Mark Powell
for San Diego City Council District 6

A Lifetime of Independent Leadership

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Mark Powell is a lifelong San Diegan, small business owner, educator, and former Reserve Police Officer running for City Council to bring practical, independent, community-driven leadership to District 6. 

He has spent his entire career serving the public — advocating for home ownership, policing our streets, teaching in our classrooms, and as an elected San Diego County Board of Education member.

Mark understands our challenges because he is living them. And he believes the government should serve people, not politics.

Meet Mark

A Lifelong San Diegan

Mark was born and raised in San Diego, growing up in Clairemont and University City.

He later raised his own family here, where he and his wife Candice — who works in the medical field — raised two daughters, Arielle and Dalia.

A Leader Rooted in Service

Mark is dedicated to helping people. He began his service as a Reserve Police Officer with the San Diego Police Department, seeing firsthand the challenges of crime, homelessness, and public safety.

Driven by his passion to help kids succeed, Mark became a Classroom Teacher, Dean of Students, Vice Principal, and eventually a Professor at National University while running his real estate brokerage business. He brings over 25 years of experience managing budgets, negotiating on behalf of families, solving problems, and operating a successful family business.

Mark standing with San Diego Firefighters as President of the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club

Small Business Owner & Housing Advocate

Mark knows firsthand the struggles families face trying to afford a home in San Diego. As a licensed real estate broker, he has helped hundreds of families find stable housing and understands how regulation and red tape drives up costs.

A Proven Voice for Accountability

As a member of the County Board of Education, Mark worked to:

  • Provide mental health resources for students

  • Combat opioid and vaping addictions

  • Support drowning prevention for underserved youth

  • Relentlessly pursued housing that teachers can afford

  • Protect students from human trafficking

  • Improve district maps for fair voter representation

Why I’m Running

Like you, I’ve experienced everyday life getting way too expensive. And, it seems our mayor and city council just keep making it worse. Instead of tightening or streamlining the bureaucracy to get the budget under control, they keep coming back to us for more money. District 6’s current council member has supported tax hikes and voted for over 100 new and increased fees on basic services we use every day — disproportionately affecting families the most.

I’m stepping up because we need someone who genuinely cares about our quality of life and actually listens to the community — not someone who nods along in public, only to side with City Hall once the votes are cast. We need new leadership that will stand up for families who deserve a good quality of life. Someone not beholden to City Hall. 

I’m ready to take on that fight for all of us and get us going in a new direction.

“I’m running for City Council because San Diego is my home. I was born and raised here, and it’s tough to watch how hard it’s become for families to afford rent, to buy a home, or even enjoy the simple things that make this city special.”

Priorities

    • Restore free parking in Balboa Park for San Diegans, as it was always intended

    • Reduce or repeal the costly trash tax

    • Simplify permits and reduce costs so builders can produce homes local families can afford to buy

    • Oppose new taxes because San Diego is already expensive enough

    • Put the city budget online for easy public access — taxpayers deserve transparency

    • Adopt stricter design standards and limit ADUs in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, while giving neighbors a voice when projects harm their property or quality of life

    • Restore traffic flow and access to businesses by removing under-used bike lanes

    • Repair roads like Mira Mesa Blvd. and Governor Dr. using technology that keeps traffic flowing and disruptions to a minimum

    • Protect Governor Drive, Genesee Avenue, and Mira Mesa Blvd. by maintaining all four lanes for motor vehicles rather than converting lanes exclusively for bike and bus use

    • Keep parks, sports fields, libraries, and recreation programs affordable and stop City Hall from piling on new fees for the services families rely on every day

    • Maintain free access to parks, sports fields, libraries, and recreation centers, instead of adding more fees on services tax-paying residents rely on

    • Remove dead trees from our canyons to reduce fire risk and improve neighborhood safety and appearance

    • Bring back community-oriented policing with greater presence and neighborhood interaction

    • Partner with San Diego County on mental health services and homelessness prevention to reduce street homelessness and connect people to help

    • Support Neighborhood Watch programs throughout District 6

Am I in District 6?

San Diego's District 6 spans a diverse and dynamic expanse, bringing together established neighborhoods, employment centers, and innovation hubs reflecting the economic, cultural, and geographic diversity that makes San Diego thrive.

DISCLAIMER: This map is not exact. It’s an AI-generated representation of District 6. Believe it or not, there are no good official maps of the district, so our graphic designer did some fancy cartography footwork aided by AI. Please excuse errors.

District 6 includes the communities of:

Kearny Mesa
Marine Corps Air Station
Mira Mesa
Miramar
Scripps Ranch
Sorrento Valley
University City

Covering postal codes:

92037
92121
92123
92129
92145 

92111
92122
92126
92131

News & Media

Featured:

Imagine if homeowners could keep their low interest rate when they buy their next home. Well, they can through something called "Mortgage Portability" a mechanism that allows homeowners to carry their existing interest rate with them when they buy their next home.

The San Diego City Council has advanced a proposal for a new “Vacation Home Operation Tax” targeting roughly 10,000 properties—half vacant second homes and half full-time vacation rentals—to raise up to $135 million annually.

For every single-family home built in San Diego, approximately 7 to 9 rental apartments are constructed an unsustainable gap that limits home ownership opportunities.

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Socials

I know what it's like to patrol the streets of our neighborhoods.
I was a classroom teacher and school administrator.
I've been elected before.
I have built a thriving small business and raised a family.

I have what it takes to lead District 6.

— Mark Powell

Be a Part of the Movement

Have a question, concern, or idea? Mark wants to hear from you!