San Diego City Council District 6 · Nov 3, 2026
Kent Lee
Candidate for City Council District 6 (incumbent)
Kent Lee, the incumbent, is running for San Diego City Council District 6 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Mark Powell.
Ballots start going out · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayFormer executive director of Pacific Arts Movement and former member of the Mira Mesa Community Planning Group. Chairs the council's Land Use & Housing Committee.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- City Councilmember
- Endorsed by
- Reps. Sara Jacobs and Scott Peters, County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, Assemblymember Chris Ward, the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, San Diego Firefighters Local 145 and the San Diego Police Officers Association, among others listed in his candidate statement. Candidate statement of qualifications · Jul 27, 2026
- How the press groups them
- Described by Voice of San Diego as the Democratic incumbent. Voice of San Diego · Sep 30, 2026
- Campaign website
- www.kentleeforsd.com
At Voice of San Diego's Politifest, the District 6 debate was canceled because neither Kent Lee nor Mark Powell agreed to take part, and Martha Abraham withdrew from the District 4 debate. Voice of San Diego · Sep 30, 2026
Where Kent Lee stands: positions on the record
Taxes3 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
Answer to KPBS
Says long-term stability needs a talk about spending and revenue, but the city must rebuild public trust before asking residents for more.
“Before asking residents for additional investment, the city must first rebuild public trust and demonstrate stronger fiscal stewardship.”
Own statementKPBS · Sep 29, 2026
Trash fee1 sourced position
Voted yes 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 parking3 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
Voted no on drafting a ballot measure framework to keep parking at city beaches and bays free (passed 3-2 in the council's Rules Committee, March 2026).
Council voteSan Diego City Council Rules Committee minutes, March 18, 2026 · Mar 18, 2026
Homelessness1 sourced position
Voted no on adopting the ordinance regulating encampments on public property (passed 5-4, June 2023).
Council voteSan Diego City Council minutes, June 27, 2023 · Jun 27, 2023
City Hall management2 sourced positions
Answer to KPBS
Says he proposed re-establishing a chief operating officer to improve how city operations carry out council policies.
“I have also proposed re-establishing a chief operating officer”
Own statementKPBS · Sep 29, 2026
Voted yes on sending Kent Lee's proposed charter measure on fiscal accountability and oversight to the full council for the November 2026 ballot (failed 2-3 in Rules Committee, June 2026).
Council voteSan Diego City Council Rules Committee minutes, June 24, 2026 · Jun 24, 2026
ADUs1 sourced position
Voted no 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 services1 sourced position
Answer to the San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board
Supports a mix of city workers and outside contracts where appropriate, rather than broad outsourcing.
“we should continue taking a pragmatic approach leveraging both internal expertise and external support where appropriate”
Own statementSan Diego Union-Tribune · May 23, 2026
Past candidacies1 sourced position
Ran for San Diego City Council District 6 in 2022 (won).
Own statementCity Clerk certificate of results, Nov. 8, 2022 general election · Dec 8, 2022
What Kent Lee said vs. how Kent Lee voted
Taxes
In their words
Says long-term stability needs a talk about spending and revenue, but the city must rebuild public trust before asking residents for more.
Sep 29, 2026 ·Answer to KPBS ·KPBS · Sep 29, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on placing a one-cent general sales tax measure on the November 2024 city ballot (passed 9-0, July 2024).
Jul 22, 2024 ·San 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).
Mar 3, 2026 ·San Diego City Council minutes, March 3, 2026 · Mar 3, 2026
Also running for City Council District 6
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