STEPPE WINNING SUPERVISOR SPECIAL ELECTION BY WIDE MARGIN

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of 10 News, an ECM news partner

November 8, 2023 (San Diego) – Monica Montgomery Steppe is poised to fill the vacancy in district 4 left by the resignation of Nathan Fletcher on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Steppe has 61% of the vote,  while her opponent, Amy Reichert, a private investigator who led efforts to block COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates, has 39%. Steppe, an attorney and San Diego city councilmember, stands to become the first black woman to serve as a San Diego supervisor.

Although the race is officially nonpartisan, her victory will also restore a 3-2 Democratic majority on the board of Supervisors, which has been split since Fletcher resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment and assault by an MTS employee. Fletcher has denied guilt but faces a civil lawsuit.

On social media, Steppe posted, “As your Supervisor, I look forward to teaming up with you to tackle homelessness, promote holistic public safety, and invest in the county.”

She declared victory within a half hour after polls closed. In a statement, she said, “We took a grassroots movement to yet another hall of power. We brought a model of governance that puts the people first,”  10 News reports.

Reichert remained upbeat despite the apparent loss, noting that she finished better than expected given the district has only 19% registered Democrats, though the district also has more decline to state voters than either major political party.  Reichert assured, “I’m not going anywhere,”  adding that she plans continue working to help people, KPBS reports.

Steppe has 48,636 votes to Reichert’s 31,101, a lead of more than 17,000 votes.  Of 109,644 ballots cast,  just 30,000 remain to be counted.  Turnout was just 18.4% of the 596,002 registered voters.

District 4 includes La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Mount Helix, Dehesa, Rancho San Diego and Spring Valley in East County, as well as the San Diego neighborhoods of Azalea Park, Banker’s Hill, Bay Ho, City Heights, Clairemont Mesa, the College area, El  Cerrito, Encanto, Grantville, Hillcrest, Linda Vista, Mission Hills, Normal Heights, North Park, Rolando, Skyline, University Heights and Valencia Park.