Ray Ellis, a small business owner and non-profit leader, announced Thursday a second bid for the San Diego City Council’s first district seat.
Ellis, a Republican, ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Sherri Lightner in 2012. Lightner, president of the council, won a second term but is now termed out. Ellis will face entrepreneur and community leader Barbara Bry in the 2016 primary.
The 57-year-old Carmel Valley resident said he is running to put his experience to work at City Hall. His platform includes solutions to local water supply, investment in city infrastructure, opposition to the One Paseo project and encouraging economic growth.
“Customer service — serving San Diegans — is what City Hall should focus on,” he said. “Parks should be clean, ball fields should be well-maintained and libraries should be open at convenient times for families. These may sound like little things to some, but not to me. To me, they make San Diego better for all of us.”
Mayor Kevin Faulconer immediately announced his support of Ellis. “Ray Ellis has been a successful small business owner and he’s made a mark as one of San Diego’s most important non-profit leaders,” Faulconer said. “His efforts to protect the environment, help the homeless, and promote strong economic growth have made San Diego a better place.”
Ellis serves on the boards of several local non-profits, including the Balboa Park Conservancy, The Parker Foundation, San Diego Workforce Partnership Workforce Investment Board, Lux Art Institute and Equinox Center. He is the principal of Ellis & Associates LLC, an investment firm. He also manages the activities of the Ellis Family Foundation, a private foundation that helps fund numerous non-profit organizations, including Rady Children’s Hospital.
District 1 includes La Jolla, University City, Carmel Valley, Pacific Highlands Ranch and surrounding communities.
