Editor’s note: The Coronado News has invited all City Council and mayoral candidates to submit a first-person article about their background, civic involvement and reason for running for office. We intend to run articles in the order they are received.
I came to Coronado in the mid-1970s with the U.S. Navy, after graduating from the Naval Academy, MIT, and the Navy’s nuclear power program. After 10 years on active duty, I spent 20 years in the Naval Reserves, retiring as a captain. I also spent 30 years as a corporate executive for Caterpillar, Inc., working at its San Diego subsidiary, Solar Turbines, Inc., retiring at the director level.
As a two-term City Council member, 2016-2024, and as a mayoral candidate, “preserving Coronado’s residential quality of life” has been my guiding principle. Unfortunately, Coronado’s residential life is being eroded.
Probably most insidious is the range of outside jurisdictions that undermines Coronado’s local control. For instance:
- The state and SANDAG, through the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), have mandated that Coronado accommodate more than 1,000 additional dwellings, including 553 affordable housing units, over the next five years.
- The Navy is working to increase NASNI in-port time for three nuclear carriers (simultaneously) from 29 to 180 days per year.
- The U.S.-Mexico border is under the jurisdiction of the American and Mexican governments, even though Coronado and all of South Bay suffer the serious consequences of U.S./Mexico’s failed sewage treatment facilities.
Since none of these governmental agencies has Coronado’s residential quality of life as its priority, it’s up to the council to advocate for our residents. As mayor, I would continue focusing on the council’s two top priorities: Solving the cross-border sewage problem and upgrading our stormwater/wastewater infrastructure:
- Cross-border sewage: As mayor, I would become a member of the council’s cross-border sewage subcommittee, taking the place of the outgoing mayor. To bring national attention to this issue and secure more funding, I would ask the EPA to evaluate South Bay as a potential Superfund site. Since airborne pollution has now been detected, I would also accelerate coordination with San Diego health-related agencies (Air Pollution Control District, etc.).
- Stormwater/wastewater infrastructure: The city’s infrastructure is an important piece of our overall capital plan. Based on our recent history of devastating storms, as mayor, I would program more and more timely funding for potential problem areas, especially: 1) low geographical points that don’t gravity drain; and 2) those areas susceptible to increased flooding during periods of high tides.
As mayor, I would also bring added attention to three emerging problems:
1) RHNA: As already referenced above, the last RHNA review cycle dictated that Coronado accommodate an inequitable number of future housing units. Unfortunately, RHNA is a continuing process, and another review cycle will begin in 2028. As mayor, I would establish a RHNA council subcommittee to keep Coronado residents informed and involved well in advance of the next cycle. The subcommittee would also facilitate a coalition with other San Diego County cities to positively influence the future RHNA process.
2) Future droughts/maintaining green space: During past droughts, Coronado has been able to use drinking-quality water to irrigate the city’s green spaces – parks, medians, golf course. Since this cannot be assured during future water shortages, as mayor I would develop a strategy for utilizing recycled water to irrigate recreational areas, so they can remain green and functional in times of drought or other mandated cutbacks.
3) NASNI nuclear carrier in-port time: As already referenced above, the Navy wants to increase NASNI carrier in-port time by a factor of six. Presently undergoing federal and state Environmental Impact Review processes, the time to assess the implications of this is now. As mayor, I would head up a taskforce of retired senior Coronado naval officers to proactively advocate with the Navy in Coronado, San Diego, as well as in Washington, D.C., to minimize the negative consequences to our city and our residents.
During my council tenure, 2016-2024, I served on six council committees/subcommittees; served as council representative for six Coronado organizations; and served as council representative on 10 boards and committees for four San Diego agencies. In addition, I am the only mayoral candidate with both Navy and corporate executive experience.
I believe I’m uniquely qualified to lead Coronado as your next mayor, and I look forward to earning your vote this fall. I can be reached at www.MikeDonovanCoronado.com; MikeDonovanCoronado@gmail.com; 619.518.4730. Thank you for your consideration.
Mike Donovan is running for a mayoral seat in the Nov. 5 elections. Casey Tanaka and John Duncan are also running.
