Stephen Houlahan
Stephen Houlahan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Santee, California City Council | |
| In office January 2017 – January 2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Stephen Houlahan June 10, 1973 Santee, CA, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Olga |
| Education | San Diego State University (BA), University of San Diego (Master of Science in Nursing and MBA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Stephen Houlahan (born June 6, 1973) is an American politician from Santee, California. Houlahan is an Administrative Nurse at Sharp Hospital. He founded and served as Chairman of Save Mission Trails, a citizen organization formed to prevent the construction of a gas-powered peaker plant along the border of Mission Trails Regional Park
A member of the United States Democratic Party, Houlahan served four years as a member of the Santee City Council.
Early life and education
Houlahan has roots in Santee where his grandfather and parents lived, and where he attended Sycamore Canyon Elementary School and West Hills High School. He began his college education at nearby Grossmont Community College before transferring to the nursing program at San Diego State University.[1] He received his Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of San Diego.[2]
Early career
Environmental Activism
In 2010, Houlahan founded the 501(c)(3) activist group Save Mission Trails with the stated mission to preserve and conserve Mission Trails Regional Park.[3]
A notable effort led by Houlahan in collaboration with other environmental groups was to prevent the construction of the Quail Brush peaking power plant in the East Elliott Planning Area adjacent to Mission Trails and just to the west of Santee, California.[4] This multi-year protest succeeded, and in 2014 the application for the Quail Brush project was withdrawn and the project cancelled.[5]
As president of Save Mission Trails, Houlahan culminated a 4-year effort in 2016 to achieve the California Scenic Highway designation for California State Route 52 in the segment running through Mission Trails and leading into Santee.[6]
Another successfully led effort resulted in the cancellation[7] in 2018 of the Rainbow to Mission Valley Gas Pipeline which was proposed to run through Mission Trails[8]
Political career
2016 Santee City Council election
Stephen Houlahan won his first 4-year term as a Santee City Councilman on November 8, 2016 with 42.57% of the vote in a 3-candidate contest[9]. He served the rotating role of Vice Mayor from January 2019 to January 2020.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No party preference | Stephen Houlahan | 9,882 | 42.6 | |
| Republican | Dustin Trotter | 6,784 | 29.2 | |
| Republican | Mason Herron | 6,550 | 28.2 | |
| Total votes | 23,216 | 100.0 | ||
| No party preference gain from Republican | ||||
City Council Committee Assignments
- CSA-69 Advisory Committee: Secured a 5-year contract for Santee and Lakeside Firefighter Paramedics as the lead negotiator with the County of San Diego
- San Diego River Conservancy:
- Goodan Ranch Advisory Committee: Coordinated opening of public access to Historic Stowe Trail from Poway to Santee adjacent to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
- Mission Trails Regional Park Task Force:
Significant Policy Votes
- Votes for ban on smoking and vaping on public trails[10] and in city parks[11] [Passed 4-1]
- Vote against approval of Fanita Ranch development[12] [Passed 4-1]
- Vote for resolution against hate speech[13] [Passed 5-0]
2020 General election
Santee Mayoral Election
In 2020, Houlahan filed papers declaring his intention to vacate his council seat and run for Mayor of Santee.[14]. Accumulating 46.83% of the vote, he lost the election to incumbent Mayor John W. Minto.[15]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No party preference | Stephen Houlahan | 14,110 | 46.8 | |
| Republican | John W. Minto | 16,020 | 53.2 | |
| Total votes | 30,130 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Santee Measure N
As part of his mayoral platform and citing wildfire concerns[16], Houlahan co-sponsored[17] the General Plan Protection Initiative (Santee Measure N)[18] on the 2020 general election ballot. Having passed with 51.49% of the vote[15], this became law and requires voter approval for amendments to the Santee General Plan, including for the controversial[19] proposed amendment allowing development of the 3000-home Fanita Ranch project in the Santee backcountry.[20]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 Yes
|
15,720 | 51.5 |
| No | 14,812 | 48.5 |
| Total votes | 30,532 | 100.00 |
Santee Measure Q
Also as part of his mayoral platform, Houlahan co-sponsored a term limit initiative for the offices of Santee Mayor and City Council (Santee Measure Q)[21]. Measure Q, which limited lifetime terms for combined city council and mayoral service to 12 years, accumulated 64.01% of the vote[15]. However, a less restrictive competing term limit Measure R, sponsored in response to Measure Q by the remaining 4 members of the council and allowing 12 years city council service plus an additional 8 years mayoral service, achieved a higher total number of votes[15] and therefore became law[22]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes
|
19,269 | 64.01 |
| No | 10,832 | 35.99 |
| Total votes | 30,101 | 100.00 |
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes
|
20,235 | 67.45 |
| No | 9,765 | 32.55 |
| Total votes | 30,000 | 100.00 |
