San Diego City Council District 4 · Nov 3, 2026

Henry Foster III

Candidate for City Council District 4 (incumbent)

8 candidates · 4 seats11 sourced positions

Henry Foster III, the incumbent, is running for San Diego City Council District 4 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Martha Abraham.

Ballots start going out · Mon, Oct 5, 2026

Today

Former District 4 chief of staff and former construction manager. Has chaired the council's budget work for the last three budget cycles.

Occupation (from candidate statement): Councilmember
Endorsed by: San Diego County Democratic Party, California Working Families Party and several Democratic clubs, as listed on his campaign site. Henry Foster III campaign site
How the press groups them: Voice of San Diego notes both District 4 candidates are Democrats. Voice of San Diego · Sep 16, 2026
Campaign website: www.henryfoster4sd.com

The city firefighters' union withdrew its endorsement of Henry Foster III in September 2026. Voice of San Diego · Sep 16, 2026

Where Henry Foster III stands: positions on the record

Taxes2 sourced positions

Voted yes on placing a one-cent general sales tax measure on the November 2024 city ballot (passed 9-0, July 2024).
Council voteSan Diego City Council minutes, July 22, 2024 · Jul 22, 2024
Voted yes on placing an Empty Homes Tax measure on the June 2026 city ballot (passed 8-1, March 2026).
Council voteSan Diego City Council minutes, March 3, 2026 · Mar 3, 2026

Trash fee1 sourced position

Voted no on adopting the city's new solid waste management (trash) fee schedule for fiscal years 2026-2029 (passed 6-3, June 2025).
Council voteSan Diego City Council minutes, June 9, 2025 (afternoon session) · Jun 9, 2025

Paid parking2 sourced positions

Voted yes on setting Balboa Park paid parking fees, with separate rates for residents and non-residents (passed 6-2, September 2025).
Council voteSan Diego City Council minutes, Sept. 15, 2025 · Sep 15, 2025
Voted yes on repealing Balboa Park paid parking and on lowering previously approved trash fee rates for 2028 and 2029 (both unanimous, June 2026).
Council voteSan Diego City Council results summary, June 8, 2026 · Jun 8, 2026

ADUs1 sourced position

Voted yes on Foster's motion capping backyard homes (ADUs) at four to six per single-family lot, depending on lot size (passed 5-4, June 2025).
Council voteKPBS · Jun 17, 2025

Wages1 sourced position

Voted yes on a minimum wage ordinance for certain hospitality workers at hotels, event centers and amusement parks (passed 7-0, September 2025).
Council voteSan Diego City Council minutes, Sept. 30, 2025 · Sep 30, 2025

City Hall management1 sourced position

As reported by Voice of San Diego
Said a ballot measure on the strong-mayor system, possibly returning to a city manager, should be discussed.
“it seems the most appropriate ballot measure that should be discussed is a strong mayor form of government and potentially going back to a city manager system”
Own statementVoice of San Diego · Feb 24, 2026

Housing1 sourced position

As reported by Voice of San Diego
Says he led the repeal of Footnote 7, a zoning change that allowed smaller lots in Encanto, and changed ADU rules.
“led the removal of Footnote 7”
Own statementVoice of San Diego · Sep 16, 2026

Budget1 sourced position

Answer to KPBS
Says the city should focus spending on core services, such as stormwater, over new projects.
“do we want to continue to invest in more 'bells and whistles,' to where when will we really look at our core obligation, and stormwater being one of them”
Own statementKPBS · Sep 29, 2026

Past candidacies1 sourced position

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.