Joel Anderson, a Republican, currently represents District 2 on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and previously served in the California state Senate and Assembly. He lives in Alpine. The San Diego Union-Tribune asked Anderson and the other candidates for supervisor for their priorities, plans and positions if elected. Their responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity. Why are you running, and what makes you the best candidate? I’m running to continue making San Diego County a safer, more affordable place to live. As a lifelong advocate for our community, I’ve delivered real results — fighting to lower the cost of living, reducing homelessness in our community and fighting back against tax hikes. My experience as a small-business owner and public servant has taught me the importance of commonsense leadership. I’ve worked with both parties to pass meaningful reforms, and I’m not afraid to stand up to career politicians when they’re wrong. I’m endorsed by law enforcement and trusted by veterans because they know I’ll fight to keep our community safe and honor our commitments to those who serve. Too many San Diego politicians are pushing radical policies that hurt local families. I have a proven track record of getting things done, and I’ll continue to put the people of San Diego County first — not a political agenda. What are the top 3 issues facing this district and the county generally? Inflation and cost of living: Inflation continues to crush local families, as costs for housing, groceries and gas skyrocket. I’m committed to fighting the disastrous policies fueling these rising costs, and I have a plan to ease the burden on local families. Homelessness: The homelessness crisis also remains a critical issue. Through targeted efforts, I’ve led the charge to reduce homelessness by 27 percent in our area even as it has risen elsewhere across San Diego. My focus is on continuing this progress and implementing effective strategies to tackle homelessness countywide. High taxes: High taxes also remain a top issue. I’m proud to be the county’s leading taxfighter, and I know it is critical that we continue to fight back against taxes, like the mileage tax, gas tax and car tax, so families can keep more of their hard-earned money. What are the first 3 things you would do in office if elected or re-elected? If re-elected, my first priority will be to continue the fight to lower inflation and the cost of living. After years of record inflation, on top of California’s high cost of living, San Diego families need relief. I’ll work to put an end to the failed policies that fueled the skyrocketing prices for necessities, like housing, groceries and gas. Second, I’ll fight to expand our efforts to mitigate the homelessness crisis. Even while homelessness rose elsewhere across San Diego, we were able to reduce homelessness by 27 percent in our area. I’ll work to build on our success and address this crisis countywide. I will also focus on continuing to support working families by standing up against new taxes, like the mileage tax, gas tax and car tax. With far too many San Diegans barely getting by, it is crucial for them to be able to keep more of what they earn. Do you support Measure G, the half-cent county sales tax increase that would fund transportation? Why or why not? For years, I’ve been San Diego County’s leading tax-fighter. I fought back against the mileage tax, gas tax and car tax. I stand by my commitment to protect taxpayers and resist new tax increases, and I oppose Measure G because the government doesn’t need more of your hard-earned money. What more should the county do to combat the region’s housing crisis? The cost of housing in San Diego County is simply too high. We all have friends, family, children and grandchildren who have moved out of state just to be able to afford a home. To combat this crisis, we must streamline regulations and focus on building where it’s most effective. We cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach. Government red tape has created major barriers and driven prices through the roof. We need to cut unnecessary bureaucracy and tailor solutions to specific areas. By removing obstacles and adapting strategies to local needs, we can make housing more attainable for San Diegans. What are your plans for addressing homelessness in San Diego County and in this district specifically? Ending the homelessness crisis is possible. It’s evident by the success we’ve had right here in our area reducing homelessness by 27 percent. We must continue to get the homeless the help they need by investing in mental health and addiction services. By improving these resources and focusing on effective interventions, we can help individuals recover and secure stable housing, significantly improving the lives of all San Diegans. It’s clear that these steps work, and we can use the same playbook countywide to solve this crisis once and for all. How should public safety and civil liberties be balanced when it comes to homelessness enforcement, behavioral health policy and surveillance? Do you support Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent move to clear encampments? Balancing public safety and civil liberties is crucial. But protecting individuals’ rights doesn’t interfere with ensuring that our neighborhoods are safe and clean. We must address homelessness with compassion and effective interventions. This crisis has hurt far too many San Diegans, and I’m working tirelessly to expand on the success we’ve seen here in our area. I support efforts from politicians of any party to finally address the crisis and clear encampments that jeopardize public health and safety. Our approach should combine respect for civil liberties with proactive measures to support those in need while keeping our community safe. Recent flooding has brought new attention to how the effects of climate change can disproportionately impact poorer neighborhoods and communities of color. How should the county combat this? To combat the impacts of flooding on all San Diegans, the county must focus on mitigating future flood risk and prioritizing public safety. This means updating infrastructure to protect vulnerable communities from flooding and investing in preventive measures. By focusing on strengthening public safety and making sure communities are resilient to severe weather and climate impacts, we can better safeguard all residents, particularly those in underserved areas. But while working to mitigate these risks, we must always focus on efficiency and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars. San Diego County jails have had a persistent problem of people dying in them year after year. What more should the county do to keep people in its custody safe? The county has taken several steps to improve the safety for incarcerated people. To address this issue in San Diego County jails, the county must focus on improving initial assessments of people in custody and train personnel to better identify underlying medical and mental health conditions. Ensuring that jail medical and mental health staff receive proper training to recognize and address these conditions is crucial. Additionally, exploring a thorough audit and potentially piloting new approaches to jail medical care can enhance safety. It’s essential to prioritize solutions that are effective, protect the health of those in custody and are fiscally responsible for taxpayers. What are your plans for improving transportation options and reducing vehicle emissions in this district and countywide? To improve transportation and reduce vehicle emissions, we should enhance infrastructure to support the growing use of electric cars, including upgrading rural roads and addressing range anxiety with charging stations. The answer to this problem is not to increase taxes on San Diego families who are already struggling to stay afloat. Instead, we can focus on efficient planning, such as integrating electric vehicle-friendly designs into new developments and expanding public transit options. By investing in smart, cost-effective solutions, we can improve transportation, reduce emissions and support families without imposing additional financial burdens.