2022 U.S. Congressional election
In 2021, Houlahan declared his intention[23] to run against Darrell Issa in California's 50th Congressional District comprising eastern San Diego county and southern Riverside county. As a result of the 2020 United States redistricting cycle following the 2020 United States census, the new California 48th district was created[24] largely in the footprint of the prior 50th district. Houlahan succeeded in securing the endorsement[25] of the California Democratic Party for this election. A top-two primary occurred on June 7, 2022 from among 4 qualifying candidates[26]. Issa and Houlahan advanced to the November 8, 2022 General Election.[27][28]
| 2022 Congressional District CA-48 election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary election | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Darrell Issa | 101,280 | 61.5 | |
| Democratic | Stephen Houlahan | 45,740 | 27.8 | |
| Democratic | Matthew G. Rascon | 14,983 | 9.1 | |
| No party preference | Lucinda KWH Jahn | 2,614 | 1.6 | |
| Total votes | 164,617 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Stephen Houlahan | 74,129 | 40.1 | |
| Republican | Darrell Issa | 110,523 | 59.9 | |
| Total votes | 184,652 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
References
- ↑ "Santee City Councilmember Stephen Houlahan shows that grassroot efforts and community relationships outweigh political party endorsements and money". East County Californian. January 11, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- ↑ "3 questions for 48th Congressional District candidates". San Diego Union Tribune. May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
- ↑ "Save Mission Trails". Save Mission Trails.
- ↑ "Insights and Reaction to CPUC Decision on Power Plants". East County Magazine. March 21, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ↑ "Order Terminating Proceeding". Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission Of The State Of California. September 17, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ↑ "Part of 52 new 'Scenic Highway'". San Diego Union Tribune. May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ↑ "CPUC rejects $639 million SDG&E pipeline project". Baltimore Sun. June 21, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ↑ "Mission Trails Activists Oppose Proposed Major Gas Pipeline Through Regional Park And Santee Neighborhoods, Agree With SDG&E That Miramar Route Is Safer Option". East County Magazine. May 22, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ↑ "City of Santee Election History". City of Santee. February 28, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "Santee Bans Smoking on Trails, Takes First Step to District Elections". East County Magazine. January 12, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Santee Reverses Course, Ban Smoking Entirely at Parks". East County Magazine. June 27, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Santee Council Approves Fanita Ranch Before Voters Can Weigh in on November Ballot". East County Magazine. September 24, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Santee Adopts Resolution Denouncing Racism, Considers Inclusionary Housing Law". East County Magazine. June 25, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Houlahan Declares Candidacy for Santee Mayor". East County Magazine. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 "San Diego County General Election Results, November 3, 2020". San Diego Registrar of Voters. November 3, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "Judge Blocks Fanita Ranch, Citing Fire Danger". East County Magazine. March 10, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "Santee parks and open space focus of Fanita Ranch report". San Diego Union Tribune. October 20, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ↑ "City of Santee Measure N" (PDF). San Diego County Registrar of Voters. February 10, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "Lawsuit challenges Santee's approval of 3,000-home Fanita Ranch". San Diego Union Tribune. October 22, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "Santee ballot measure would give voters power over high-density projects". San Diego Union Tribune. October 11, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "City of Santee Measure Q" (PDF). San Diego County Registrar of Voters. February 10, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "Santee has competing term limit measures on Nov. 3 ballot". San Diego Union Tribune. October 20, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "Former Santee Councilman Houlahan Will Run For Congress". East County Magazine. January 13, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "Final Maps". We Draw The Lines CA. December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "June 7, 2022 Primary Endorsements" (PDF). California Democratic Party. March 6, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "Primary Election June 7, 2022 Official List of Certified Candidates" (PDF). California Secretary of State. March 31, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "2022 California Primary Elections Results". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. 2022-06-25. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409. Unknown parameter
|orig-date=ignored (help) - ↑ https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-primary/sov/16-summary.pdf
External links
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