City of Vista

Mayor of Vista

This person presides over City Council meetings and represents Vista publicly. They vote as one of five members on the budget and city laws. An appointed city manager runs day-to-day government. Vista's mayor is the only council member elected citywide. The other four seats have been elected by district since 2017. The term is four years.

Two candidates are running for mayor of Vista. They are Joe Green and Kenneth Zuniga. The seat is open because Mayor John Franklin is not running again. Whoever gets the most votes on November 3 wins. There is no runoff.

The mayor presides over City Council meetings and represents Vista publicly, but votes as one of five members on the budget and city ordinances -- day-to-day government runs through an appointed city manager. Vista's mayor is the only council member elected citywide; the other four represent numbered districts, elected by district since 2017. Vista became a charter city in 2007. The term is four years.

Franklin is finishing his first 4-year term as mayor after eight years on the council before that -- a dozen years at the dais total. A June 2026 primary bid to succeed termed-out county Supervisor Jim Desmond in San Diego County District 5 fell short, but Franklin told the Union-Tribune that loss isn't his real reason for stepping back: he says he believes in "self-imposed term limits" and it's time for new leadership. Both candidates on this ballot are familiar faces in city politics rather than newcomers -- Green served two terms on the council before leaving it voluntarily, and Zuniga currently sits on one of the city's advisory commissions.

Joe Green

Joe Green is a real estate broker and loan officer. He owns Green Team Realty in Vista. He served eight years on the Vista City Council. He left in 2024 rather than seek a third term. He reported $26,785 in available campaign funds for the first half of 2026.

Kenneth Zuniga

Kenneth Zuniga sits on Vista's Homelessness Commission. He graduated from San Diego State. He works as a photographer for Fashionphile. That company buys and resells used luxury goods. He calls himself a small business owner. No business is listed on his disclosure form.

Your pick

A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.

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