Spieker and Grewal lead Del Mar council race as Solana Beach hotel tax measure gains support

Meghan Spieker and Jas Grewal are leading the race for two Del Mar City Council seats following Tuesday's election, according to unofficial results. Meanwhile, voters in neighboring Solana Beach are showing strong support for a ballot measure that would increase the city's hotel and lodging tax.

The latest reported Del Mar tally shows Spieker with 884 votes, or 33.6%, followed by Grewal with 713 votes, or 27.1%.

Incumbent Councilmember Terry Gaasterland is in third place with 523 votes, or 19.9%, while Jeff Sturgis has received 511 votes, or 19.4%.

The figures, reported by The Ballot Book, remain unofficial as San Diego County election officials continue counting ballots.

Spieker and Grewal lead in Del Mar

Both leading candidates currently serve on Del Mar's Planning Commission, giving them experience with some of the land-use and development issues facing the coastal community.

Spieker, a business litigator, and Grewal are seeking seats on the five-member City Council.

Gaasterland, who has served on the council since 2018 and twice held the rotating position of mayor, is seeking a third term.

Sturgis has served on Del Mar's Finance Committee for more than a decade, according to The Coast News.

With two seats available, the candidates finishing first and second will be elected once the results are finalized.

The current returns put Spieker and Grewal ahead, but additional ballots remain to be counted.

Election could bring two new members to Del Mar's council

The election comes at an important time for Del Mar's local government.

One of the two seats on the ballot is currently held by Gaasterland. The other has remained vacant since former Councilmember Dwight Worden resigned in September 2024.

The city of Del Mar confirmed that both seats would be filled in the November election.

If the current standings hold, Spieker and Grewal would join the council and restore it to its full five-member membership.

The incoming council will face decisions involving coastal erosion, the future of the railroad tracks along Del Mar's bluffs, housing development and the city's long-term finances.

Those issues have been central to discussions about the community's future and are likely to remain priorities for the newly elected council members.

Solana Beach voters strongly favor Measure C

In Solana Beach, voters are showing strong support for Measure C, a proposal to increase the city's transient occupancy tax on hotels and short-term lodging.

The latest reported results show 3,110 votes in favor, or 71.91%, compared with 1,215 votes against, or 28.09%, according to Telemundo San Diego's election coverage.

If approved, the measure would increase the city's hotel tax from 13% to 14%.

The city of Solana Beach estimates that the additional tax could generate approximately $250,000 annually for general city services.

The revenue would be available for priorities such as maintaining beaches, parks and trails, supporting public safety services and improving emergency response facilities.

The tax applies to visitors staying in hotels and qualifying short-term rentals rather than directly increasing property or sales taxes for local residents.

Measure C requires a simple majority to pass. Its substantial lead suggests voters favor the proposal, although the outcome remains unofficial until certification.

Two Solana Beach council races are uncontested

Solana Beach also held elections for City Council Districts 2 and 4.

Incumbent Councilmember Kristi Becker ran unopposed in District 2, while business owner Jenna Wolfe-Dellamano was the only listed candidate in District 4.

According to the city's election information page, both candidates qualified for the November ballot.

Wolfe-Dellamano is seeking the seat being vacated by Councilmember Jill MacDonald, who chose not to run for another term.

The two seats carry four-year terms.