Brian Sesko

Tell us a little about yourself, where you live and why you are run­ning for District 2 San Diego Board of Supervisors.

I have served on the Lakeside Community Planning Group as a volunteer for over four years and currently serves as chairman. During my tenure on that committee, I have realized that there is ample room for improvement in our local govern­ment and the services provided to everyone in the community. I believe in a fair, business-minded approach to solving problems in union with personal consideration for our com­munity. I have been involved in nu­merous issues affecting San Diego County from land use issues to pri­vate property rights.

I have been an active fund raiser for Rady Children’s Hospital for the past 15 years. Many of you reading this have probably been at our ranch for our annual dinner-dance fundraiser.

After building homes and work­ing in real estate for over 30 years, I have learned a great deal about busi­ness, families, San Diego, and work­ing with the government. I know that electing another career politician is not in the best interest of our commu­nity. By electing me as Supervisor for District 2 you will get the approach­able, common sense hardworking individual not beholden to special interest groups.

What are your top three priorities at the county level and how do you expect to make an impact?

Public Safety

With the passage of Proposition 47 in 2014, the “bad elements” know that they can steal up to $950.00 worth of stuff and most likely noth­ing will happen to them. We need to work with the Sheriff and District Attorney to convey the message that any theft will be prosecuted!! In ad­dition, due to the State’s early release program more convicted criminals are walking the streets.

Homeless Problem

The Homeless problem didn’t start yesterday — our current leaders have let the issue get out of control. We need to give our Sheriff Deputies the tools to arrest law breakers that our ruining our parks and defecating on our streets. We need to fix the hous­ing issue and I propose we institute a housing solution utilizing temporary shelter and beds similar to what the military constructs.

County Fiscal Responsibility

We need to have fiscal responsi­bility for the County of San Diego. There is a pension problem to tackle, a hiring freeze to put into effect, and the lack of reserve funding for the future. The economy is doing great, but we need to keep our eye on pro­tecting the taxpayer funds and being efficient with the budget, the govern­ment cannot be wasting tax dollars.

What are your opinions on the encroachment of urban and profes­sional expansions in East County’s undeveloped wild spaces?

We need to immediately push back against adding more high-density projects in areas that lack adequate roads and services. Secondly, if there is an appropriate project it must be connected to appropriate parking, so residents don’t park a mile from their home.

What makes you the best candidate for District 2 and why?

Non-politician and one term! I will bring fresh ideas and I will not be beholden to special interests nor will I be focused on re-election. The focus will be where it should be, protecting all residents of the County, control­ling the budget, and emphasizing a positive business environment.

What would you like to say that is not covered in the above questions?

Having served on Lakeside Plan­ning Group and the Design Review Board I have interacted with commu­nity members who have shared their concerns with me on several issues facing our district. The following is only a partial list of the issues pre­sented to me by the community:

Require the Board of Supervisors to hold meetings at night in their dis­trict to cover controversial issues.

Concern for the size of the grow­ing departments at the county level that seem to be less efficient. A desire to reduce the size of county govern­ment and regulations.

Need an explanation from the county officials on how they plan on funding the several billion dollars of unfunded liabilities in the County Pension plan.

Explore eliminating the planning commission and transferring their decision-making authority to local planning groups.