Nationwide Metropolis Councilmember Mona Rios introduced Tuesday she is retiring from politics after greater than a decade of public service, leaving a seat up for grabs within the November election.
She’s going to end her time period, which runs via December.
“I believed this may be the very best time for me to make the choice to depart,” she mentioned Wednesday.
Rios, 69, mentioned she’s leaving “to totally dedicate the time to look after my mother and father. My father’s turning 90 in two months and my mother, she’s shortly behind him. To commit to a different 4 years might have been troublesome as a result of I don’t know what the long run holds for them.”
Her announcement comes as Nationwide Metropolis holds its first district-based elections in November.
Earlier this month, Rios and her fellow council members concluded a four-month course of to modify from city-wide elections to a by-district system. The transfer created 4 districts and voters will now choose candidates residing inside every district. This November, voters will select a mayor and council members for District 1, generally known as Outdated City Nationwide Metropolis on the west aspect, and District 3, the easternmost space with a big focus of Filipino/Asian Pacific Islander residents.
Rios resides in District 3, however she received’t be working for re-election.
“So far as my district, I haven’t spoken to anybody (working),” she mentioned. “I believe with the truth that I’m not going to run and when an incumbent doesn’t run, there appears to be extra people that are likely to put their hat within the ring. It’ll be very thrilling to see how our metropolis strikes ahead. I’ll be following (the election) carefully.”
Councilmember Ron Morrison additionally lives in District 3, however he’s working for mayor. If each had pursued their council seats once more, just one would have been capable of characterize the district.
Up to now, Ditas Yamane, chairperson of town’s Planning Fee and Housing Advisory Fee, has filed to run for District 3.
“I’m working to get illustration for the Filipino People and the Asian American neighborhood in Nationwide Metropolis, which has been ignored for the final 50 years,” she mentioned. “This districting has given us the window to make that potential.”
“From the underside of my coronary heart, I want her nicely. I wish to thank her for the service that she has completed as our chief of our metropolis,” she mentioned of Rios’ retirement.
Morrison, who was elected to the Metropolis Council in 1992 and has served as mayor thrice between 2006-18, is up in opposition to present mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis and Jose Rodriguez, a council member who now represents District 2 on town’s north portion between districts 1 and three. Elections for districts 2 and 4, which Vice Mayor Marcus Bush represents, will probably be held in November 2024.
With plans to retire, Rios stepped down as vice chair of the San Diego County Water Authority.
Rios mentioned she was proud to be the primary Latina appointed to the board’s second-highest place and to characterize South County, because the three management positions are usually held by representatives from town of San Diego or North County.
The Nationwide Metropolis council member additionally mentioned she is completely happy to have helped “go away town higher than once I got here in.”
She highlighted getting into the council “after we have been taking a look at a recession” to wanting on the proposed 2023 budget with a surplus of $1.4 million. It will likely be the primary time in a decade Nationwide Metropolis received’t have a deficit. She can also be proud to have advocated for the Paradise Creek residences, a 201-unit inexpensive housing advanced on town’s west aspect.
Sotelo-Solis mentioned in a press release Rios is “a trailblazer in our neighborhood, a beautiful colleague on the Metropolis Council and an unbelievable buddy.”
Rios had additionally served as vice chair of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System from 2017-19. She first labored for town’s public library earlier than serving on the Metropolis Council.
