A half-cent sales tax increase and challenges to the mayor and a City Council member are on the ballot in Santee this Nov. 5. Measure S would raise the sales tax in the city by a half-cent for 15 years to support fire protection and emergency response facilities and other services in the city. According to the city’s argument in its favor, the measure has bipartisan support and will fund new strategically located fire stations in Santee, which has not had a new station since 1964. Only 56 percent of the city can be reached within the four-minute emergency response standard, the national average, and new stations would reach 90 percent of Santee within the four-minute standard, according to the argument. In the mayoral race, two-term incumbent and former San Diego Police detective John Minto, 66, is facing challenger Kelli O’Brien, 27. In the District 4 City Council race, incumbent and TDT Construction owner Dustin Trotter, 44, faces August Scalzitti, who declined to say his age, a former director of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District. Candidates were asked in an email from The San Diego Union-Tribune to name their top three priorities. Santee Mayor John Minto Minto had not responded to the email by press time, but his candidate statement highlighted achievements in the city during his time in office. “My 50 years of experience in public service, education, and law enforcement uniquely qualify me to make impactful decisions, such as the social host ordinance protecting children,” he wrote, referring to the city amending an ordinance to increase the level of responsibility of people who host events where minors may consume drugs or alcohol. Minto also wrote that his experience on various boards and committees as well as his time as mayor had enhanced his understanding of regional governance and municipal operations. “Throughout my tenure, I have proactively addressed community issues, fostered partnerships and advocated for infrastructure improvements,” he wrote. “This proactive approach underscores my commitment to enhancing our community’s economic vitality and should instill confidence in my ability to lead.” Citing an example of infrastructure improvements, Minto wrote that he helped secure funding for construction that will ease congestion on state Route 52 from southbound Interstate 15 to eastbound SR-52. Challenger O’Brien replied to an email but said she declined to provide more information. The city’s website has no candidate statement from her, and the economic interest form she filed with the Registrar of Voters states her source of income as file clerk and receptionist. In an interview with other media, O’Brien said she was running for mayor to give voters a choice for change, and she listed her priorities as enhancing public safety, accountability, and creating a stronger sense of community.   Santee City Councilmember Dustin Trotter. Trotter, who was elected in 2020 by only five votes in Santee’s tightest race, did reply to the email but did not list his priorities. He instead referred to an interview he conducted with The East County Californian. In that interview, Trotter said his top priorities and accomplishments were road infrastructure and capital improvement projects. He noted that the city invested an average of $4.5 million annually on road repairs and $6 million annually in capital improvements. Over four years, the city had invested $44 million on the project, the largest amount ever spent by Santee, and Trotter said the work reflected his priorities of going back to the fundamentals of public safety, roads and infrastructure. Trotter wrote that the city needs to adapt and create a mix of housing for all people, but also said Santee will never realistically meet the numbers in the state’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment because there is not enough land. Aug. Scalzitti, a former director of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District, is running for Santee City Council. Scalzitti did not reply to an email or provide a photo by press time, but in a phone interview he said he is running to help maintain the character of the city he has lived in since 1978 and worked to incorporate in 1980. “Like everybody else, I don’t like traffic,” he said. “I don’t like high-density housing, three-stories high. High density creates more traffic.” Scalzitti is endorsed by the city’s first mayors, Jack Dale and Jack Doyle, and he said as a council member he would protect the city’s original general plan and oppose development around Santee Lakes, the river and golf course. “I like the hometown feel,” he said about Santee. “There’s a certain type of hard-working, middle class people here, and I want that to be maintained.” Incumbent Councilmember Laura Koval is running unopposed to represent District 3.