At least two of the six candidates for mayor of Chula Vista are now promoting their campaigns towards the primary elections next June. One has the advantage in campaign funds, but the other stands out for the support of well-known local and state Democrats.
Ammar Campa Najjar reported Wednesday that he raised at least $110,000 for his campaign, mostly contributions of less than $50 each, which he sees as backing from his electoral base, which also supports two unions.
That's 1,500 campaign contributions in four months, and according to the candidate, this puts him ahead of two to one over his closest rival for mayor.
Campa Najjar aspires to become the first Latino Arab American to hold elected office not just in Chula Vista, but in the country. He is the only one who for now considers the advantage of supporting immigrants.
He proposes, among other projects, bringing a university to Chula Vista and adapting the amphitheater to host World Cup games.
Zaneta Salde Encarnación also began proselytizing and on her campaign website presumes that the outgoing mayor, Mary Casillas Salas, has express
ed her support; the county supervisor in the region, Nora Vargas; and California Senate President Toni Atkins.
She also has the support of the president of the California Labor Confederation, Lorena González; the mayor of National City, Alejandra Sotelo Solís, and the councilman Steve Padilla of Chula Vista, among others.
Encarnación is chief of staff at Southwestern College, and her priorities are to get the city's economy back to better levels than it was before the pandemic, get the city council working to benefit residents, and make Chula Vista neighborhoods safer and more affordable.
Of the other candidates, councilmember Jill Gálvez has promised to take her practical style of work to the mayor's office in the governing council of the same city.
Former councilmember Rudy Ramirez, a small businessman and business leader on Main Street, says he has experience helping the city rebound economically from the 2007 recession. Ramírez plans to improve Chula Vista's neighborhoods and fire and safety systems.
The other two hopefuls, incumbent councilmember John McCann and small businessman Spencer Cash have run without campaigning.
The six candidates seeking to replace Mayor Mary Casillas Salas, who made history as the first Latina mayor of Chula Vista.
Mary Casillas Salas will step down in December after serving the city for two terms beginning in 2014.
Some of Chula Vista's mayoral candidates already have their campaigns underway, while others have only run for office so far.
