During a city tour of Marina in a dusty Prius, Mayor Bruce Delgado points from the backseat to his beloved cafe, Coffee Mia, and Michael’s Taqueria, which he says has the best Mexican food in town. The three-term mayor seems to know Marina like the back of his hand. This November, he is up for re-election and is facing opposition from Kevin Saunders, a medical cannabis advocate who attempted to run against Delgado in 2014 but was removed from the ballot after a judge determined he was ineligble to run due to paperwork issues. He also had run-ins with the law, which resulted in a worldwide ban from Starbucks and a criminal case that was dismissed.
Whoever wins will preside over big changes. Marina is the newest city on the Monterey Peninsula, incorporated in 1975, and also the fastest-growing one. Recent developments include new buildings at CSU Monterey Bay, commercial space and housing at the Dunes of Monterey Bay. There is even more anticipated growth like Marina Heights, a 248-acre project with 1,050 residential homes, and four-laning Imjin Parkway.
Delgado and Saunders lay out different platforms for Marina’s growth: Saunders envisions cannabis tax revenue stabilizing the city’s finances, while Delgado anticipates smart growth coupled with vast recreational trails.
Delgado moved to Marina in 1996 and began his political career as a City Council member in 2000 before becoming mayor in 2008. “I really enjoy the campaign season,” Delgado says. “There is a special connection with the people.”
Delgado predicts revenues from Measure U, which would increase the city’s business license tax rate, and ongoing development – including a Marriott Hotel under construction – could fund more firefighters and street repairs.
Another effort Delgado is eager to address is Cypress Knolls, a dilapidated area of the former Fort Ord, slated to be developed into housing.
He has endorsements from two Marina City Council members. “He has experience as mayor, he’s easy to approach and works very hard,” Councilman David Brown says.
Saunders has never held elected office, but says he’s eager to put his legal troubles behind him and focus on Marina. As a medical pot advocate, Saunders’ platform is promoting medical marijuana businesses. He wants to lift the city’s ban on dispensaries and delivery services because he believes in “pot taxes for potholes,” with which tax revenue from marijuana will flow back into city coffers. (Four local cities and Monterey County have cannabis taxes on their Nov. 8 ballots.)
Saunders also imagines closing down the Cemex mine. “Cemex is raping and pillaging our shoreline,” he says.
Also on the Nov. 8 ballot for Marina are two measures: Both Delgado and Saunders support Measure U, which would be the city’s first business tax license update in 38 years. Measure V would change the mayoral term from two years to four. Saunders opposes Measure V, and says a two-year term enforces accountability. Delgado is neutral on term length, and says he’s instead focused on supporting different measures like Measure X, a sales tax to fund transportation projects, including Imjin Parkway.