UCSD Prof. Nathan Fletcher Wins Election for San Diego County Supervisor

UC San Diego Professor Nathan Fletcher (D) secured his position as the San Diego County Supervisor for District 4 on November 6, defeating former San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis (R).

Aside from the responsibility of representing the greater San Diego area, Fletcher will also be the only Democrat on the Board of Supervisors, which was previously an all-Republican Board.

Nathan Fletcher replaces Ron Roberts as supervisor for the 4th Supervisorial District. As Supervisor, Fletcher becomes the first Democrat to be elected onto the five-person Board since 2012, after two previously unsuccessful runs for San Diego mayor in 2011 and 2013.

As a Professor of Practice in Political Science, Fletcher’s courses explore the Voting Rights Act, state politics, and election campaigns to help political science students become more involved and engaged with politics outside of the classroom. However, it is unclear as to whether Fletcher will step down from his professorship to focus on his role as Supervisor at this time.

In June, Fletcher ran against Dumanis, a former judge and the first openly lesbian District Attorney in the country, in the primary elections for San Diego County Supervisor. Fletcher gained a one-percent advantage over Dumanis leading with 28.85 percent of the vote while Dumanis trailed closely behind with 27.58 percent of the vote.

On Election Day, Fletcher led with 63.62 percent of the vote while Dumanis followed with 36.38 percent.

The district is seen as “the most ethnically diverse district in San Diego county” according to a profile of the 4th District. As Supervisor, Fletcher will represent an array of communities, including Kensington, City Heights, Golden Hill, Mission Beach, Midway, Ocean Beach, North Park, University Heights, and La Jolla. In City Heights alone, “more than 30 languages are spoken,” according to the same profile.

“I am running to bring progressive change to an all-five Republican County Board of Supervisors,” Fletcher told The Triton. “By electing our first Democrat, we can begin to see a real commitment to clean air and water, action to protect our immigrants and refugees, and greater investment in the areas of mental health, housing, and homelessness.”

Looking forward, Fletcher’s campaign vouches to “bring progressive change” to a now-changed County Board of Supervisors, with Fletcher being seated as the only Democrat on the Board, which would allow for a more focused commitment to issues regarding climate change, immigration, and the well-being of the diversity of families and individuals of San Diego broader.

Jessica Sanchez is a Staff Writer for The Triton.