Del Mar will have a four-member City Council for the next two years, following multiple 2-2 votes taken by the Council on Oct. 7, Oct. 21, and Nov. 18 to appoint someone to fill the vacancy created by Dwight Worden’s resignation.Deputy Mayor Gaasterland and Councilmember Quirk supported Jeff Sturgis, a Finance Committee member and Moving Del Mar Forward/Woodpecker principal, while Councilmembers Druker and Martinez supported 12-year Planning Commissioner Ted Bakker. On Nov. 18, Druker and Martinez moved to appoint former two-term Councilmember and Mayor Terry Sinnott in an effort to find a consensus candidate. Gaasterland and Quirk voted against Sinnott, preferring a special mail-only election estimated to cost $150,000-225,000. Without a majority to make an appointment or to call a special election, the seat will remain vacant until the next regular election in November 2026.
How Del Mar Voted
As of November 23rd, the vote for City Council is as follows:
Tracy Martinez: 1,629
John Spelich: 1,377
Dan Quirk: 1,111
Strikingly, that means that only Martinez and Spelich received support from a majority of the voters. Del Mar Measure M (TOT Tax for Short-Term Rentals) passed by a vote of 1,864 to 736, which means that at least 2600 Del Mar voters cast ballots in this election. Assuming 2,600 Del Mar voters cast at least one Council vote, Quirk was supported by only 42.7% of voters, compared to Martinez’s 62.7%. (The vote count will be final on Dec. 5.).However, all 3 candidates will be elected, as there were only 3 candidates for 3 seats.
Terra Lawson-Remer, the County Supervisor representing Del Mar, soundly defeated former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, winning 56.92% of the votes as of the Nov. 23 count.
Valley Farm Market
Work continues at the Valley Farm Market site at 1555 Camino Del Mar slated for an early 2025 opening. Photo: Julie Maxey-Allison