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2026 City Council District 2 Candidate Q&A
Jacob Mitchell - Candidate for District 2
1. Candidate Introduction
Brief personal and professional background
I am a fourth-generation San Diegan, and for my family, civic involvement was important. My grandmother,
Patricia Rickon, was a dedicated advocate for this community who spent years fighting to secure double-
paned windows for neighbors living in the airport flight path. She didn’t do it for a title; she did it because
her neighbors were being overlooked.
Today, I see a City Hall that is profoundly dissociated from the values and the culture that make San Diego
special. I see a leadership that is out of touch with the people they lead. I entered this race because I
believe that if we stand up and offer pragmatic solutions instead of political talking points, we can actually
fix the what's not working.
Professionally, I am a scientist and a strategist. I hold a chemistry degree from Point Loma Nazarene
University and will complete my MBA this winter. I have spent my career in the trenches of data and
technology, including my time at Abbott, where I was involved in the creation of over one billion covid
tests. I believe in data-driven results and systems thinking.
I am a person who genuinely loves people and the shared life of our community. While my roots are firmly
on the Peninsula, the months I spent solo-backpacking through Europe and Asia gave me a sense of
perspective and independence that defines how I see the world. I don't think the right thing is always easy,
but I seek out opportunities to do good in the world, I have even donated my bone-marrow to a stranger. I
am earnest, honest, and unapologetically optimistic about San Diego’s future.
That optimism is paired with a fierce competitive spirit: my mother was an Olympian, and I’ve channeled
that discipline into becoming a state champion in crew and a two-time national runner-up in collegiate
rugby. Throughout my athletic career, I was often the undersized competitor with a target on my back; it
taught me how to stand my ground and win against larger forces. I am not afraid to be David vs. Goliath, I
am not intimidated by political giants, and I will not back down from challenging the Mayor’s office to
ensure this community is finally heard and respected.
Stewardship Over Politics
San Diego is at a crossroads. We can continue with a leadership that is dissociated from reality, or we can
choose long-term, unemotional, and pragmatic stewardship.
Do you think your best interest is at the heart of your political and social environment? Well it would be for
me.
I’m not a lobbyist or a career politician. I’m a neighbor, a scientist, and a fourth generation San Diegan who
wants to see this city thrive again. I can’t fix everything, but I will change the formula.
Why you are running for City Council in District 2?
I have lived in this community my whole life. While I have seen moments of progress, I have more often
witnessed stagnation and decline. I don’t want to lead with negativity, but the reality is that we are failing
to solve our most persistent problems. Issues like homelessness and housing affordability are not unique
to San Diego, but our failure to address them has become a permanent feature of our city’s landscape.
I am running because I believe the American system of government, hampered by lobbying and special
interests, has ceased to function for the average neighbor. My motivation is simple: I want this community
to flourish because I am a member of it. I am not a career politician; I have no desire for a life in office
beyond serving District 2, this is my community.
My roots here run four generations deep. Because of those roots, I have a web of connections that make
me feel a profound responsibility to make your lives better. I want to be the voice of common sense in a
world so tainted by money and partisan politics that we can no longer handle nuance.
I have a unique ability to see and value the perspectives of both our younger and older residents. I see the
frustration in my peers, a generation that feels the future they were sold is out of reach and that their
interests are irrelevant to those in power. At the same time, I hear the concerns of our longtime residents
who want to preserve the character of the place they love. I can hold both of these perspectives in my
heart because I’m not interested in retribution; I’m interested in stewardship.
I don’t care if you voted for Biden, Trump, or Harris. National politics has no relevance to my goal of
making our streets safer and our budget more transparent. I want to be an amplifier for the quiet, nuanced
voices that usually get squashed by the loudest people in the room.
Beyond my personal desire to serve, I am exceptionally prepared for the technical demands of this job. I
have maintained a top-tier standing in my MBA program and will graduate this winter with my second
degree, entirely debt-free. I am a chemist and a strategist who knows how to hyper-focus on complex
systems. Whether I am on the rugby pitch or standing on a panel next to seasoned attorneys and former
mayors, I hold my own because I do the work. I may not have a formal political background, but it seems
to me the only thing Im inexperienced at, is how to sell out my community and curry the favor of the donor
class.
