It will be Jennifer Campbell vs. Monica Montgomery-Steppe
SAN DIEGO — Two Democratic San Diego City Councilwomen — Jennifer Campbell, who is Jewish, and Monica Montgomery Steppe, who is African American — have announced their intentions to compete for the position of President of the San Diego City Council, which Georgette Gomez will relinquish next month when she leaves office following an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Congress.
Campbell represents the 2nd Council District which includes such communities as Bay Ho, Bay Park, Morena, Midway, North Bay, Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and Point Loma.
Montgomery Steppe represents the 4th Council District including the communities of Alta Vista, Broadway Heights, Chollas View, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Greater Skyline Hills, Jamacha, Lincoln Park, Lomita Village, North Bay Terrace, Oak Park, O’Farrell, Paradise Hills, Redwood Village, Rolando Park, South Bay Terrace, Valencia Park, and Webster.
Campbell currently chairs the City Council’s Environment Committee, and Montgomery Steppe chairs the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee.
The winner of the Council Presidency will have more staff assistants than she does currently, and more importantly, will be able to set the City Council’s agenda, determining what issues will have priority. She also will determine the chairs and membership of the various City Council committees and determine to which outside public boards, such as the Metropolitan Transit District and the San Diego Association of Governments, each of the council members will be assigned.
Campbell announced her candidacy on Monday, Nov. 9, saying, “Throughout my term, I’ve made it a priority to put the City’s best interest ahead of my own immediate political gain. I’ve taken a pragmatic, objective approach to building coalitions and working with each of my Council colleagues, despite our differences, to deliver positive outcomes for all our communities.”
Montgomery Steppe issued a statement on Tuesday, Nov. 10, in which she said, “As the People’s Council President, I will work to amplify the community’s voice by building a strong council. … The City Council needs to harness our power and leverage it to benefit all communities.”
Who gets the position will be determined by the incoming 9-member San Diego City Council, which will have eight Democratic members and only one Republican after the Dec. 10 swearing in ceremony. Campbell and Montgomery Steppe are in the middle of their terms as are Chris Cate, who will be the Council’s lone Republican in District 6, and Democrat Vivian Moreno in District 8.
Elected on Nov. 3rd were five Democrats: Joe LaCava in District 1, Stephen Whitburn in District 3, Marni von Wilpert in District 5, Raul Campillo in District 7, and Sean Elo-Rivera, who is a member of the Jewish community, in District 9. Meanwhile, Democrat Todd Gloria will be succeeding Republican Kevin Faulconer as San Diego’s mayor.
Whereas Campbell and Montgomery Steppe each have nine staff members, the current Council President Georgette Gomez has 13 assistants with various portfolios.
In her news release, Campbell said, “San Diego’s biggest challenges require collaboration, coordination, and decisive action. We have so much work to do and as Council President I won’t shy away from tackling these issues head on. I look forward to working with each of my Council colleagues to advance their priorities and protect the health and safety of all our San Diego communities.”
Montgomery Steppe said her priorities are 1) reimagining policing and public safety; 2) economic opportunity for all; and 3) safe and healthy communities. “I am committed to making City Hall more accountable, accessible and transparent,” she said. “From day one, my office has kept an open door policy, and we have welcome scrutiny. … With the looming uncertainty around the pandemic and race & equality being at the center of every conversation, we need leaders who we can count on. Leaders that we can trust to give it to us straight. We need compassionate leadership. There is no better time for me to serve as Council President.”
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com