Growth big issue facing 3 candidates for 2 council seats
By Linda Lou
STAFF WRITER
October 2, 2008
SAN MARCOS – Three candidates are running for two seats on the San Marcos City Council, where future development, redevelopment and the outcome of a growth-management initiative are the major issues.
Challenger Dean Nelson is facing incumbents Hal Martin and Rebecca Jones. Martin and Jones have separate campaigns but use the same Web site, martinandjonesforcitycouncil.com; Nelson’s is nelsonforcouncil.com.
Martin, 58, owns a wedding-photography business and is seeking a fourth term.
Jones, 41, who owns a furniture-marketing business with her husband, was appointed last year to the seat vacated by Jim Desmond, who was elected mayor in November 2006.
Nelson, 46, a city planning commissioner and general manager of the Ace Hardware store on Grand Avenue, ran for council in 2006.
DETAILS
City of San Marcos
Operating budget: $60.5 million
Top revenue sources: Sales tax, income from city-owned buildings and land, and property taxes
Population: 82,700
Full-time employees: 234
Election: Two incumbents and one challenger running for two open seats
For years, the city’s budget has been healthy, but sales-tax revenue has been on the decline. San Marcos still plans to complete several parks in the next few years and several major road-improvement projects.
San Marcos has been moving ahead with plans to create a $1 billion downtown area, with housing above stores, offices and parks, along the San Marcos Creek. Much of it would be paid for by private developers.
Growth big issue facing 3 candidates for 2 council seats | The San Diego Union-Tribune.
