The City of San Diego’s District 8, has historically been considered the “Latino” district in the city.

Since it was formed, all of the council members from this district have been Latinos.

District 8 includes communities such as Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights, and to the south, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa and Nestor.

On Wednesday, March 31, Cesar Chavez Day, the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the San Ysidro Business Association, held a District 8 candidate Forum Breakfast at HomeTown Buffet, on Dennery Rd., in South San Diego.

Six of the seven candidates participated, including David Alvarez, B. D. Howard, Felipe Hueso, Lincoln Pickard, Adrian Vazquez, and James Wright. The only candidate who was absent was Nick Inzunza, Sr.

The forum had several questions where the candidates were given a minute and a half to respond to a crowd of about 100 people, including many business and community leaders from San Ysidro and Otay Mesa.

In their introductions, candidates shared their desire to become councilmember for District 8.

“For me, it would be a source of pride to represent the district where I’ve raised my children,” said Felipe Hueso, who is brother of the incumbent, Ben Hueso. Ben Hueso is seeking a seat for the state assembly.

Felipe Hueso was the only candidate who answered most of the questions in Spanish, something that some English-speakers in the public complained about. In one question, which he answered in English, Hueso said, “I do speak English, but I feel it is important, as District 8 representative, to speak Spanish as well.”

An issue that’s important for these South Bay communities are the border crossing wait-times, something that has affected businesses in the area for years.

“We live in a global economy,” said James Wright, who added that as part of his work for AeroMexico, he travels frequently to Tijuana.

David Alvarez added that he would work as an advocate for the area to federal authorities to do help alleviate the long wait-times.

When asked about the highest priority issue in District 8, Hueso said infrastructure; Pickard said that its saving the city from the control of sports teams and unions; Vazquez said it was safety; Wright said it was getting people back to work; Alvarez said it was decreasing the high foreclosure rate in the area; and Howard said it was the budget.

It was clear that David Alvarez was the candidate who presented his ideas more clearly, and, judging by the applauses from the crowd, the most popular at the event. He is also the candidate who has raised the most money during the campaign.

Alvarez, a Democrat, works as a district representative for state Sen. Denise Ducheny.

To learn more about each of the candidates, visit their websites: David Alvarez, www.votedavidalvarez.com; Felipe Hueso, www.felipehueso.com; Nick Inzunza, www.ninzunzasr.com; Lincoln Pickard, www.LP2010.com; Adrian Vazquez, www.iwinyouwin.org; B.D Howard, www.bdhoward.net;  James Wright, www.jameswrightforsandiegocitycouncil.webs.com.