Two Candidates for SD District 5 Supervisor

By Patricia Frischer

The Candidates Forum for the San Diego County Supervisor District 5 race Michelle Garcia and Jim Desmond was presented by North County Arts Network and moderated by the League of Women Voters. It was held on Friday September 21 at MiraCosta Community College, Oceanside Campus in the Little Theater.

SDVAN as a 501 ©3 non profit makes no endorsements of any candidates. But we can urge you to Please Cast your VOTE for candidates that support the ARTS!

When asked about county wide support in terms of funding for the arts and culture community both candidates were in favor of this. Jim Desmond said he would be open to a discussion on this subject while Michelle Gomez jumped right in and said that San Diego needed a county wide Art Commission.  Please watch the video and audio for a full and actual recording of their statements on this subject. 

Video by Brigid Parson

Audio recorded by Sterling Anno The following information was taken from the candidates own websites with some of the hyperbole removed to give mainly facts!

Michelle Gomez states on her website "I am a working professional and my husband is a small business owner. I understand the challenges faced by the working families of our district because ours is one of those families. I'm running to give families such as yours and mine true representation in county government."

A lifelong resident of Southern California, Michelle Gomez originally hails from Cerritos but has been in North County San Diego for over a decade ago. Gomez has assisted military families and veterans, forming community building organizations, serving on the board of patient advocacy organizations, and most recently, fighting human trafficking, homelessness, and domestic violence as a San Diego County Commissioner on the Status of Women & Girls Commission. She works as a Legislative Analyst reviewing legislation and drafting policy, and has previously worked in affordable housing project management. She is a military spouse and daughter. Gomez was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award four times by the Obama administration for her work aiding the families of deployed military. She is honored to dedicate her campaign to her grandmother, an early pioneer of the women’s rights movement, and to American womanhood past, present, and future in the hope that equality and opportunity remain the hallmarks of this nation. Michelle Gomez’s goal in seeking the County Supervisor, District 5 seat is to end the hoarding of county reserves, strengthening fire protection, preserving our open space, and increasing access to affordable housing.​

Jim Desmond was first elected Mayor of San Marcos in November 2006 after two years of service on the San Marcos City Council. A US Navy Veteran with a bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University, He completed the Leadership North County program at Cal State, San Marcos.  Desmond founded  Technical Standards that he successfully grew and later sold. A resident of San Marcos since 1992, Desmond served as the first parent teacher president of Twin Oaks Elementary School. He is a member of the San Marcos Kiwanis Club and serves as a board member of the San Diego and Imperial County Boy Scouts of America. Since 1986, Mayor Desmond is currently employed as a captain for Delta Air Lines flying Boeing 757s and 767s domestic and internationally. Jim Desmond and his wife Kerri of 32 years reside in San Marcos.  They have two grown children. Desmond’s experience include his military service, academic achievements, public service, and starting and growing a small business from the ground up. In addition to mayoral duties, Desmond is the City’s primary representative on the board of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and is the chair of the SANDAG Regional Transportation Committee.  He also serves as chair of the San Marcos Fire Protection District. Since 2007, he represents the North County Inland Cities (San Marcos, Vista, Escondido, and Poway) as a board Member of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. Desmond’s city service started in 2000 as president of the board of San Marcos Economic Development Corporation (SMEDC) until 2002. From 2002 to 2004, Desmond served as an alternate on the city planning commission. Desmond also served as a San Marcos Chamber of Commerce board member. The three main issues that Jim Desmond supports are fiscal responsibility, public safety and traffic congestion.