Anyone selling you "simple" solutions to the city's problems is lying. Our governance is a web of red tape
and overlapping mandates from the county and the state. Sacramento likes to legislate from the top down,
often ignoring the specific needs of local municipalities. I will spend my time navigating that policy,
bending generic state mandates to make them actually work for the specifics of San Diego. My platform
isn’t built on easy "selling points" it’s built on the nuance required to actually get things done. I have the
focus, the intelligence, and the local heart to ensure this community is no longer ignored.
2. Ocean Beach and Preservation and Progress project (Package A)
The mayor’s Preservation and Progress project (Package A) removes current historic protections from Ocean Beach to allow for unchecked and higher density “Complete Communities” development.
What steps would you take to protect and retain Ocean Beach’s historic character, correcting or amending the current city council’s decision? Would you oppose, modify, or propose alternatives to Package A? Please explain.
This is a classic example of what I call "dissociated leadership"
—where the City sells the public on one
thing while sliding what they actually want through the back door. I strongly oppose Package A because it
isn't about progress; it’s about exploiting bureaucratic loopholes to benefit special interests at the expense
of our community’s soul.
The City is currently using its own failure as a weapon against Ocean Beach. The only reason the OB
Cottage District is labeled an "Emerging" historical district is that the City never finished the survey it
started decades ago. Now, they are using that "incomplete" status as a legal excuse to allow corporate
developers to build Miami-style density in the heart of our neighborhood. This is a total failure of
stewardship. We were told we had a historic district, but the "opt-in" nature of current protections was a
quiet way to ensure that unless a homeowner goes out of their way to register, the neighborhood remains
open season for developers.
Right now, the City’s policies make the housing we don’t want, hyper-dense, corporate-owned rentals,
artificially cheaper to build than the homes we do want. Development fees can account for up to 40% of
new building costs, yet the City hands out fee exemptions and streamlined timelines only to the massive
"Complete Communities" projects.
Unlike City Hall, I have listened to the community and designed a housing policy to build home ownership
opportunities instead of rentals.
The real solution isn't unchecked density; it’s Community-Vetted Development. I will champion a system of
Pre-Approved Designs created in tandem with the Ocean Beach Planning Group.
These designs will match the historic aesthetic of OB, ensuring new construction feels like it belongs.
By using these pre-approved plans, regular residents would gain access to the same fee exemptions and
streamlined permitting currently reserved for mega-developers.
This levels the playing field, making it affordable for a local family to build a duplex or a small-lot home
that contributes to our housing goals without destroying our character.
Finally, I strongly oppose the provision in Package A that gives the City Council the power to overturn
historical designations made by the independent Historical Resources Board (HRB). This turns a technical,
research-based process into a political "pay-to-play" game. As a scientist, I believe in data and expertise.
When we allow politicians to overrule experts to satisfy donors, we lose the very thing that makes San
Diego a happy, special place to live.
I will work to amend the current council’s decision, finish the OB historical survey, and ensure that our
"Emerging" district becomes a Protected district. We need to stop the corporate giveaways and start
building a city that actually reflects the desires of the people who live here.
Would you require the city to do a full historic survey of Ocean Beach before removing protections?
Yes
3. Mills Act Policy
The Mills Act is currently San Diego’s only effective incentive for increasing housing affordability. However, the City of San Diego's designation process poses a significant barrier for those with limited income, as homes typically must be restored before they can qualify. This prerequisite makes participation financially
prohibitive for many. Additionally, the high degree of physical integrity required of a structure for Mills Act eligibility has made the process onerous.
What steps would you support to ensure that property owners and communities are aware of and able to access the benefits of historic designation and related programs, such as potential property tax relief program?
The Mills Act is a critical tool for historic preservation, but the current implementation in San Diego creates
a financial moat that excludes the very people it should be helping. By requiring full restoration as a
prerequisite for eligibility, the City has turned an affordability incentive into a luxury accessible only to
those with significant upfront capital. This approach is dissociated from the reality of middle and low-
income homeowners who want to preserve their community’s history but cannot afford the "pay-to-play"
entry fee.
