Voters in Santee in November will decide whether to approve a one-cent general sales tax increase to fund infrastructure and public safety and whether to re-elect two longtime council members.
Councilmember Rob McNelis serves District 1 — which encompasses the northeastern portion of Santee — and has been on the City Council since 2010. His challenger is Matthew Rascon.
McNelis was appointed to his current term after he had no challenger for reelection in 2022. A mortgage broker and a Republican, he has lived and worked in Santee since 1994.
In his time on the council, he has used his experience as a businessman to “create and pass policies that support business establishment and growth,” according to his candidate statement. He has the support of the Republican Party of San Diego County, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Lincoln Club Business League.
“Our city staff know my motto is: ‘Find ways to say yes, not reasons to say no,’ to the people and businesses we serve,” he said in his candidate statement.
Rascon is an orthopaedic technologist, according to city records, though he did not submit a candidate statement. He is endorsed by the San Diego County Democratic Party.
He ran for the 48th Congressional seat in 2024, but lost in the Democratic primary with 2.2% of the vote.
Councilmember Ronn Hall currently serves District 2 — which encompasses the southeastern quarter of Santee — and has sat on the City Council since he was first elected in 2014. His challenger is Eddie Vandiver.
Hall, a Republican, was appointed to his current term after he faced no challenger during the 2022 election. In his candidate statement, the insurance broker says he has made it a priority to listen to his constituent’s concerns.
Notably, he was the sole council member to vote against the one-cent sales tax, which voters will also decide on in November, primarily because he didn’t support increasing the fee from a half-cent measure to one cent.
“I support local jobs, a balanced budget, paving streets, reducing homelessness, and common-sense improvements to our city, while protecting your tax dollars,” he said in his candidate statement.
He has the support of Mayor John Minto, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, San Diego County Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond, all Republicans.
His opponent, Eddie Vandiver, is the general manager of Sportsplex USA Santee, a sports facility that features a variety of fields and indoor snack bars. The 25-year Santee resident is heavily involved with the Santee Chamber of Commerce and will prioritize safety, first responders, maintaining parks and infrastructure, promoting responsibility and transparency, according to his candidate statement.
Vandiver is also a Republican and has the endorsement of the Santee Firefighters Association and the Lincoln Club Business League and the support of Councilmembers McNelis and Dustin Trotter.
Notably, the San Diego County Republican Party did not endorse either candidate, despite endorsing Hall during the 2022 election. As of the June 30 filing deadline, Hall’s campaign raised $18,588 in funding, while Vandiver raised over $37,250.
Santee voters will also decide whether to approve a one-cent sales tax increase. The proposed general tax, dubbed Measure 7, would pay for an estimated $327.7 million unfunded projects, including street and sidewalk repairs; maintenance of parks and public facilities; replacing aging infrastructure; supporting fire protection, paramedic and emergency response, and new and remodeled fire stations.
The tax would raise Santee’s rate from 7.75 % to 8.75 % for 10 years, generating an estimated $140 million in revenue across its lifespan.
The San Diego County Taxpayers Association endorsed the measure, saying the new proposal is “materially different” from the 2024 one the group had opposed (Measure S).
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