Fresh off the political scandal of a sitting councilmember being charged with asking for a bribe and a successful recall vote, Poway is ready for another election.
Earlier this year during the primary election, the city also held a special election and replaced former District 2 Councilmember Tony Blain. I hope that name rings a bell because I sure won’t forget it.
Last November, Blain ended his first and only year in public office with a bang. The District Attorney’s Office charged Blain with four felonies—perjury, asking for a bribe, soliciting a bribe and destruction of public records—as well as a misdemeanor for stealing a campaign sign. Poway District 2 voters then overwhelmingly voted to recall Blain in the November 2025 election, and he quickly resigned.
Now with the upcoming election in November, Poway residents are looking forward to a completely fresh start – or at least some of them are.
The premiere race is for mayor, and many voters say they want to stick with the experience of three-term incumbent Steve Vaus. But development is also sure to be a major factor, and many don’t like the direction Vaus has taken the city. Two people are also facing off for the District 3 council seat. In District 1, a candidate is running unopposed.
The Battle for Mayor
Voters seem divided on longtime Mayor Steve Vaus.
Vaus, the incumbent, is facing challengers Jenny Maeda (the current District 4 councilmember) and Dellena Olps for the mayoral seat. Vaus and Maeda are Republicans, and Olps is a Democrat.
Vaus has been mayor of Poway for 12 years and was a councilmember for two years before that. Maeda was elected to her seat two years ago and it’s her first time in political office. Olps is also a political newcomer.
In interviews, Vaus has emphasized his record and experience, telling the Union-Tribune that Poway is one of the county’s safest cities, has strong finances, top-notch infrastructure and the lowest sales tax under his leadership.
“But there is more to do,” Vaus told the U-T. “The next four years will require experienced leadership and a clear vision for the future.”
Vaus’ hold on the mayoral seat isn’t the only reason his critics want to see him go. Many residents have long disagreed with his handling of new housing and development projects that continue to pop up around Poway. They say he often approves projects that don’t fit into the city’s character and don’t represent what the city needs.
Vaus maintains that he is in favor of local control when it comes to housing and development and has openly criticized the state’s housing mandates that require cities to approve most affordable housing projects.
Some residents, though, don’t buy it. They argue he’s too lenient with developers by not holding them to certain development standards and practices that would better align with what residents want.
“Many of us feel frustrated because Vaus and the developers are ruining the city. We want growth, but not the way Vaus is doing it,” a Facebook user posted.
The Challengers
Discourse on social media and conversations I’ve had with residents reveal a divide between supporters of Maeda, the other Republican, and Olps, the Democrat.
Many in Maeda’s district argue that she has accomplished little for them in two years and seems apathetic toward her current position. She and her supporters counter that she hasn’t been able to accomplish more because Vaus is mayor. Maeda says she wants to preserve Poway’s rural character, give residents more input into development projects and introduce term limits.
If the name Olps sounds familiar it’s because Dellena Olps’ husband, Chris Olps, ran unsuccessfully for the Poway City Council three times since 2014. He also spearheaded the unsuccessful recall of Vaus a few years ago.
Supporters of Dellena Olps say her longtime support of her husband’s efforts, as well as her engagement in City Council meetings, show she’s not afraid to challenge the City Council and the status quo. They also say she’s the candidate that would give Poway a fresh start and a new perspective.
Critics say Olps is too inexperienced, and some have questioned where her loyalties lie. Some accuse her of changing her party affiliation from Republican to Democrat shortly before announcing her run. Although City Council and mayoral seats are nonpartisan, this has become a sticking point for some of her critics.
District 3 incumbent Councilmember Peter De Hoff is facing challenger Bob Walder, a political newcomer who also disagrees with how Vaus and De Hoff have handled development in the city.
Councilmember Chris Pikus is running for District 1 unopposed.
In Other News
- In a recent mayoral candidate forum, Escondido Mayor Dane White and challenger Elias Velazquez disagreed on how the city should handle homelessness. Specifically, Velazquez criticized the current Council’s rejection of Housing First in favor of more enforcement. (Coast News)
- Officials again suspended train services connecting San Diego County with the rest of the nation due to coastal erosion and high tides again. There is no timeline yet for reopening. (Union-Tribune)
- Encinitas is considering bringing back red-light cameras at major roadway intersections. (Union-Tribune)
