San Diego County supervisors vote unanimously to call special election for 1st District seat

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 voted unanimously to call a special election to fill the vacant 1st District supervisor seat, setting a special primary election for April 8, 2025 and a special general election for July 1, 2025 if no candidate wins a majority in the primary.

The decision followed a staff presentation on three options to fill the vacancy — a direct appointment under board policy A‑39, a special election, or an interim appointment until a special election — and more than two dozen public comments. Andrew Potter, county staff, told the board that the county charter requires action within 30 days of a vacancy and that a special primary must be set no earlier than 76 days and not more than 90 days after the resolution calling the election.

Supervisor Jim Desmond moved for a special election, saying, "The residents of District 1 deserve an opportunity to elect their next representative for a nearly a full 4 year term through a transparent democratic process and not a political appointment." Supervisor Montgomery Stepp seconded the motion. Desmond added that the cost of…