Rudy Reyes challenges Jacob in supervisor race

An outsider candidate, Rudy Reyes is running against Dianne Jacob for the second district seat of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors as a Democrat in the June 5 primary. He was badly burned in the 2003 Cedar Fire, and since then he has been running for a variety of East County positions on a combination of issues, including constructing another hospital for the East County, promoting fire prevention, and pushing for “eco green” self-sufficiency in the county.

An outsider candidate, Rudy Reyes is running against Dianne Jacob for the second district seat of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors as a Democrat in the June 5 primary. He was badly burned in the 2003 Cedar Fire, and since then he has been running for a variety of East County positions on a combination of issues, including constructing another hospital for the East County, promoting fire prevention, and pushing for “eco green” self-sufficiency in the county.

“Honestly I am a local kid…I don’t come from a rich background,” Reyes said.

Reyes grew up at the Barona Indian Reservation, and had survived previous fires before he was burned over 65 percent of his body in the 2003 Cedar Fire, for which he was hospitalized for a year. In 2005, he was certified as an archeologist and excavator, and a year later, he was ordained a reverend. In 2008, he ran for both the Santee City Council and the San Diego Board of Supervisors. Then, in 2010, he campaigned again for the Santee City Council, but was defeated a second time. He has never held office.

Reyes feels that the board of supervisors is stuck in the past, saying that they are keeping a 1960s “growth over everything” ideology, and that supervisor Jacob should put recordings of her county revitalization meetings (where she meets with citizens’ and planning groups) online.
“You can call her, but she should be able to answer online, via e-mail,” said Reyes.

Reyes spent some of the interview discussing his opponent; how she is (allegedly) paid a $100,000 bonus every four years since surviving the end of her first term, as are all the supervisors; that her office might be staff-heavy; and finally pointing out that Jacob is nearly seventy-two years old, to which he wonders if she can last another term.

His plan to counter the bloat is to push for term limits, pay cuts for elected officials, and encourage eco-friendly industries in the East County, along with more self-sufficiency (i.e. solar power, other renewable resources.)

He also pointed out that East County has an aging population, which is why he would like to construct another hospital in the area. His campaign website is www.reyesforsupervisor.com.

“I’m running out of need,” Reyes said.