San Diego Council District 3: Can a Democratic Homeless Advocate Unseat the Democratic Incumbent?

SDCC3
Created: 14 Sep, 2024
Updated: 17 Sep, 2024
3 min read

Coleen Cusack is an attorney and homeless advocate challenging Councilmember Stephen Whitburn for his seat representing residents of San Diego District 3, who live in downtown and near Balboa Park.

In the City of San Diego, No Party Preference voters (NPPs) outnumber Republican voters – 24% to 22% – with Democratic registered voters accounting for 47% of the voting population. 

Both Whitburn and Cusack are Democrats but it’s the former who has the advantage of incumbency and name ID, but Cusack has picked up some impressive endorsements and could challenge Whitburn on Election Day, especially if NPP voters rally in support of her.

The San Diego Union Tribune Editorial Board noted Whitburn is the clear favorite but then threw its support behind Cusack, saying she was particularly impressive in her endorsement interview. The newspaper said:

“She denounced how promises developers make on affordable housing are scaled back after city approvals are secured; expressed incredulity that the city had not made it a priority to prevent the closing of thousands of single-room occupancy units in recent years; and noted that prefab houses are available on Amazon for $23,000 at a time when government-subsidized housing routinely costs $500,000 or more. Cusack also makes a passionate case that criminalizing homelessness is ‘futile, expensive, counterproductive and cruel.’ She says the real goal of many leaders is swaying public perceptions, not solving problems,”

Whitburn counters: 

“I am seeking reelection because I have led efforts to reduce homelessness, construct affordable housing and add neighborhood improvements, and I want us to keep moving forward. To reduce street homelessness, I opened two safe sleeping sites. They have security, restrooms, showers, meals and connections to housing. Over 500 people have moved off the streets and into these sites. I have led the way on adding truly affordable housing that limits rents to 30 percent of tenants’ incomes.”

Cusack: The Challenger

Cusack

Housing and homelessness, education, infrastructure, and personal safety are Cusack’s leading priorities, according to her campaign website. She is endorsed by numerous Democratic Clubs, Run Women Run, and homeless advocates.

“I am running as a 25-year resident of the district and 34-year resident of the city who never before aspired for political office. But lacking all faith and confidence in my elected representative, I am stepping up to do the job myself,” she said recently.

More Choice for San Diego

Whitburn: The Incumbent

Whitburn

Whitburn lists housing and homelessness and quality of life as his main priorities on his campaign website.

“Stephen successfully won passage of a new city law prohibiting encampments on public property when shelter beds are available. He opened safe sleeping sites, enabling people experiencing homelessness to move off the streets and into safe spaces offering security, restrooms, meals, and services. He also voted to create a rental assistance program that helps prevent homelessness altogether by enabling people to stay in their apartments,” his website says.

Whitburn is endorsed by the state and local Democratic Parties, labor groups, LGBTQ groups, and business groups.

What’s at stake?

Both candidates are Democrats, but the incumbent is known to frequently support Mayor Gloria and the mayor’s policy initiatives. It’s unlikely the mayor would want to lose that support, so look for him and the local Democratic Party to campaign heavily for Whitburn.

The winner wins the seat that represents downtown San Diego and surrounding urban neighborhoods, all grappling with the homeless crisis.

Related articles

Turner
Could an Independent Candidate Win Big City Mayor’s Race?
A lifelong nonpartisan candidate is making a serious run for mayor of San Diego against the incumben...
25 Sep, 2024
-
1 min read
SDAttorney
San Diego City Attorney: Will Independents and Republicans Go With the Experienced Leader or the Chief Deputy City Attorney?
They’re both attorneys and they’re both Democrats, but beyond that Brian Maienschein and Heather Fer...
15 Sep, 2024
-
5 min read
SDCC9
San Diego Council District 9: Council President Expected to Fend Off Challenger with Little Effort This November
is running for re-election to represent the residents of District 9 in the City of San Diego. While...
15 Sep, 2024
-
4 min read

Latest articles

Votes
MERGER: The Organization that Brought Ranked Choice Voting and Ended SuperPACs in Maine Joins California’s Nonpartisan Primary Pioneers
The Chamberlain Project, an organization I co-founded with Peter Ackerman a decade ago, has been dissolved. The Chamberlain Boards have voted to combine all of Chamberlain’s associated entities, including Americans Elect, Level the Playing Field, the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting, and Citizens to End SuperPACs, with the Foundation for Independent Voter Education (FIVE),...
23 Jan, 2025
-
12 min read
press badges and credentials
To Help Heal Division, We Must Cut "The Media" Some Slack
Donald Trump will be inaugurated in a few days. In his second term, just as in his first, he’ll likely spark passionate disagreements about news media: what is “fake news” and what isn’t, which media sources should be trusted and which should be doubted....
23 Jan, 2025
-
4 min read
American flag on a bridge.
'We the People' Must Take Action to Address Our Colossal Challenges
Long before I moved to the United States from rural Greece and ever heard the phrase “we the people,” I grew up with a constant and clear illustration of the power of community. Although “we the people” wasn’t a phrase that translated into Greek, it was one of the cornerstones of Greek society....
23 Jan, 2025
-
4 min read