HOUSING • Candidates both seek new approaches

Moore, a lawyer, said there’s value in taking more serious approaches to increasing housing in the city. That includes making it possible to bring more density to areas without necessarily putting skyscrapers or 30story buildings in communities, he said.

Moore said housing and homelessness are in the forefront right now because of the pandemic, and he plans to tackle them by building relationships between people who don’t always agree on those issues.

“What we need to do is make this a city our kids can live in,” Moore said.

Lacava said his more than 20 years serving on city committees and boards means he’s ready to help lead the city.

“I’m interested in tackling these issues that we never seem to solve in the city by taking new approaches,” Lacava said.

He pointed to a city project he was involved in that drafted a procedure for residents to prioritize infrastructure projects. He said his new approaches include increasing transparency in city operations.

He said decisions about future budget cuts must be made with an awareness of the potential for disproportionate effects on some city neighborhoods.

Moore said Lecava’s background works against him, making him part of the city’s bureaucracy. City Hall’s operations are too politically partisan, Moore said.

“We’re trying to get away from that lobbyist-dominated agenda at City Hall and get back to where our neighborhoods, our neighbors and our voters are able to use the city to pursue the interests of the people who live here,” Moore said.

Moore said he’s not afraid to take risks and share new ideas, even ideas that may be unpopular among politicians. He said leaders at City Hall should focus less on being liked and instead “lay out the problems that your community faces and figure out a way that actually solves them the most effectively.”

Lacava and Moore said they have adapted their campaigns to the restrictions of COVID-19, shifting away from door knocking to phone banking and virtual forums as they battle to represent the neighborhoods of La Jolla, University City, Carmel Valley, Torrey Pines and Del Mar Mesa.

Lacava, who lives in the Bird Rock neighborhood in La Jolla, said it’s harder to connect individually with residents without traditional campaign events, but he has noticed larger turnouts in virtual community meetings than similar in-person meetings normally get.

“It’s so easy to participate just by sitting down in front of your computer,” he said.

Moore, who lives in Carmel Valley, said he turned to phone banks to reach residents in the district.

“People’s attention really turned to the campaign in the last month and a half, and it’s been easier to get people on the phone to talk to you,” Moore said.

Both candidates raised about $100,000 for the primary.

For the general election, Lacava outraised Moore $42,000 to $15,000 between July 1 and Sept. 19. Lacava has about $69,000 to spend, while Moore has $54,000, according to campaign disclosures.

Moore has been endorsed by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the YIMBY Democrats of San Diego County, San Diego Councilman Chris Ward, Mayor of Imperial Beach Serge Dedina and Mayor of National City Alejandra Sotelo Solis.

Lacava has been endorsed by Save San Diego Neighborhoods, a group that lobbies for vacation rental regulations, and the Sierra Club San Diego. He also was endorsed by state Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins.

Lacava finished first in the March primary by a margin of nearly 3,280 votes over Moore in a crowded race with six other candidates.