I would advocate for reforming the Mills Act process to allow for "provisional" designations. Currently, the
City requires a high degree of "physical integrity" and often expects restoration to be completed before
granting a Mills Act contract. This is a massive financial hurdle for middle-income families. I support a
"Provisional Designation" model.
We should grant the tax relief upfront, with the legal requirement that the savings be reinvested directly
into the property’s restoration over a 10-year period.
The Result: This turns the Mills Act into a "preservation loan" that pays for itself, rather than a luxury
reward for those who could already afford the remodel.
Most people don’t apply for the Mills Act because they don’t know if the savings will outweigh the
"onerous" maintenance requirements. I would require the City to provide a Tax Relief Calculator on the DSD
website. You should be able to plug in your address and see an estimate of your Prop 13 vs. Mills Act
valuation immediately.
Do you support expanding, maintaining, or reducing the program? Why?
I support Expanding the Mills Act program by reforming its accessibility.
The current system is stagnant because it’s treated as a luxury reward for the wealthy rather than a
practical tool for the middle class. Currently, the City Council is looking at Package B of its preservation
reforms, and there are constant discussions about thresholds on how many new contracts can be signed
each year. Reducing or capping the program is a short-sighted mistake that only accelerates the
displacement of long-term residents.
The program currently requires homes to be in near-perfect integrity or fully restored before they qualify.
This is a barrier to entry that favors those with deep pockets. I support expanding the program to include
"Provisional Contracts. " We should grant the tax relief upfront with a binding legal requirement that the
savings be reinvested into the property over a ten-year period. This turns the Mills Act into a self-funding
restoration loan for the average neighbor.
As a scientist, the greenest building is the one that is already standing. Expanding the Mills Act
encourages the reuse of existing materials and infrastructure, which is far more environmentally and
fiscally responsible than the demolish and rebuild cycle.
There have been pushes to cap the program’s fiscal impact. I oppose these arbitrary caps. The loss in tax
revenue is a rounding error compared to the hundreds of millions the city wastes on middle-management
bloat, overtime, and failed IT projects.
4. Balancing Housing and Preservation
The reuse of older buildings benefits the City’s climate action and housing priorities while supporting historic preservation, neighborhood revitalization, and a circular economy.
What are your views on promoting the adaptive reuse of our historic buildings to preserve cultural identity while integrating sustainable practices and housing options?
I am a strong advocate for adaptive reuse, and quite frankly, it is the most pragmatic solution we have for the twin crises of housing and climate. As someone with an MBA and a background in chemistry, I look at
our older buildings and see energy and resources already spent. Demolishing them to build high-density
luxury rentals isn't just a loss of culture; it’s a massive waste of resources.
The greenest building is the one that is already standing. When we preserve a historic bungalow court or
an old commercial building in OB and repurpose it for housing, we keep tons of debris out of our landfills
and avoid the massive carbon footprint of new concrete and steel. My policy would be to treat adaptive
reuse as a core pillar of our Climate Action Plan.
San Diego faces significant housing pressures mandated by the state, some of which are not compatible
with our coastal communities.
How would you balance arbitrary housing goals with preserving the historic character of neighborhoods like Ocean Beach?
This is where my "systems thinking" background as a scientist and MBA candidate meets my life as a
fourth-generation local. We are currently being governed by arbitrary math from Sacramento, the RHNA
mandates, that treats every neighborhood like a blank square on a spreadsheet. But a coastal community
like Ocean Beach isn't a blank square; it’s a delicate ecosystem of history, environment, and culture.
I balance these two forces by rejecting the false choice that we must either destroy our character or fail
our housing goals. Here is my formula.
1. Opposing the "Density Bomb"
The current city leadership’s approach is Complete Communities handing out massive density bonuses to
corporate developers who build hyper-dense, Miami-style rentals with zero parking. This doesn't solve
affordability; it just creates a corporate rental trap and destroys our coastal soul. I am Opposed to any
policy that removes historic protections to facilitate unchecked density.
