La Prensa San Diego
[ESPAÑOL]
National City voters have a clear choice on November 3. Facing a serious budget shortfall, depleted reserves, and rising housing costs, the candidates best equipped to lead are Councilmember Marcus Bush for Mayor, Councilmember Luz Molina for District 1, and Ed Nieto for District 3.
What sets them apart is their deep local roots. All three graduated from Sweetwater High School and have built their careers while remaining rooted in National City. In a working-class community that wants leaders who understand its realities, that connection matters.
Marcus Bush has served District 4 since 2020 and as Vice Mayor. A city planner with a master’s degree in real estate development, he has focused on fiscal discipline, expanding homeownership through condominiums and townhomes, and responsible bayfront development. He has pushed for greater transparency and recently led the call to review the controversial $100,000-per-district discretionary budgets. Retiring Mayor Ron Morrison and former Treasurer Mitch Beauchamp have endorsed him, as has the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper.
Luz Molina, Vice Mayor and District 1 representative, brings both institutional knowledge and neighborhood advocacy. A Sweetwater High graduate with a UC Berkeley degree, she previously served as City Clerk. On the council she has secured millions for street and transit improvements, helped stop a proposed fuel depot, and advocated for greater bayfront access. She has hosted dozens of town halls and opposed creating the large discretionary district budgets.
Ed Nieto brings the specialized expertise the city needs most. A lifelong resident and Sweetwater High graduate with an accounting degree from SDSU, he spent 39 years as a governmental accountant, primarily with the County of San Diego. He has called for eliminating wasteful spending—including the $100,000 district funds—and restoring rigorous financial accountability to stabilize the city’s finances without sacrificing core services.
Together, Bush, Molina, and Nieto offer a team grounded in the community, experienced in local government, and focused on responsible budgeting, affordable housing, and transparent leadership. On November 3, we urge voters to support Marcus Bush for Mayor, Luz Molina for City Council District 1, and Ed Nieto for City Council District 3.
