Chris Ward (American politician)

Chris Ward
Member of the
San Diego City Council
for the Third District
Assumed office
December 12, 2016
Mayor Kevin Faulconer
Preceded by Todd Gloria
Personal details
Political party Democratic
Residence San Diego, California
Alma mater Johns Hopkins University (BA)
Harvard University (MPP/MUP)[1]
Website City Council District 3 website

Christopher Ward is an American politician serving the 3rd City Council District of San Diego, California. He is a Democrat,[2] although city council positions are officially nonpartisan per California state law.

District 3 includes the neighborhoods of Balboa Park, Bankers Hill/Park West, Downtown San Diego, Golden Hill, Hillcrest, Little Italy, Mission Hills, Normal Heights, North Park, Old Town, and University Heights.[3]

Life and Career

Ward previously served as the Chief of Staff to State Senator Mary Block, also representing the communities of the Third City Council District and most of the City of San Diego. In these capacities, Chris has been strongly committed to excellence in constituent services, facilitating public participation in policymaking, and organizing state and local resources to make our neighborhoods a better place every day.

Previously, Chris was an environmental planner at the firm EDAW, working with local government to develop land use plans and conduct environmental review. Before dedicating a career to public service, Chris worked as a researcher at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research at UCSD on the front lines of San Diego’s burgeoning biotech sector.

Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Johns Hopkins University and a Masters in Public Policy and Urban Planning at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

He and his partner Thom are homeowners in University Heights with their daughter, Betty; their son, William Harris; and cairn terrier, Monty.

San Diego City Council

Elections

Incumbent Todd Gloria was ineligible to run due to term limits. Chris Ward was elected in the June primary with a majority of the vote.[4]

San Diego City Council District 3 primary election, 2016[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chris Ward 24,512 59%
Democratic Anthony Bernal 11,492 27%
Nonpartisan Scott Sanborn 5,800 14%
Total votes 41,804 100%

Tenure

As a Councilmember, Chris has been a fierce advocate in identifying tangible outcomes that will significantly reduce San Diego’s overall homeless population. Within the last year, the San Diego has brought online three temporary shelters to house 700 individuals, an additional storage facility to serve 500 clients, and will soon break ground on a centralized homeless navigation center. In February of 2017, he introduced the City’s first Equal Pay Ordinance. With the unanimous support of his colleagues on the City Council, the ordinance passed making San Diego the largest City in the nation committed to ensuring equal pay when spending your hard-earned tax dollars. As Chair of the Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, he has focused on developing mechanisms to support local business and help create good paying jobs.

Committee assignments

  • Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee (Chair)
  • Infrastructure Committee
  • Budget and Government Efficiency Committee (Vice Chair)
  • Rules Committee
  • Select Committee on Homelessness (Chair)[5]

Source: Office of the City Clerk

References

  1. ↑ Garrick, David (December 2, 2016). "Ward brings experience, expertise to council". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  2. ↑ Trageser, Claire. "Democrat Chris Ward Wins Race To Replace Councilman Todd Gloria". KPBS Public Media.
  3. ↑ "Communities - City of San Diego Official Website".
  4. 1 2 "Election History - Council District 3" (PDF). City of San Diego. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  5. ↑ Service, City News. "San Diego City Council Unanimously Votes To Form Homeless Committee". KPBS Public Media.
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