District 5 Supervisor Candidates Participate in Forum

Four of the five candidates for San Diego County’s open District 5 supervisor seat took part in a virtual forum Monday night hosted by the League of Women Voters of North County San Diego. (kpbs.org) (thecoastnews.com) Norma Contreras, Vista Mayor John Franklin, Kyle Krahel and Sasha Miller answered submitted questions on homelessness, public transportation and county priorities. San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones did not participate, and moderator Chris Harris said she “did not respond to our invitation.” (kpbs.org) (thevistapress.com) The race is for the seat now held by Supervisor Jim Desmond, who is term-limited in District 5 and is running for California’s 48th Congressional District. The primary is June 2, 2026. (kpbs.org) (sdvote.com) District 5 covers much of North County, and the county board has direct control over services in unincorporated areas, including zoning, permitting, infrastructure and public health. The five-member board also sets countywide policy. (kpbs.org) (sandiegocounty.gov) On homelessness, Contreras backed a facility that could connect people on the street with services before permanent housing. Krahel called for more mental health investment and said court-ordered treatment should be available when needed. (kpbs.org) Franklin said county policy should combine services with law enforcement and incarceration for people living on the street. Miller said housing is a human right and proposed expanding public housing. (kpbs.org) (timesofsandiego.com) The contest has drawn extra attention because District 5 has been one of the board’s most reliably Republican seats, but local coverage has framed the race as a possible opening for Democrats. NBC 7 reported that a Krahel win could give Democrats a supermajority on the board. (nbcsandiego.com) (timesofsandiego.com) Krahel comes into the race after serving as deputy chief of staff and district director for Representative Mike Levin and as an Oceanside planning commissioner. Contreras is a former chair of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians, Franklin is Vista’s mayor, and Miller is a public health educator and university professor. (kpbs.org 1) (kpbs.org 2) Jones remains in the field despite missing the forum, and earlier interviews with NBC 7 identified her as one of the leading Republican contenders alongside Franklin. If no candidate wins a majority on June 2, the top two move on to November. (nbcsandiego.com) (ballotpedia.org) For now, the clearest split in the forum was over what the county should do first: expand housing and services, lean harder on enforcement, or try to do both before voters get their ballots in May. (kpbs.org) (sdvote.com)