2. Pre-Approved, Community-Vetted Designs
Instead of letting developers dictate what OB looks like, I want the OB Planning Group to dictate it. My
policy is to create a library of Pre-Approved Designs (duplexes, small-lot homes, and bungalow-style units)
that are already vetted to match the historic scale and aesthetic of our neighborhood. If a resident uses
these pre-approved designs, they get the same "fast-track" permitting and fee waivers currently reserved
for billionaires.
The Result: We meet state housing goals by building housing that locals can actually own, rather than
more rentals.
I’m a competitor who won’t back down from the Mayor or Sacramento. We can meet our obligations to the
state without selling our community’s soul to the highest bidder. We just need a leader who knows how to
do the math and actually loves the neighborhood.
5. Community Engagement
Local residents and preservation groups bring detailed knowledge of their communities that a
councilmember with a large district and multiple issues to deal with cannot match. Each neighborhood has its own unique needs and priorities.
What role should community members and preservation groups play in decisions affecting historic neighborhoods? How would you ensure that the community's voice is a part of the Council's decision making about their neighborhoods?
Community members and preservation groups shouldn't just be invited to the table; they should be the
ones setting it. I’ve seen the collective memory of this neighborhood, people like my grandmother, Patricia
Rickon, did more for the quality of life in District 2 than any top-down mandate from a strong mayor ever
could.
Currently, City Hall is doing the opposite. Through policies like the streamlining of ministerial permits, they
are effectively silencing community voices. Developers are now allowed to bypass Community Planning
Groups entirely for high-density projects, turning what used to be a public dialogue into a closed-door transaction.
I would treat the Ocean Beach and Peninsula Planning Boards as essential partners, not bureaucratic
hurdles. The city recently reformed these groups to make them "independent," but in reality, they’ve just
been stripped of their authority. I would push to restore the requirement that developers meet with CPGs
before a project is fast-tracked. If you want to build in our neighborhood, you should have to look your
neighbors in the eye and explain how your project fits our Community Plan.
I won't be a Council member who sits in a high-rise downtown waiting for a lobbyist to call. My staff or I
will be required to attend every planning board meeting to ensure that the nuanced concerns of the
community are amplified directly to the Council floor.
6. Vision for District 2
What is your long-term vision for historic preservation in District 2? Please summarize your
vision and key commitments for historic preservation in District 2.
My long-term vision for historic preservation in District 2 is defined by active stewardship.
I believe we can grow without what make us special, but that requires a Council member who isn't afraid to
say "no" to Todd and "yes" to locals.
Here are my key commitments:
To meet state housing mandates without destroying our character, I will champion a library of Pre-
Approved Designs created in tandem with local planning groups. These designs will match the historic
aesthetic of our coastal neighborhoods. Neighbors who use these designs will get the same "fast-track"
permitting and fee waivers currently reserved for mega-developers. This shifts the focus from corporate
rentals to local homeownership.
I will move to strike the provision that allows the City Council to overrule the Historical Resources Board.
I will advocate for building codes that incentivize the adaptive reuse of our older structures. Repurposing
existing buildings for housing is more environmentally responsible.
My long-term vision is a San Diego where a neighbor is treated with the same priority, respect, and "red
carpet" service as a billionaire developer like Mr. Kroenke.
Right now, City Hall has two different playbooks. For billionaires and Midway Rising, the city moves
mountains, streamlines environmental reviews, and opens the door to massive state subsidies. But for the
regular resident, the person trying to fix a historic porch, build a small-lot home, or navigate a permit for a
duplex, the city offers nothing but "Permit Hell," high fees, and bureaucratic delays.
I am running to bridge that gap. My vision for District 2 is equality of stewardship.
How would you ensure neighborhoods like Ocean Beach retain their unique character for future
generations?
I want my kids to walk down Newport Avenue and feel the same serendipity and community spirit that I
grew up with. We can add housing and modernize our infrastructure, but we have to do it with nuance and
local heart. I’m running to be the ear and the amplifier for the quiet voices that get squashed by the
loudest money in the room.
