David Alvarez

David Alvarez grew up in Barrio Logan and now lives in Logan Heights. From 2010 to 2018, he represented a San Diego City Council district that included communities from Grant Hill and Sherman Heights through Otay Mesa and San Ysidro to the Tijuana River Valley. Before running for office, he worked as a social worker and after-school teacher, served under the California Secretary of State, worked with a company developing opportunities for affordable housing and served as a community liaison. His City Council assignments included committees and regional bodies associated with land use, housing, transit, the border, the airport and the budget. In 2022, he was elected to the California State Assembly from the 80th District, which includes Chula Vista, National City and parts of southern San Diego.

ROOTS

Alvarez was born in San Diego on July 27, 1980, to Jose and Maria Alvarez. He grew up in Barrio Logan with four brothers and one sister, attending Perkins Elementary, Memorial Junior High and San Diego High School. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college, and he graduated with honors from San Diego State University. He lives in Logan Heights with his wife, Xochitl, their daughter, Izel, and their son, Javier.

He began his career as a social worker and after-school teacher. In 2003, he was selected for the Capitol Fellows Program and served under the California Secretary of State. After returning to San Diego, he worked with a company that develops new opportunities for affordable housing. He later represented state Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny as a community liaison. Before his election to the City Council, his documented work therefore included social work, teaching, state government, affordable housing and service as a community liaison.

CITY HALL AND THE BALLOT

Alvarez won the San Diego City Council’s 8th District seat in November 2010, defeating Felipe Hueso with 60% of the vote. The district included Barrio Logan, Egger Highlands, Grant Hill, Logan Heights, Memorial, Nestor, Ocean View Hills, Otay Mesa East, Otay Mesa West, San Ysidro, Sherman Heights, Stockton and the Tijuana River Valley.

During his first term, he chaired the Natural Resources & Culture Committee and served as vice chair of Land Use & Housing. He also sat on the Budget & Finance and Rules & Economic Development committees. His other assignments included the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Board, San Diego Regional County Airport Authority, SANDAG Borders Committee, Otay Valley Regional Park Policy Committee, Bayshore Bikeway Working Group and San Diego Consortium Policy Board. He also served on the board of Local Progress, a national municipal policy network.

In September 2013, Alvarez declared his candidacy in the special mayoral election to replace Bob Filner as the officially endorsed Democratic candidate. He placed second in the November primary with 25.59% of the vote and lost the February 2014 runoff to Kevin Faulconer. Months later, he won another council term outright in the June primary with 75% of the vote.

THE NEXT OFFICES

Alvarez’s second council term began in December 2014. In January 2017, he announced his intention to run for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in 2020. He instead chose to run for the San Diego Community College District Board in 2018, finishing second to Sean Elo.

The record documents a mayoral campaign, an announced plan to seek a county supervisor seat and a campaign for the community college district board. In 2019, after leaving the council, Alvarez attended a meeting about an SDG&E project and supported its approval.

His documented election results include two council victories, including an outright primary win; a mayoral runoff loss; and a second-place finish for the community college board. In 2022, he won a special election to represent California’s 80th State Assembly District, succeeding Lorena Gonzalez after she resigned to take a leadership role at the California Labor Federation.

THE POLICY SIGNATURE

Alvarez’s work before elected office included social work, after-school teaching, employment with a company developing new opportunities for affordable housing and service as a community liaison. His first-term council assignments included Land Use & Housing, Natural Resources & Culture, Budget & Finance and Rules & Economic Development, along with bodies for transit, the airport, borders, a regional park and the Bayshore Bikeway.

Housing appears in multiple documented parts of his record, including his affordable-housing work and his service as vice chair of the Land Use & Housing Committee. Economic development appeared in his membership on the Rules & Economic Development Committee. His other assignments included the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Board, San Diego Regional County Airport Authority, SANDAG Borders Committee, Otay Valley Regional Park Policy Committee and Bayshore Bikeway Working Group.