SAN DIEGO – Campaign finance reports due today show the 2016 race for the San Diego Third District City Council seat is off to a competitive start with both major candidates reporting similar war chests. Today, Anthony Bernal announced that his campaign has raised $53,000 in the first reporting period of the election cycle (June 7 – June 30, 2015) from 260 individuals with $52,000 cash on-hand. Bernal and his opponent, the top two candidates, reported only a $12,611 difference in funds available after all outstanding debts are paid, illustrating this race as a virtual toss-up.
“I am honored and incredibly humbled by the confidence that the community stakeholders and residents of San Diego have placed in me to lead this District,” said Bernal. “I believe these constituents have sent a clear message that they truly value experience in this race and it is my experience working in City Hall and in the neighborhoods of Council District Three that will continue our city’s progress.”
To date, Bernal is the only candidate in the race with actual experience working at City Hall. For more than six years, Bernal has worked in the office of current San Diego City Councilmember for the Third District, Todd Gloria, who will be termed out in 2016.
Bernal serves as Councilmember Gloria’s Director of Business and Community Projects, supervising the Downtown, East Village, and Little Italy neighborhoods in addition to working directly with the planning groups and residents associations in the communities throughout the Third District. He also liaises on issues related to public utilities, parks and recreation, small business, veterans, and Civic San Diego.
Previous to working for Councilmember Gloria, Bernal worked as a project manager specializing in public utility projects for a local engineering firm. Bernal and his wife, Amy, live in downtown.
The 2016 primary will occur June 7, 2016.
