When Helen Kim walked into a voting center in Point Loma, she felt confident in her choice for the mayor of San Diego.
“Todd Gloria, 100 percent,” she said.
Incumbent Todd Gloria is running for his second term as San Diego’s mayor against challenger Larry Turner, a San Diego police officer. Turner, a self-described Independent, has criticized Gloria for not making progress on homelessness, the housing crisis and other top issues impacting San Diegans.
Gloria, a Democrat, has maintained that he’s been laying a strong foundation when it comes to homelessness and housing, which he says he hopes to build on in a second term. Regarding his opponent, Gloria has criticized Turner’s lack of political experience and has said Turner doesn’t have a solid plan to deal with homelessness, the biggest issue facing San Diego.
Kim, who voted in person Tuesday morning, acknowledged San Diego’s worsening homelessness crisis. However, she noted, the problem is not that simple.
“Of course, it’s a huge problem, but everyone wants it solved overnight,” Kim said. “It’s so complex, and the mayor has done what he can within his reach. He has made an impact and he will continue to make an impact.”
For Dave Hampton, the choice for mayor didn’t come as easily.
He ended up voting for Gloria to have a second term, but it was a difficult decision, Hampton admitted.
“I have a lot of concerns about him,” Hampton said. “His time as mayor so far – it’s hard for me to fully support him, but it’s like a lesser of two evils kind of thing.”
His criticism of the mayor, like many others, boils down to homelessness, housing and cost of living. However, Hampton said, he doesn’t think Turner would be a better alternative.
Maxine Reyna, on the other hand, does think Turner would be a better alternative. She said San Diego’s high cost of living has been a constant struggle for herself and her family and friends. She’s hoping Turner’s promises to create more affordable housing rather than more market-rate housing could help bring rent prices down.
“I had to leave my last apartment because of rent increases,” Reyna said. “There is too much development that is not affordable to the average person in San Diego. Cost of living is way too high, and we need someone who will address that.”
She also pointed to San Diego’s need for infrastructure improvements as a reason for her support for Turner, an issue she believes he would prioritize.