Edward Brian Harris (born c. 1965) is a lifeguard, union leader, and politician from San Diego, California. He was a member of the San Diego City Council representing City Council District 2, which includes the communities of Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Bay Ho, Bay Park, Morena, and Midway. He was appointed to the City Council on April 7, 2014.
Ed Harris | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the San Diego City Council from the 2nd district | |
| In office April 7, 2014 – December 10, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin Faulconer |
| Succeeded by | Lorie Zapf |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1965 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | Point Loma, San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Profession | lifeguard and union leader |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1984–1988 |
| Rank | Corporal |
Life and career
editHarris received his high school diploma from Troy High School in Fullerton, California. He studied fire science at Palomar College.[1]
Harris served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1984 through 1988, attaining the rank of corporal.[1] He has been a lifeguard for the City of San Diego since 1989. In addition to his duties as a lifeguard sergeant, Harris was also a longtime leader of the city's lifeguard union.[2]
Harris is married, has two children, and lives in Point Loma.
City Council
editIn the summer of 2013 Harris expressed interest in running for District 2 of the San Diego City Council. Harris is a Democrat, although City Council positions are officially nonpartisan per California state law. The seat was set to be vacated by its council member, Kevin Faulconer, due to term limits. Harris decided against running due to the concerns of his family.[3]
In March 2014 the District 2 seat became vacant when Faulconer was elected mayor of San Diego in a special election to replace Bob Filner. Since there was less than a year remaining in Faulconer's term in office, the City Charter empowers the City Council to appoint a council member; however, that appointed member may not run in the subsequent election. Twenty people applied for the appointment. The City Council chose Harris on its second ballot by a 5-3 vote.[4] He served the balance of the unfinished term until replaced by Lorie Zapf in December 2014. Describing himself as "a normal guy, a normal Joe," Harris said “I’m excited and I’m anxious to get to work. I will push for things that are important to people like crosswalks and clean beaches.”[2]
In March 2016, Harris declared his intention to run in the 2016 San Diego mayoral election against incumbent Faulconer and Lori Saldaña.[5] Harris came in third place with 19 percent of the vote in the June primary.
Electoral history
edit| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Faulconer (incumbent) | 181,147 | 57.16 | |
| Lori Saldaña | 73,932 | 23.33 | |
| Ed Harris | 61,458 | 19.39 | |
| Total votes | 316,891 | 100 | |
References
edit- ^ a b "ITEM-200: Filling the Vacancy in Council District 2 by Appointment and Swearing in the Newly Appointed Councilmember. (District 2.)". San Diego City Council Meeting. City of San Diego. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
- ^ a b Garrick, David (April 7, 2014). "Longtime lifeguard appointed to council". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ Libby, Sara (July 25, 2013). "Email Underscores Tensions in Dem Chair's Dual Roles". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
- ^ "Lifeguard union chief Ed Harris appointed to fill vacant Council seat". CBS-8. April 7, 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ "Democrat Ed Harris Enters San Diego Mayor's Race". KPBS. March 1, 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ^ "COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION Tuesday, June 7, 2016 Official Results (San Diego Portion Only)" (PDF). San Diego County. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2020.