County supes race heats up; 2 supes named in complaint

Race for the D3 seat on the Board of Supervisors intensifies; 2 county supervisors face allegations of racism, backroom deals, thwarting a CAO candidate; Vargas, Lawson-Remer battle over TJ River

The race for the District 3 seat between incumbent Terra Lawson-Remer, left, and former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors is heating up. Steve Puterski image

REGION — The past several weeks has seen an explosion of political war breakout among allies and opponents.

The rhetoric and allegations between San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer in their Board of Supervisors race have picked up. The two have battled over homelessness, which has become a focal point in both campaigns.

Faulconer continues to hammer Lawson-Remer on her attendance record and lack of progress addressing homelessness and housing, while Lawson-Remer has fought back with her record on environmental issues, securing beds for the homeless and pointing to the Ash Street scandal.

However, the county was rocked last week when it was revealed Lawson-Remer and board Chair Nora Vargas are the subject of a complaint from a high-ranking county employee alleging a backroom deal, racism and denying his ability to interview, or be hired, as the next chief administrative officer for the county.

Also, there were fireworks between Lawson-Remer and Vargas, who locked horns on Tuesday as the latter walked out of the Board of Supervisors meeting during an item brought forward by Lawson-Remer. The walkout caught the board, and county staff, by surprise, according to sources, and left Lawson-Remer’s gun safety item to die.