life and is excited to represent them on the city council. Previous to City Council Ben had been in the advisory Committee for the Police Chief, Founder of the Central Commercial District Association, and Board Member for the Sherman Heights Community Center.

 

  The District Lay out of the City of San Diego

District 1 - Scott Peters

District 2 - Kevin Faulconer

District 3 - Toni Atkins

District 4 - Tony Young

                                         District 5 - Brian Maienschein

                                         District 6 - Donna Frye

                                         District 7 - Jim Madaffer

                                         District 8 - Ben Hueso

* For more specific information on any of the City Council Members visit their homepages. URLs are located in our references page.

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