In the wake of former Supervisor Nathan Fletcher's resignation due to sexual misconduct accusations on May 15, nearly 400,000 ballots were sent out to registered voters in San Diego County's District 4 for the upcoming special primary election on August 15, according to Fox 5 San Diego.
With the clock ticking for District 4 residents to choose their new representative, voters should expect to receive their ballots in the mail during the week of July 17, as reported by County News Center. The winner of the special election will take up the vacant seat for the remainder of the current term ending in January 2027.
However, District 4 residents, hold your horses. If no candidate receives a majority of votes during the August 15 primary election, a special general election will be held on November 7. Nonetheless, early voting commences on July 17 at the Registrar of Voters office in Kearny Mesa, but election officials encourage voters to take advantage of the convenience of voting by mail, which you can track via the "Where's My Ballot?" program provided by the U.S. Postal Service.
Competing for the disgraced Fletcher's vacant seat are Marine Corps veteran and LGBTQ+ advocate Janessa Goldbeck, retired Marine Paul McQuigg, San Diego City Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe, and small business owner and founder of "Reopen San Diego" Amy Reichert.
For those wondering which areas fall within District 4, it includes the City of La Mesa, the City of Lemon Grove, Casa-De Oro – Mount Helix, Rancho San Diego, parts of Spring Valley, and several City of San Diego communities.
Now, if you’re unsure whether you reside in District 4, you can look it up at SDVote.com and also find a full list of ballot drop-off locations, important dates, and other special election information on the same website.
Fletcher's rather abrupt resignation, effective May 15, came after he announced on March 29 that he had engaged in an affair with a Metropolitan Transit System employee who is currently suing him for alleged sexual assault and harassment. Fletcher denies the allegations while the lawsuit remains ongoing. Fletcher sought treatment out of state for alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder.
With this controversy at the heart of District 4, San Diego County's Board of Supervisors has approved a hefty $5.2 million budget for the county Registrar of Voters to cover the election costs, with officials suggesting that costs could range from $2.1 million to $2.6 million per election.
