Incumbent Katie Melendez and newcomer Jeff Fox had early leads in the race for two seats on the Vista City Council on Tuesday. The field is wide open in District 2, which covers the northeastern part of the city. Incumbent Joe Green decided not to seek re-election, providing space for Fox, a digital marketing business owner to face off against Anthony White, a Marine Corps veteran focused on affordable housing and homelessness issues. Fox had a commanding lead, according to early returns. Melendez is seeking her first re-election in District 3, which straddles state Route 78, generally west of Melrose Drive, including the county courthouse and jail complex. A former social worker, Melendez faces Denisse Barragan, co-owner of a local auto collision repair center and recent honoree of the Vista Chamber of Commerce. As has been the case in many city council races this election season, continuing and improving efforts to serve unhoused residents was top on the agenda of all candidates. In candidate questionnaires, Fox and White both focused on hiring more public safety personnel. Barragan’s campaign included a strong small-business focus while Melendez featured her work around climate change, especially in her role in helping her city join the regional Clean Energy Alliance. The new council will have an additional high-profile project on its agenda in the new year, overseeing the lease and eventual sale of Green Oak Ranch, a 110-acre private property that became a lightning rod for public opinion this summer as the property’s owner chose Solutions for Change, a local nonprofit serving homeless families, over the county, which wanted to expand substance use and mental health programs there.