Maria Nunez
CA · San Marcos City Council Member, District 1
Maria Nunez is a bankruptcy and civil litigation attorney who runs her own law firm and has been a city leader since she was first elected in 2018. Her priorities are housing affordability, community safety, infrastructure, and helping residents take part in local government.
Where Maria Nunez stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (1 record), Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (3 records), Housing Affordability (4 records),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (3 records)
Mixed record
Public Safety and Crime Control (2 support · 2 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support
Voted no on Feb. 12, 2019 when the San Marcos City Council set aside, 3-2, her and Randy Walton's resolution opposing new offshore oil drilling off California.
February 12, 2019Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: thecoastnews.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 oppose
Voted yes on June 9, 2026 for a balanced 2026-27 city budget using $23.7 million in Measure Q sales tax money for a new fire station and infrastructure. The vote was unanimous.
June 9, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: thecoastnews.com
Voted yes on April 8, 2025 to lend $6 million to Richmar Senior Village, 52 affordable homes for low-income adults 55 and older. The vote was unanimous.
April 8, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: thecoastnews.com
Voted yes on July 9, 2024 to put a one-cent city sales tax (Measure Q) on the November ballot to pay for public safety, streets and other city services. The vote was unanimous.
July 9, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: thecoastnews.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 2 support · 2 oppose
Voted yes on June 9, 2026 for a balanced 2026-27 city budget using $23.7 million in Measure Q sales tax money for a new fire station and infrastructure. The vote was unanimous.
June 9, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: thecoastnews.com
Cast the only vote against a council resolution supporting Proposition 36 on Sept. 24, 2024. The state measure raised penalties for some theft and drug crimes. The resolution passed 4-1.
September 24, 2024Opposes Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: legistar2.granicus.com
Cast the only no vote on July 23, 2024 against a ban on homeless camping on all city property. She said the city lacked the resources to help unhoused people. It passed 4-1.
July 23, 2024Opposes Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: kpbs.org
Voted yes on July 9, 2024 to put a one-cent city sales tax (Measure Q) on the November ballot to pay for public safety, streets and other city services. The vote was unanimous.
July 9, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: thecoastnews.com
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 3 support
Cast the only vote against a council resolution supporting Proposition 36 on Sept. 24, 2024. The state measure raised penalties for some theft and drug crimes. The resolution passed 4-1.
September 24, 2024Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: legistar2.granicus.com
Cast the only no vote on July 23, 2024 against a ban on homeless camping on all city property. She said the city lacked the resources to help unhoused people. It passed 4-1.
July 23, 2024Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: kpbs.org
Cast the only no vote, on May 11 and again at final approval on May 25, 2021, against an ordinance banning protests within 300 feet of a targeted home. It passed 4-1.
May 25, 2021Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: thecoastnews.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 4 support
Voted yes on April 8, 2025 to lend $6 million to Richmar Senior Village, 52 affordable homes for low-income adults 55 and older. The vote was unanimous.
April 8, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: thecoastnews.com
Voted yes on March 26, 2024 to approve the 119-unit Capalina Apartments near Mission Road and rezone the site for homes and shops. The vote was unanimous.
March 26, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: thecoastnews.com
Voted yes on Dec. 12, 2023 to approve a 202-home mixed-use project at the old Restaurant Row site. She said she was disappointed it had no affordable homes; the developer pays a fee instead.
December 12, 2023Supports Housing Affordability
Source: thecoastnews.com
Voted no on Dec. 14, 2021 on a council resolution backing a proposed state ballot initiative to let local zoning rules override state housing laws. It passed 3-2.
December 14, 2021Supports Housing Affordability
Source: thecoastnews.com
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 1 support
Voted yes on April 8, 2025 to lend $6 million to Richmar Senior Village, 52 affordable homes for low-income adults 55 and older. The vote was unanimous.
April 8, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: thecoastnews.com
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 2 support
Publicly criticized the city in February 2024 for failing to provide a Spanish interpreter when Villa Serena tenants facing displacement spoke at a council meeting.
February 15, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: thecoastnews.com
Brought a resolution with Randy Walton urging voters to back Proposition 1, which put abortion and contraception rights in the state constitution. The council set it aside 3-2 on Sept. 27, 2022.
September 27, 2022Supports Civil Rights
Source: thecoastnews.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 3 support
Voted yes on June 9, 2026 for a balanced 2026-27 city budget using $23.7 million in Measure Q sales tax money for a new fire station and infrastructure. The vote was unanimous.
June 9, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: thecoastnews.com
Voted yes on July 9, 2024 to put a one-cent city sales tax (Measure Q) on the November ballot to pay for public safety, streets and other city services. The vote was unanimous.
July 9, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: thecoastnews.com
Cast the only no vote on Feb. 13, 2024 against a city policy that bars bus-only lanes from replacing car lanes or medians. It passed 4-1.
February 13, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: thecoastnews.com
Track record — General
General · 5 records
Voted as a Clean Energy Alliance board member on Jan. 29, 2026 to let customers switch to a cheaper base power plan priced to match SDG&E. The board vote was unanimous.
January 29, 2026
Source: thecoastnews.com
Seconded a motion on Sept. 24, 2024 for the city to oppose large battery energy storage projects in and near San Marcos, including the Seguro plant. The council instead voted 3-2, with her opposed, to send the resolution back to staff for safety study.
September 24, 2024
Source: legistar2.granicus.com
Voted no on July 7, 2023 when the council placed longtime City Manager Jack Griffin on paid leave in a 3-2 closed-session vote.
July 7, 2023
Source: thecoastnews.com
Voted no on Oct. 12, 2021 on a proposed ordinance with permit, fee and operating rules for street vendors. The council rejected it 3-2.
October 12, 2021
Source: thecoastnews.com
Sworn in on Dec. 11, 2018 as the first council member for San Marcos District 1, after defeating Craig Garcia and Clifton Ireland in the city's first district-based election.
December 11, 2018
Source: thecoastnews.com
Past race Maria Nunez ran in:
- Member of the City Council, District No. 1 · November 3, 2026 · San Marcos city, California · incumbent