Monica Montgomery

Monica Montgomery (born 1978) is an American politician in San Diego, California. She currently serves as a member of the San Diego City Council representing City Council District 4. She is a Democrat, although city council positions are officially nonpartisan per California state law.

Monica Montgomery
Member of the
San Diego City Council
for the Fourth District
Assumed office
December 10, 2018
MayorKevin Faulconer
Preceded byMyrtle Cole
Personal details
Born1978 (age 41–42)
San Diego, California
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materSpelman College (BA)
California Western School of Law (JD)
Professionattorney
WebsiteCity Council District 4 website

Life and career

Monica Montgomery was born in San Diego in 1978 to Clifford and Patricia Montgomery.[1] She attended Bonita Vista High School. While in high school she fought with school officials over a ban on wearing bandannas that she felt unfairly targeted the three percent of students who were black.[2] She earned a Bachelor of Science from Spelman College and a law degree from California Western School of Law.[1]

Montgomery worked as a San Diego City Hall staffer for Councilmember Todd Gloria during his term as interim mayor, Mayor Kevin Faulconer, and Councilmember Myrtle Cole.[2] She resigned from her position in Cole's office the day after Cole made remarks arguing police officers were justified in racially profiling black residents.[3] After leaving the City, Montgomery joined the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties as a criminal justice advocate.[1]

San Diego City Council

In 2013, Montgomery was a candidate in the special election to represent District 4 of the San Diego City Council following Tony Young's resignation to lead the local Red Cross Chapter. District 4 includes the neighborhoods of Alta Vista, Broadway Heights, Chollas View, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Greater Skyline Hills, Jamacha, Lincoln Park, Lomita Village, North Bay Terrace, Oak Park, O'Farrell, Paradise Hills, Redwood Village, Rolando Park, South Bay Terrace, Valencia Park, and Webster.[4] Montgomery was eliminated in the primary, coming in last in a field of nine candidates with three percent of the vote.[5]

Montgomery ran again to represent District 4 in the 2018 San Diego City Council election, challenging her former boss Myrtle Cole. Montgomery cited wanting to guide policy around development in District 4 as well as Cole's previous comments on racial profiling as the two primary factors that led to her decision to run again.[3] Montgomery came in a surprise first place in the June primary, six votes ahead of the incumbent Cole.[6] Montgomery went on to win election to the City Council in the November 2018 runoff. This marked the first time that an incumbent had failed to be reelected to the City Council since 1992.[7]

References
  1. "About Monica". Monica Montgomery for City Council, District 4. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  2. Garrick, David (December 7, 2018). "Montgomery will bring 'no-excuses' attitude, policy expertise to San Diego City Hall". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  3. San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board (September 20, 2018). "Q&A with City Council candidate Monica Montgomery". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  4. "Council District 4 Communities". City of San Diego. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  5. "Election History - Council District 4" (PDF). City of San Diego. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  6. Keatts, Andrew (July 10, 2018). "One Group That Wasn't Shocked by the Primary Upset in D4: D4 Residents". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  7. Garrick, David (November 7, 2018). "Cole, Zapf lose re-election bids in two rare instances of San Diego council incumbents being rejected". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 6, 2018.


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