District 5 Supervisor Race Pits $9 Billion Budget Audit Against 40% Cost Cuts

San Diego County District 5 Supervisor candidate Kyle Krahel proposes a line-by-line audit of the county’s $9 billion budget to find waste, while his opponent, Rebecca Jones, argues the budget has grown 40% over the last six years and requires immediate efficiency reviews.

The two candidates will face off on Nov. 3 for the seat vacated by Jim Desmond, a Republican who left office after serving his term limit. Jones, a Republican, has served as San Marcos mayor since December 2018. She previously spent 11 years on the San Marcos City Council. Jones stated in an email that she would demand measurable performance and cut waste, arguing that higher spending should not be the default solution.

Jones said she would focus on lowering costs for families in public safety and fire protection, which she believes lowers insurance rates. She also wants practical housing projects in the right locations and plans to reject unfunded mandates that raise business costs. Jones cited her experience as San Marcos mayor, where she created the city’s first efficiency department. She said that effort identified over $1 million in savings while improving services.

Jones opposes Measure A, a charter change that would expand supervisor term limits. She called the measure self-serving politics that gives supervisors too much power over department heads. She also opposes Measure B, a $400 million sales tax intended to address the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis and fund child care. Jones argued that if current leaders found just 5% in budget savings, they would free up more money than the tax would generate.

Krahel, a Democrat and former county party chair, is a deputy chief of staff to Rep. Mike Levin. He has not previously held elected office. Krahel supports a line-by-line audit of the $9 billion budget, including a review of unfilled positions and duplicative contracts. He said every dollar spent on overhead is a dollar not spent on a patient, a deputy, or a road. Krahel supports using county-owned land for shelters with on-site behavioral health care.

Krahel supports Measure B but noted that new taxes should be a last resort. He said Washington is shifting costs onto the county and he will push for strict public reporting on outcomes. He also supports Measure A, though he opposes the provision allowing supervisors to serve three four-year terms. Krahel said the board should publicly confirm senior county officials and that voters deserve an independent ethics commission.

District 5 is the county’s largest district by area, with between 685,000 and 700,000 residents. It includes the cities of Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, and Vista, as well as Camp Pendleton and agricultural land. The district also contains eight tribal reservations and numerous unincorporated communities, including Borrego Springs and Lake Henshaw.