My Policy of pre-approved housing is the only way we will be able to sustain our communities character
while navigating Sacramento policy, and even then it will not be easy. I want to preserve this community,
but I wont lie to you and say I can fix everything as your council member. However, I promise you this, I will
spend every day in office listening and trying to preserve this community.
Are there neighborhood projects or initiatives you would prioritize early in your term?
The Ocean Beach Pier Renewal:
The OB Pier is the heart of our community, and right now, it’s a monument to the City’s inability to manage
long-term infrastructure. We are currently looking at a construction start date of 2027 with a massive
$170M+ price tag.
I’ll be hyper-focused on the funding gap and ensuring that "Midway-style" special interests don't drain the
resources meant for our pier. We need a pier that is resilient to sea-level rise but remains the people’s pier,
not a commercialized tourist trap.
The Midway Rising project:
While the state and city are fast-tracking height limit exemptions and CEQA breaks for a billionaire-led
sports arena. I will be the watchdog for the Sports Arena area. I want to ensure that the infrastructure for
the people (parks, transit, and actual affordable homeownership) is built at the same speed as the
stadium. No more handouts to billionaires without ironclad, data-driven results for the neighbors.
The Coastal Resilience Master Plan:
While I support resilience, I’ll be the watchdog for the parking lot reconfigurations. The city wants to
"reimagine" how parking coexist along the shoreline, which often means cutting spots. I’ll make sure the
"nuance" of local access isn't lost.
Dusty Rhodes:
This one is close to heart as I played youth rugby at Dusty Rhodes. I will treat these "small" projects with
the same urgency as a stadium deal. I will audit the Engineering & Capital Projects timeline to find out why
a prefabricated restroom takes three years to approve. We need the Dusty Rhodes Playground and
Comfort Station completed immediately
Robb Field Playground & Improvements:
There is a plan for a major playground replacement and expansion at Robb Field. Construction is currently
slated to start in July 2026 and won't be finished until late 2027. I’ll be the watchdog to ensure this July
start date doesn't slide. Robb Field is the workhorse of our community's youth sports and recreation; we
cannot afford another "delayed until further notice" project in District 2.
The Flock Surveillance Freeze:
While the city tries to sell us on cheap AI-analyzed cameras from companies like Flock Security as a
solution to crime, I see the risk of a police state that lacks oversight. Early in my term, I will move to freeze
any further expansion of automated surveillance in District 2 until we have a transparent, community-
vetted privacy policy. Safety shouldn't come at the cost of our civil liberties
7. Closing Statement
Is there anything else you would like to convey to District 2 voters?
Compare my answers to every other candidate who filled out this questionnaire. Ask yourself: Who came
with pragmatic solutions, and who came with talking points?
I am tired of policies passed for a photo-op that fail on the back end because nobody bothered to look at
the data. I care about how things actually work. I am willing to be wrong, willing to listen to those who
disagree with me, and willing to pivot when the results don’t match the expectations. That isn't "flip-flopping" that’s stewardship.
I ran in this race because I believe a regular person with the ability to understand complex policy will do a
better job than 99.5% of established representatives. Why? Because they aren’t tainted by special
interests. They don't have a donor list to appease before they listen to a neighbor.
I’m not a polished politician, or a career speaker. I’m a neighbor who cares. The establishment is better at
giving speeches, but they aren’t better at caring for this community.
My Commitment to You:
I won't demonize groups or play oppositional politics. I will find the "middle path of reality."
If a policy isn't working for the community, it’s gone, regardless of who funded it.
I will treat every resident with the same red carpet urgency the city currently reserves for billionaires.
I’m coming into this clean. I’m optimistic, but I’m not naive. I want to show San Diego what happens when
someone represents a community with no interest beyond seeing that community flourish. I’m Jacob
Mitchell, and I’m asking for your vote because it's time we had a representative who is actually one of us.
Here are the survey results from seven candidates for city council in district 2
Richard Bailey - Did not respond • Josh Coyne - Did not respond •
Nicole Crosby - Did not respond
Mandy Havlik •
Jacob Mitchell •
Mike Rickey - Did not respond •
Paul Suppa - Did not respond
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