# Oceanside City Council, District 2 Compare records and positions simply between Ricky James, Oscarin Ortega, Perry Alvarez, and 2 more for Oceanside City Council, District 2 at VoteOrElse.com. On the November 3, 2026 California general election ballot. This person holds your district's seat on Oceanside's City Council. They vote on city ordinances, the budget, and land use. Oceanside is a charter city with a directly-elected mayor and four district council seats; Districts 1 and 2 are up this cycle, with Districts 3 and 4 and the mayor's office next up in 2028. The term is four years. - Jurisdiction: City of Oceanside - Election: November 3, 2026 California general election - Publisher: Vote or Else (https://voteorelse.com) — a free, nonpartisan ballot guide for California voters. No endorsements. - Canonical page: https://voteorelse.com/2026/oceanside-council-2 - Full ballot: this page covers one race. Every contest on a voter's own ballot, by address, with the same breakdown for each: https://voteorelse.com/ - Sources last retrieved: October 7, 2026 - Source-objectivity score: 93 out of 100 (Very strong), across 6 cited sources. This grades the mix of sources, not the candidates. Rubric: https://voteorelse.com/about#methodology ## On the ballot - **Ricky James** — Real Estate Broker - **Oscarin Ortega** — Nonprofit Executive - **Perry Alvarez** — Automotive Repair Manager - **Richard Robinson** — Oceanside City Councilmember · Incumbent - **Emily Gonzales** — Director/Facilitator/Mother A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot. Incumbent Rick Robinson faces four challengers -- Perry Alvarez, Emily Gonzales, Ricky James, and Oscarin Ortega -- for Oceanside City Council, District 2. Whichever candidate receives the most votes on November 3 wins the seat outright; there is no runoff. This person holds District 2's seat on Oceanside's City Council. They vote on city rules, the budget, and land use. Oceanside is a charter city. It has a directly elected mayor and four district council seats. Districts 1 and 2 are up this cycle. Districts 3 and 4 and the mayor's office are next up in 2028. District 2 is the city's northeast quadrant. It holds most of Oceanside's remaining farmland. Gonzales's campaign calls it the city's most wildfire-prone district. The term is four years. Robinson is campaigning on continuity in the city's financial oversight. He also points to unfinished business from his first term. That includes the long-discussed push for agrotourism on the district's farmland. It also includes the city's RE:BEACH project. That project would add two artificial "living speed bumps" and an offshore reef. They are meant to slow sand erosion near Tyson Street and Wisconsin Avenue beaches. The estimated cost is $31.4 million. The project remains largely unfunded. His four challengers each make a different case for change. Gonzales and Ortega both center the district's diversity. Both say residents have gone unheard at City Hall. Alvarez is a repeat candidate on their second run for citywide or district office. James has the most limited public campaign presence of the field. ## Richard Robinson Incumbent Richard "Rick" Robinson was first elected in 2022 after a career as Oceanside's fire chief. He says he's running for a second term at the request of constituents who trust his judgment on upcoming projects and developments, and that his focus remains the city's financial health -- the council approves the annual budget, reviews investment reports, and discusses the city's fiscal standing with staff. He wants to see "real progress" on agrotourism in a second term, turning what he calls a long-discussed idea into something tangible for the district's farmers, and says he'll continue supporting the RE:BEACH erosion project. In his Vote411 questionnaire he describes a 45-year fire-service career, Navy service, and degrees in technical education and organizational management. He says he has lived in Oceanside since 1988 and credits himself with adding Fire Station 9 and more police, fire and lifeguard positions. His three stated priorities are keeping Oceanside safe and thriving, with public safety, the RE:BEACH project and more usable beach space; a strong fiscal position, with balanced budgets, adequate reserves, a larger tax base, tourism, infrastructure funding and a catch-up on deferred maintenance; and preserving District 2 agriculture, with support for farmers, agritourism and a South Morro Hills plan. On climate he says he is "not a climate alarmist," calls the hazards cyclical, and favors defensible space, a well-staffed fire department and the Pure Water program. On housing he says affordable units cannot be built without market-rate units, and he favors faster approvals and lower fees. **Strengths:** He has served a full first term. Before that he was Oceanside's fire chief. That gave him direct, technical knowledge of the city's public-safety and infrastructure work. **Trade-offs:** As the incumbent he answers for the current Council's record, and RE:BEACH and agrotourism are renewed pledges. He favors readiness spending over new climate programs, a cost if you want more. **Keep in mind:** He leads this field in reported 2026 fundraising. His account of Fire Station 9 and added staffing is his own, from his questionnaire, not independent review. See Financial info. ## Emily Gonzales Challenger Emily Gonzales currently serves on the city's Planning Commission and is executive director of The Swell Collective, a nonprofit she co-founded focused on professional training, coaching, and collaboration to support marginalized communities. A more than 20-year Oceanside