ESCONDIDO — Five City Council candidates took the stage to present their visions and address several pressing issues facing the city during Thursday’s candidate’s forum at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
The two-hour event, which was moderated and hosted by the Escondido Chamber of Commerce and Escondido Times-Advocate, highlighted several major issues such as the city’s budget deficit, Measure I, battery storage facilities, the CCA’s contract, crime, economic development and homelessness, to name a few.
The City Council races feature Christian Garcia, who was appointed to the council in 2023, and challengers Veronica Cigarroa and Christine Spencer in District 3 and Judy Fitzgerald and Roderick Howell in District 4. Fitzgerald and Howell are running for Councilman Mike Morasco’s seat as he is retiring.
