Challenger Keim has narrow lead over incumbent Mayor Sanchez in Oceanside
Nov 05, 2024
District 3 Councilmember Ryan Keim held a narrow lead over incumbent Mayor Esther Sanchez in preliminary election results released Tuesday night.
Sanchez, an attorney and former public defender, has been on the council since 2000 and was first elected mayor in 2020. Her only challenger, Keim, is a former Oceanside police officer, appointed to a vacancy on the council in January 2019 and then elected to a four-year term in 2020.
Jimmy Figueroa, a local nonprofit leader, held a slight advantage over fellow candidates Laura Bassett, Tom DeMooy and Austin Sorensen for the District 3 seat now held by Keim. Bassett is a real estate broker and longtime volunteer in community theater and the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce.
In District 4, incumbent Peter Weiss appeared to be edging out his two opponents, Omar Hashimi and Amber Kae Niuatoa. Weiss, a longtime Oceanside employee and former city manager, was appointed mayor in January 2018 after former Mayor Jim Wood retired. Keim was elected to his first full council term in 2020.
Incumbent City Treasurer Victor Roy appeared to be ahead of two challengers: Jack Fernandes and Phyllis Dominguez. Roy was first elected to a partial two-year term as city treasurer in 2018. He was elected to a four-year term in 2020.
Incumbent City Clerk Zeb Navarro, first elected in 2020, is unopposed as a candidate for a second term.
A solid majority of Oceanside voters appeared to support approval of an additional 10 years for Measure X, the temporary half-cent sales tax increase approved in 2018 and set to expire in 2026.
Millions of dollars raised so far by Measure X has been used for police and fire protection, city street repairs, recreational programs, homeless services and more.