The county’s recently released budget totals $8.65 billion and includes over 700 pages worth of projects and plans. How much is dedicated to fixing South County’s biggest local challenge — the Tijuana River toxic sewage crisis that’s poisoning our air, water and economy?
Just 0.02%.
That’s not a typo. It’s a clear message. To the downtown crowd, South County families facing an extreme public health disaster aren’t even worth a fraction of a percent.
And it’s not just the sewage. For decades, South County has been overlooked. While other districts get new parks, fire stations and libraries, our community, District 1, got almost nothing from the county the last two years — except money for jail repairs.
In a district where over 140,000 families with kids rely on CalFresh nutrition and more families rely on Medi-Cal for health care than any district in San Diego — the county is now proposing deep cuts to those programs. That hits struggling families hardest.
This election is about whether we let that status quo continue — or will we finally demand better. Will we let Donald Trump’s chaos and Elon Musk’s slash and burn DOGE politics take hold on our Board of Supervisors and do even more damage?
Or will we choose a new, better direction? One that fights for economic security and affordable housing, demands South County’s fair share and gets serious about fixing a sewage crisis no community should have to endure.
Just look at the differences on the county budget between me and my opponent, Republican John McCann. He’s called for slashing spending, including cuts to the safety net South County relies on most.
That’s no surprise. McCann s Trump and the Republicans in D.C. as they tank the economy with tariffs that raise prices, unleash mass firings with DOGE and push to slash Medicare for seniors and the poor — both in Washington and here at home.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer. I believe county government should be a force for economic good — not chaos, cuts and crazy MAGA politics.
And here’s the truth: We don’t need to raise taxes to get there. We just need to use what we already have. Right now, San Diego County is sitting on $2 billion in taxpayer cash — far above what fiscal experts say is needed for a rainy day. That’s our money — it should be invested in our community, not left in the bank while working families struggle.
Let me be crystal-clear: I oppose new, unnecessary taxes. The county doesn’t lack for resources, it lacks the political will to take action South County needs. It’s done next to nothing to end chronic neglect of our community. And it’s not putting tax dollars where they’re needed most — fixing the sewage crisis and helping people afford to live here.
We can’t wait any longer. Winning South County’s fair share and helping working families make ends meet is why I’m running for supervisor and fighting for change in San Diego County.
As mayor of Imperial Beach, I’ve delivered results by refusing to accept excuses. After years of South County being ignored, I pushed Washington to act on the Tijuana River sewage crisis, helping to secure $600 million to start cleaning up that toxic, outrageous mess.
I’ve fought to lower costs — and won. Leading San Diego’s clean-energy alternative to SDG&E, we’re actually reducing household electricity rates this year. And I closed legal loopholes exposing vulnerable tenants to massive, surprise rent hikes and unjust evictions.
That’s the kind of leadership I’ll bring to the county — focused, urgent, on the side of working people. Because South County’s needs are worth a heck of a lot more than a fraction of a percent in the annual county budget.
So the choice in this election is clear: more status quo neglect, more MAGA chaos and more disastrous budget cuts. Or a county government that puts working people first, demands our fair share and protects all of San Diego County amid extreme economic uncertainty from Washington.
If, like me, you’re hungry for a county government that working people in South County can finally count on, I’d be honored to earn your vote.
Aguirre, the Imperial Beach mayor, is a candidate for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
