San Diego
Seven bodies. Three million people. One mayor appoints a third of them.
San Diego's political structure is layered: a strong-mayor city, a five-seat county board, and four regional authorities whose commissioners answer to other politicians, not voters.
Who Appoints Whom
Power flows top-to-bottom. Hover or tap to focus.
What Power Do Voters Actually Have?
The Wiring: A newcomer's tour
Seven rooms. Three million people. You voted in three of them. A 9-part editorial series.
Read the series →The Bodies
Mayor of San Diego
The Mayor of San Diego is the city's chief executive under the Strong Mayor form of government adopted in 2004 (Prop F, Charter Article XV). The Mayor...
San Diego City Council
The San Diego City Council is the city's nine-seat legislative body, one councilmember elected from each geographic district to a staggered four-year term...
San Diego County Board of Supervisors
San Diego County is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors, each elected from a geographic district to a staggered four-year term under CA...
San Diego Association of Governments
SANDAG is the regional planning agency for San Diego County, governed by a 21-member Board of Directors under CA Public Utilities Code §132351.1. Each of...
Port of San Diego
The Port of San Diego is a seven-commissioner authority that manages San Diego Bay's tidelands and submerged lands as a public trust under the Port District...
San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority operates San Diego International (SAN) under Division 17 of the California Public Utilities Code, created by...
Metropolitan Transit System
The Metropolitan Transit System is the transit operator for central, south, and east San Diego County, governed by a 15-member board under CA Public...