The City of Vista has changed the way city council representatives are elected and has switched from an at-large election to a district-based election system. Beginning in 2018, the City’s new by-district election system divides the city into four geographic sections. Voters in each district select one council representative who also lives in that district. The mayor will continue to be elected at-large by the voters of Vista. In this election cycle, District 3 and 2 are choosing for the first someone to represent their District.
The North County Daily Star interviewed the two City Council Candidates for District 2. Both candidates were asked the same questions and the two videos contained in this article reflected their answers about the City of Vista.
Katie Melendez is a lifelong Vistan and first time candidate for Vista City Council District 3. She is a proud aluma of Vista public schools and a first generation college graduate. Katie currently serves North County as a social worker providing resources and treatment for people experiencing homelessness and substance abuse. Her dedication to public service includes serving in LISC Americorp where she helped children and adults with special needs, coordinated volunteers, and built community gardens. Katie is also an advocate for affordable housing, and fought for Propositions 1&2, which allocated six billion dollars toward affordable housing in CA. Katie is running to improve our quality life in Vista and keep our communities safe, and she is proud to be endorsed by the Vista Fire Fighters Association. Katie is excited to work closely with residents and improve traffic and infrastructure, protect our environment, and develop our local economy. To learn more about Katie Melendez and her new approach for Vista City Council visit katiemelendezforvista.com.
Ms. Rigby was appointed to serve as Deputy Mayor for a one year term on December 10, 2019. She is dedicated to fiscal responsibility and is proud of the City’s current financial stability with the upgrade in bond rating, elimination of the structural deficit, and the City’s emergency reserves now at 29%, up from nearly 10% in 2012. Being opposed to tax increases and governmental over-regulation, Councilmember Rigby is always looking at ways to reduce the burden of doing business in the City as well as ways to attract businesses to the City.
Councilmember Rigby’s vision for Vista is to maintain and improve our quality of life by continuing to be committed to sound fiscal policies, positive economic growth, well planned community growth, maintenance of our parks and streets, and continuing to expand our arts and culture identity throughout the City. As a Girl Scout leader and Boy Scout leader, she is also committed to our City’s youth and high on her agenda was finding suitable skateboard options for them and she is very proud that we now have two skateparks. She continues to seek innovative amenities for our City parks.