resident, she says the district has lacked a representative who "truly understands the great diversity of the district," and lists public safety, smart growth, and affordability for working residents among her priorities. She's flagged District 2 as the city's most wildfire-prone district and says it needs neighborhood-level readiness to match that risk, wants to hold developers accountable when they miss commitments, and wants to protect the district's existing affordable housing. In her Vote411 questionnaire she describes herself as chair of the Planning Commission, a small business owner and co-executive director of The Swell Collective. She says she has spent 20 years facilitating collective bargaining between public-sector unions and employers, worked as a legislative staffer, and holds a master's degree in communications. Her three stated priorities are weaving community care with public safety, with neighbors connected and people reached early rather than surveillance; responsible growth, with developers paying for the infrastructure they use and making good on promises; and the cost of living, beginning with protections for mobile home residents and an overhaul of city fees and fines. On climate she names wildfire as the threat District 2 feels most and promises brush clearing, evacuation-route planning and full funding of the Climate Action Plan. On housing she backs building near transit, community land trusts and nonprofit developers. She says she accepts no money from developers or corporate PACs. **Strengths:** She sits on the Planning Commission, giving her current knowledge of land-use decisions the council votes on, and says she has facilitated public-sector labor negotiations for 20 years. **Trade-offs:** She has held no prior elected office. As a Planning Commissioner she has already weighed in on some land-use questions she would vote on as a councilmember. That is worth knowing, not disqualifying. **Keep in mind:** Her bargaining and legislative experience is her own account. Part of her reported 2026 fundraising comes from an out-of-state PAC and a local Democratic club. See Financial info. ## Oscarin Ortega Challenger Oscarin Ortega is the founder of Lived Experiences, a local nonprofit providing free food, diapers, laundry services, and other basic needs alongside mentorship. He grew up in Oceanside and is the father of five children who attend local schools; he says personal hardships growing up in the city, combined with his nonprofit and community-relationship experience, prepared him to represent the district. Like Gonzales, he emphasizes the district's diversity and says many residents have felt overlooked. His priorities include centering residents in City Hall discussions, supporting small businesses, tax breaks on everyday necessities for seniors, protecting local families from aggressive immigration policies, city-owned affordable housing, and revitalizing the San Luis Rey River. He wants District 2 known not just for its diversity but for cultural spaces, historical recognition for Mid Valley and Deep Valley, and businesses rooted in the community's identities. In his Vote411 questionnaire he describes growing up in poverty as the son of immigrants, with experience of homelessness and recovery, and says he is also a father and foster caregiver. He says he has managed staff, volunteers and budgets at his nonprofit and helped establish a community center. His three stated priorities are putting residents first in city decisions, with investment in youth, families, seniors and first responders and protection of families from harmful immigration enforcement; city-owned public housing to stabilize rents and earn public revenue; and reclaiming the San Luis Rey River as a destination for education, jobs and recreation, working with Indigenous leaders. On climate he wants less unnecessary building, more open space and trees, and incentives for water conservation. On housing he supports the city developing, owning and managing its own apartments. **Strengths:** He founded and runs a nonprofit that serves basic needs. That gives him a direct, personal account of what district residents face. He also has lifelong roots in the community he would represent. **Trade-offs:** He has no prior elected or appointed experience. His city-owned housing plan is a larger public role than any other candidate describes, a cost if you prefer private or nonprofit builders. **Keep in mind:** His case rests on his own account of his nonprofit's work. His reported 2026 fundraising is modest next to the field's leaders. See Financial info. ## Perry Alvarez Challenger Perry Alvarez's ballot designation with the county is "Automotive Repair Manager"; the San Diego Union-Tribune separately describes them as a computer network design engineer, without citing a ballot designation -- both facts are noted here rather than reconciled, since a ballot designation reflects a candidate's certified principal profession, vocation, or occupation and can differ from other reporting or from a candidate's broader work history. They ran unsuccessfully for Oceanside mayor in 2020. No independent news profile of their 2026 platform was found in this pass beyond their ballot designation and their inclusion in roundup coverage of the full District 2 field -- a documented gap, not a claim about their views. **Strengths:** Alvarez is a repeat candidate. Their 2020 mayoral run gave them citywide campaign experience. **Trade-offs:** They have run twice and have never held office. Reporting on their current job conflicts. No detailed platform was found. **Keep in mind:** Alvarez filed no campaign finance