Four candidates for the District 1 City Council seat touted their strengths at a public forum May 9 at La Jolla Community Center. Entrepreneurs Barbara Bry and Ray Ellis stressed their business acumen Kyle Heiskala, an aide to District 1 Councilwoman Sherri Lightner, who terms out in November, stressed his youthful vigor and commitment to public service. Louis Rodolico, a retired architect from Philadelphia, made it clear he favors building a bridge over Regents Road in University City, a controversial proposal delayed by years of community protests and litigation by environmental groups. Rodlico said building the bridge is essential to saving lives and improving emergency vehicular access. City Council District 1 covers the northwest part of the city of San Diego and includes the communities of La Jolla, University City, Torrey Pines, Torrey Hills, Carmel Valley, Del Mar Mesa and Pacific Highlands Ranch. The debate was moderated by La Jolla community activist Cindy Greatrex. The vote is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, primary day in California. In opening statements, Bry, a high-tech entrepreneur, said she was running for public office because “I love our community and want to make sure we keep it safe, clean and prosperous for our children and grandchildren.” Ellis, stressing his background with nonprofits and the city’s Pension Board, said “I’ve spent more than 20 years as a volunteer working on tough issues in communities, including getting abused and neglected children out of the revolving door of foster care and into safe, stable homes.” Rodolico, a recently retired hospital architect, said he’s running “because I want to make a positive difference in our community.” Heiskala, a latecomer to the race, said he is running to “serve the public and because I have a passion for problem solving.” There was much commonality in the candidates’ views. All were in favor of restricting short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) in single-family neighborhoods. “I’ve been very clear about opposing them in our residential areas,” said Ellis, who believes the rentals should be relegated to commercial districts. He suggested conditional use permits be used to spell out what is allowed with rental transactions. “I don’t have a problem with renting out a room in your house or renting your home while you’re away on vacation,” said Bry. “But I’m against permanent mini-hotels in residential neighborhoods.” Heiskala favors keeping the rentals “out of residential neighborhoods and increasing fees to help out with code enforcement.” “We need some sort of database where every STVR can be tracked and managed, which is good governance,” Rodolico said. None of the candidates favors the current proposal by the San Diego Chargers to raise transient occupancy taxes paid by hotel guests to fund a “convadium,” a proposed football stadium and expanded convention center in downtown San Diego.  “I don’t want any new taxes for a stadium,” said Rodolico, adding he felt the Chargers proposal was “smoke and mirrors.” “I love the Chargers, but we have bigger challenges to tackle,” said Heiskala. “I don’t support the convadium plans; it would be the largest tax increase in San Diego’s history,” said Ellis. “I’m against any taxpayer funding for the San Diego Chargers, I believe we have better uses for this money,” said Bry. Only Ellis was not in favor of the current local initiative to require a minimum wage hike up to $15 to be phased in over the next several years. “Raising the minimum wage to $15 would put us at a competitive disadvantage with other cities, and I don’t want to lose any jobs in the city of San Diego,” said Ellis. “I will be voting enthusiastically for the increase,” said Bry noting “tens of thousands of working families” would benefit from the pay increase and adding, “It’s long overdue.” Rodolico fully supports raising the minimum wage, noting low-income families are being increasingly squeezed by inflation. Heiskala supports raising the minimum wage, noting, “Our cost of living has gone up, but wages have not kept pace, and we need to adjust that accordingly.” In closing remarks, Rodolico warned that the Regents Road Bridge “needs to be built.” Heiskala said he has three priorities, including “protecting the environment, increasing public safety and improving public transportation and connecting it with affordable housing.” “I want to bring my leadership skills to collaborate with others to protect our quality of life and enhance it along the way,” said Ellis. “I believe that, working together, we can make a difference,” said Bry. “I would be honored to have your vote on June 7.”