Board certifies election and swears in Paloma Aguirre; new supervisor pledges urgent action on sewage, housing and jobs

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on July 22 adopted a resolution certifying the July election results and unanimously swore in Paloma Aguirre as a member of the board.

Supervisor Paloma Aguirre said her first priorities as a supervisor will be tackling the South County sewage crisis, expanding affordable housing and pushing for more union jobs and worker training. "This fight for something better, it's personal," Aguirre said during remarks at a ceremonial swearing-in and public session. She added that she and local advocates secured federal funding she described as "$600,000,000 from Congress to clean up the toxic mess."

The board opened the session by moving to certify the election that led to Aguirre's seat and to consider Item 1, adoption of a resolution declaring the election results. After a short public-comment period that included several critical speakers, Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe moved the resolution forward. The motion was seconded and then passed unanimously, with all supervisors eligible to vote recorded as voting aye. The clerk announced the result as "that motion passes unanimously, with all supervisors who are eligible to vote on this item voting aye." Immediately afterward the board proceeded with a swearing-in ceremony and a public program at Waterfront Park.

Why it matters: The swearing-in transfers formal authority tied to county-level land use, public health and infrastructure decisions for District 1. In her remarks, Supervisor Aguirre tied those formal powers to immediate action on water and air contamination issues affecting South County residents and called for a cross-county effort to accelerate cleanup and protections.

What Aguirre said: In a 20-minute ceremonial speech, Supervisor Paloma Aguirre recounted her background as the daughter of immigrants and said she would use the county's instruments to pursue near-term results. She said the county must not rely solely on federal action and announced that her first official act will be to call a "sewage crisis action meeting this Thursday," adding, "So every county department is on notice. Our sewage crisis demands urgency and results. I'm not interested in more delays, blame, or excuses."

Aguirre also said she would expand the county's housing trust fund and protect tenants, and that she favors countywide project labor agreements and investments in apprenticeships and job training to prioritize local, union-built jobs. She said the county should protect Medicaid and oppose federal cuts that would affect local health coverage.

Public comment: Before the roll call and vote to certify the election, multiple members of the public used the allotted comment period to criticize the newly elected supervisor and to raise broader concerns about elections and county priorities. A speaker identifying themself as "Truth" accused Aguirre of owing unpaid property taxes and said, "She's unqualified to hold office." A caller who identified themself as "Consolo" raised conspiracy claims about international planning documents. Another caller identified as "Gambler" alleged possible ballot fraud at homeless facilities. Those speakers addressed their remarks to the board during the public-comment portion of Item 1; the board did not take immediate action on the allegations.

Procedure and vote: The board moved, seconded and voted on Item 1 — the resolution declaring election results. The clerk called the roll and recorded the outcome as unanimous among eligible voters; the board then recessed to conduct the swearing-in ceremony at the Waterfront Park Southwest Lawn and reconvened in the chamber at 11 a.m.

Ceremony and acknowledgments: The public swearing-in included an invocation, musical performances and a blessing by community leaders. Dr. Tina Maria King, president of San Diego College of Continuing Education, served as emcee. Bobby Wallace of the Kumeyaay Nation offered a traditional blessing and Father Wynne delivered an invocation. The program included a performance of the national anthem and mariachi music prior to Aguirre taking the oath administered by her husband, Delio Bakowski.

What’s next: Aguirre said she would convene an interdepartmental meeting on the sewage crisis later in the week and pursue county-level uses of the funds and authorities available to accelerate cleanup. The board's formal action at this session was limited to certifying the election and swearing in the new supervisor; further policy actions and budget items will return to the board in future agenda items.

(Quotes and attributions in this article come from the board meeting's public record and the swearing-in program.)