Bios on the Incumbents Running for Chula Vista Office

Three incumbents are running for their current Chula Vista offices. John McCann is running for Chula Vista mayor, Carolina Chavez for District 1 Councilmember and Jose Preciado for District 2 Councilmember.

The following information appears on the City of Chula Vista website.

Mayor John McCann

Mayor John McCann, a lifelong Chula Vista resident, is a decorated Navy Veteran and successful small-business owner. McCann’s solution-oriented approach prioritizes public safety, neighborhood improvements, decreasing traffic congestion, and support of local businesses.

McCann was raised in a working-class family by a single mother who worked at the Rohr/Goodrich Aerospace Factory. He attended Bonita Vista High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Master’s Degree in Economics, and worked at the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

McCann’s championship of public safety has moved the City of Chula Vista to a Top 10 Safest City with a population of over 200,000 in the United States. McCann’s leadership has increased the number of police officers from under 200 officers to over 260 officers city wide. Under McCann’s guidance, Chula Vista has doubled the number of police patrols, implemented police body-worn cameras (increasing transparency), implemented a new GPS police dispatch system (to alert the closest unit available to respond), championed the new Drone System, and instituted the Live 911 system, giving officers real time information for more effective and faster responses. He also helped create the Homeless Outreach Team program to assist homeless getting off the streets and transition into a better life.

McCann has prioritized neighborhood infrastructure improvements by expediting street resurfacing, pothole repairs, and park improvements. McCann has helped organize (and participate in) several community cleanups - I Love Chula Vista and Beautify Chula Vista - where community members have taken pride in improving their neighborhoods.

McCann has worked vigorously to decrease the city of Chula Vista’s traffic congestion, resulting in the improvement of the quality of life for many working families. He worked to coordinate traffic signals for enhanced traffic flow and pedestrian safety; and assisted in lowering the SR-125 tolls and advocated the refinancing of SR-125, decreasing the time that it will remain a toll road.

As a successful small-business owner, McCann continues to strive to streamline permitting processes to support local businesses and make Chula Vista a small-business-friendly city. McCann supports the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan and the Millenia Master Plan Project that will support thousands of high-paying professional jobs.

McCann continues to serve his country as a full Commander in the United States Navy Reserves. McCann joined the U.S. Navy as an enlisted member and was later commissioned as a Naval Officer. He was mobilized to serve “boots on the ground” in Mosul, Iraq, during the War in Iraq.

McCann is a consummate community volunteer. He has served on the Board of Directors for the South Bay YMCA, the Chula Vista Boys & Girls Club, AYSO youth soccer, and the Bonitafest Committee. In 2008, McCann was awarded the San Diego County Local Elected Official of the Year and has been selected in the Star News reader poll as one of the best South Bay elected officials multiple times.

McCann and his wife, Myllissa, are raising their children and grandchild in Chula Vista and have two dogs.

District 1 - Councilmember Carolina Chavez

Councilmember Carolina Chavez, a devoted public servant and lifelong resident of the Cali-Baja region, is the first Latina and binational council member to represent Chula Vista’s District 1. With a profound dedication to cross-border cooperation and community development, she brings years of extensive experience in promoting collaboration, particularly in business and economic policies. 

As the former two-term chair of the International Business Association Committee at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and current Chula Vista representative on both the South County Economic Development Committee, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board of Directors, as Chair of the SANDAG Borders Committee and on the SANDAG Public Safety Comittee, Councilmember Chavez plays a pivotal role in shaping regional international relations, business and economic policies.

Councilmember Chavez's commitment to community service is evident through her active participation in various non-profit endeavors, from supporting at-risk youth and championing educational opportunities via scholarships, to coordinating food and clothing donations, and facilitating medical access and assistance in vulnerable communities. Actively engaging with local, state, and federal governments on both sides of the border, she is a strong advocate for the expansion of public health access in the binational region. 

From her journalistic roots to her current role, Councilmember Chavez's leadership and vision have consistently driven positive change, cultivating a thriving community in this dynamic and diverse region.

District 2 - Councilmember Jose Preciado

Councilmember Jose Preciado was elected to the City Council on November 8, 2022, to represent District 2. Jose serves as the voting member of Metro Wastewater, J.P.A., as an alternate on the Metropolitan Transit System and San Diego Community Power, JPA.  Jose has also served as an alternate on SAN DAG. Jose has served as a member of the following council ad hoc committees- Chula Vista Welcoming City Committee, Chula Vista/University Partnerships, City Council Charter Review, West Chula Vista Economic Development, Outdoor Dining and most recently the Urban Core Specific Plan Update Committee. In May of 2025, the Hon. Robert Rivas, Speaker of the California State Assembly,  appointed Jose to the California Coastal Commission through May 2029 as the San Diego County Coast representative. 

Jose is a lifelong resident of San Diego’s South Bay where he attended Nestor Elementary, Southwest Middle School and Southwest High School. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Latin American Studies and Spanish For the Single Subject Credential and a Master of Arts in Teaching from San Diego State University (SDSU).  

In his 28th year of service with San Diego State University, Jose serves as the director of Undergraduate Studies. This leadership role is primarily responsible for course-based campus initiatives in support of undergraduate student success and academic achievement.  In addition, Jose directs the Faculty-Student Mentoring Program and the Supplemental Instruction Center. Jose has been an active member of the SDSU campus community serving on the University Senate and as a past steward with Academic Professional of California and member of the California Faculty Association.

Jose moved to West Chula Vista in 2006 and was elected in 2008 as Director of the South Bay Irrigation District/Sweetwater Authority-Division 3.  During his 14-year tenure, Jose served as Chair of the Board of Directors and he chaired or was member of several committees including:  the Finance and Administration Committee, the Consultant Selection Committee and the Engineering, Development and Capital Infrastructure Committee.  In 2015, Jose was appointed by his fellow directors as the South Bay Irrigation District representative to San Diego County Water Authority. There, Jose chaired the Water Resource and Environmental Planning Committee and served as a member of the Engineering Committee, Legislative and Outreach Committee, Imported Water Committee, the Colorado River Taskforce and as an alternate on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Borders Committee.

Serving the community has been his priority and he is a recognized regional advocate promoting high quality public schools in every neighborhood, access to higher education including a four-year university for Chula Vista, increasing housing options for working families and seniors, and expanding civic participation to improve the quality of life for all residents. He was  a member and President of the Board of Directors of CSA San Diego (a nonprofit fair housing organization), past-President of the South Bay Forum (a member-driven organization engaged in public policy issues impacting the South Bay region), and co-founder and longstanding club officer of the Chula Vista Democratic Club.

Jose lives behind Hilltop High School in the Windsor Heights community with his brother, Sergio. Jose is an avid listener of podcasts and audiobooks, enjoys supporting Chula Vista’s local restaurants and small businesses, he is a proud and involved uncle, and he looks forward to weekly family gatherings to catch up on the latest happenings with his nieces and nephews.

Return to Main Page