disclosure at all for the January to June 2026 period. See Financial info. ## Ricky James Challenger Ricky James's ballot designation with the county is "Real Estate Broker." In James's Vote411 questionnaire they describe more than a decade in industrial real estate around San Diego County and a newly received California broker license, which they say is taking a back seat to the campaign. They say they are running as an independent with no PAC funding, and that they would take only part of the council salary and return the rest to the city's General Fund. Their three stated priorities are staying an independent voice on the council; fiscal discipline, meaning the city should repair its own spending before it asks residents for more, so they oppose the proposed sales tax increase; and smart development that fits the city's roads, water and services, starting with a Community Plan for South Morro Hills. On climate they favor brush clearance, defensible-space enforcement and maintaining existing drainage over launching new climate programs. On housing they support just-cause eviction protection and faster permitting, and they oppose rent control. **Strengths:** James describes 11 years in commercial real estate, which bears on the district's development and housing questions, and takes specific positions on the sales tax and South Morro Hills. **Trade-offs:** No prior elected or appointed experience was found. They oppose rent control and rely on more supply, a cost if you want limits on rents. **Keep in mind:** Their real estate record and salary pledge are their own account in a questionnaire. Their reported 2026 fundraising is the field's second smallest, behind only Ortega's. See Financial info. ## Sources 1. [San Diego County Registrar of Voters -- Candidate List, November 3, 2026 General Election (current through the 8/24/2026 2:44pm snapshot): confirms Mayor, City Council Districts 1 and 3, City Clerk, and City Treasurer as Carlsbad's five November 2026 races, and Mayor plus City Council Districts 1 and 3 as Poway's three November 2026 races, each Vote for 1](https://www.sdvote.com/content/dam/rov/en/election/nov-3-2026-gubernatorial-general-election/candidate-list.pdf) 2. [San Diego Union-Tribune (Phil Diehl) -- "Oceanside voters have two incumbents and two ballot measures in November": confirms both Oceanside council races, names every qualified and disqualified filer, and reports each candidate's Jan. 1-June 30, 2026 campaign-finance figures off their Form 460 disclosures filed with the Oceanside City Clerk's Office](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/08/14/oceanside-voters-have-two-incumbents-and-two-ballot-measures-in-november/) 3. [The Coast News Group (Samantha Nelson) -- "Election 2026: Oceanside City Council": dated, bylined profile piece with direct quotes and platform detail from Joyce, Robinson, Gonzales, and Ortega, filed while Alvarez and James's candidacies were still pending](https://thecoastnews.com/election-2026-oceanside-city-council/) 4. [The Coast News Group -- "Election 2026: A guide to North County races": confirms the finalized five-candidate District 2 field (adding Alvarez and James) and both district 1 candidates, and names the two Nov. 2026 Oceanside ballot measures (Measure R, a prevailing-wage charter amendment; Measure S, an additional half-cent sales tax)](https://thecoastnews.com/election-2026-a-guide-to-north-county-races/) 5. [Voice of San Diego -- "North County Report: Election Season Musical Chairs": independent confirmation of both Oceanside council races and their fields, including a "community organizer" description of Michael Cline](https://voiceofsandiego.org/2026/05/20/north-county-report-election-season-musical-chairs/) 6. [League of Women Voters -- Vote411 voter guide, 'City of Oceanside City Council Member, District 2' race (statewide All Races list): each candidate's self-submitted ballot designation and campaign contacts, plus answers to the League's questions -- If elected, what are your top three priorities?; What background, experience and/or education qualify you for this elected office?; Please summarize your criteria for deciding whether to accept endorsements and/or campaign contributions, and give a few examples of individuals or organizations whose support you are particularly proud to have.?; What actions, if any, would you take to address local climate threats, such as wildfire risks, water scarcity, extreme heat, flooding, and their impacts on the economy, infrastructure and public health?; What are your views on increasing the availability of affordable housing in the City, and what specific benefits, challenges, and/or concerns have most influenced your position? Answers on file from Emily Gonzales, Ricky James, Oscarin Ortega, Richard Robinson. Capture in data/nov-2026/sources/vote411/oceanside-council-2.json.](https://www.vote411.org/plan-your-vote) ## The rest of the ballot Oceanside City Council, District 2 is one contest among the many a California voter decides on November 3, 2026 — Congress, the Legislature, county, city, and school board races differ by address. Vote or Else builds the full list for any California address and breaks down each contest the way this page does, with no account and without storing the address: https://voteorelse.com/ ## How to cite this page Vote or Else, "Oceanside City Council, District 2 — November 3, 2026 California general election," https://voteorelse.com/2026/oceanside-council-2 (sources last retrieved October 7, 2026). Link the canonical page above rather than this Markdown file. Coverage is updated as the race develops, so quote it with its retrieval date.