Life-long south bay resident Jose Preciado is running for Chula Vista City Council to represent District 2, which serves Northwest Chula Vista.
Preciado a registered Democrat, is vying for the soon-to-be vacant city council seat against registered Republican Steve Stenberg to succeed councilmember, Jill Galvez. Preciado is currently the director and lecturer of General Studies at San Diego State University, where he has worked for the past 23 years.
Having attended Nestor Elementary, Southwest Middle, and Southwest High School, Preciado said Chula Vista has been a part of his entire life. He moved to Chula Vista in 2006
“Not only in my childhood, but as I began my adult life, a lot of things intersected in Chula Vista,” Preciado said.
Preciado was a part of the outreach group that helped develop Compact for Success the partnership between Sweetwater Union High School District and San Diego State University, which grants students guaranteed admission if they meet certain requirements.
He was elected in 2008 as the director of the South Bay Irrigation District Division 3/ Sweetwater authority and is currently serving his fourth term. He also chairs the board of Directors of the Sweetwater Authority and is a member of the finance administration and the Engineering and Capital Infrastructure and Development Committee.
“I have 14 years of elected experience, and I'm very familiar with the legislative development process and the policymaking processes and the responsibilities of serving in my case, 190,000 residents with safe drinking water,” Preciado said. ”So from my elected point of view and having the experience and moving to the city council would simply broaden the types of issues that I engage in, in direct service to the local community.”
His priorities include improving parks and playgrounds, supporting public safety and community involvement in policing, revitalizing west Chula Vista to create jobs, focusing efforts to help get people off the streets, and assisting first-time home buyers.
Preciado said it is critical to support affordable housing development for working families. He also said the city needs to develop permanent infrastructure that supports people experiencing homelessness, noting he is particularly concerned about seniors on fixed income experiencing homelessness.
“I bring a combination of experience and commitment to the public policy issues that most impact the city. I hope to be part of a city council team that serves and respects everyone. I have the skills and education that will allow me to serve the City of Chula Vista,” Preciado said.
