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Ballot Designation
College Educator/Businessperson
Candidate's Political Party
Democrat
1. Restore trust in City government and the District 8 office
2. Give necessary attention to the emergencies in District 8, like the Tijuana River Valley
3. Keep working to create more housing affordability.
Rafael Perez is running to build trust in government and be the responsive leader residents want.
Since becoming a first generation college student over 25 years ago, Rafael has answered the call to
serve our neighborhoods too often overlooked and families too often pushed aside. That's earned him
recognition for service and leadership. He knows your frustration with infrastructure delays, rising fees,
trash costs, and parking fees. He is running to put working families first and make government
transparent, responsive, and accountable.
Rafael Perez is a proven problem solver who delivers results:
As Chair of a housing non-profit, helped expand housing and homeownership opportunities.
Helped secure over $1 million in flood relief
Fought to pass a law repealing discriminatory bans.
Delivered improvements to local community center
Served on city commission fighting for equal opportunity.
Oversaw major infrastructure improvements at our airport as a board member.
That's why Rafael's endorsed by women's and equal rights leaders, organizations, Working Families
Party and elected officials across San Diego.
Rafael Perez is not a career politician or insider. He is a community tested leader ready to fix what is
broken, restore trust in government, and help District 8 families move forward.
www.rafaperez.net
Climate change is already showing up in San Diego through more frequent extremes, and the City needs to respond with urgency, especially where working-class communities are already carrying the burden. For District 8, that starts with the Tijuana River Valley, where cross-border sewage and pollution create serious public health risks that are made worse by changing weather patterns and storm events. We need stronger regional coordination, sustained investment, and real accountability to protect residents from contaminated air, water, and soil. I am advocating for the creation of a Joint Powers Authority with jurisdiction over the Tijuana Rover Valley.
We also need to treat climate resilience as basic infrastructure work. That means upgrading aging storm drains, channels, and creek systems like Chollas Creek so they can better handle heavier storms, flooding, and other climate-driven impacts. Too many neighborhoods have lived with the consequences of deferred maintenance for too long.
At the same time, I support electrification in portside communities, not just because it lowers our carbon footprint, but because it improves air quality and public health in neighborhoods like Barrio Logan, Logan Heights and Sherman Heights that live with the impacts of freight movement and port activity every day. Climate action should not be abstract. It should mean cleaner air, safer streets, stronger infrastructure, and healthier communities right now.
One example is using my real estate background to help the City make smarter decisions about public property, both in the short term and over the long term. That includes everything from evaluating when the City should buy, sell, or better utilize city-owned land, to making sure the leases tied to City property are structured in ways that protect the public interest and create long-term value.
In times of budget stress, that kind of expertise matters. Better real estate decisions can reduce waste, strengthen revenues, and make sure public assets are working for the people of San Diego. My perspective comes not only from 22 years of real estate experience, but also from 12 years teaching real estate principles, finance, and economics at the college level. That combination gives me a practical and analytical understanding of these issues that can help the City respond to immediate fiscal pressures while positioning us more strongly for the future.
Endorsements:
Working Families Party, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest Action Fund, Democratic Woman's Club of San Diego County, Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors, Teachers Unify Action, Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow, La Mesa Vice Mayor Lauren Cazares, National City Vice Mayor Marcus Bush, National City Councilmember Ditas Yamane, San Diego Community College District President Geysil Arroyo, San Diego Unified Board of Education Trustee Dr. Cody Petterson,
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