Four San Diego City Council seats contested amid $7.8 billion infrastructure backlog

Four of the nine San Diego City Council seats are up for election this midterm season, with candidates facing the challenge of addressing a $7.8 billion backlog in infrastructure needs, according to Voice of San Diego.

The backlog is largely due to stormwater projects, which make up 65 percent of the total, writes Mariana Martínez Barba for Voice of San Diego.

In the Coastal District 2 race, former Republican Richard Bailey opposes new or increased taxes or fees, while his challenger, deputy city attorney Nicole Crosby, supports seeking more state and federal grants to cover the funding gap.

District 8 Democratic candidates Gerardo Ramirez and Antonio Martinez share Crosby's view on grants but emphasize auditing city contracts to prevent wasteful spending.

Voice of San Diego has released its inaugural No BS Voter Guide to help voters understand the local races and political issues, aiming to provide clear information ahead of the election.