Todd Gloria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Todd Gloria
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Gloria in 2022
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| 37th Mayor of San Diego | |
| Assumed office December 10, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Kevin Faulconer |
| Acting August 30, 2013 – March 3, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Filner |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Faulconer |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 78th district |
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| In office December 5, 2016 – November 30, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Toni Atkins |
| Succeeded by | Chris Ward |
| President of the San Diego City Council | |
| In office December 3, 2012 – December 10, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Tony Young |
| Succeeded by | Sherri Lightner |
| Member of the San Diego City Council from the 3rd district |
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| In office December 8, 2008 – December 5, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Toni Atkins |
| Succeeded by | Chris Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Todd Rex Gloria
May 10, 1978 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residences | San Diego, California |
| Education | University of San Diego (BA) |
Todd Rex Gloria (born May 10, 1978) is an American politician. He is currently the 37th mayor of San Diego, serving since 2020. As mayor, he is the main leader of the City of San Diego. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Before becoming mayor, Gloria was elected to the San Diego City Council. He represented District 3. He also served as the president of the nine-member council from 2012 to 2014. During this time, he was the interim mayor of San Diego for a few months in 2013-2014. Later, Gloria was elected to represent California's 78th State Assembly district. This area covers much of San Diego. In the Assembly, he held a leadership role called Majority Whip. In December 2020, he became the mayor of San Diego.
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Early Life and Family Roots
Todd Gloria grew up in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego. His father worked as a gardener, and his mother was a hotel maid. Even though his family was not wealthy, they taught him the importance of hard work. All four of his grandparents moved to the San Diego area because of their connection to the military. Todd Gloria has a diverse family background, including Filipino, Dutch, Puerto Rican, and Native American heritage.
Todd Gloria's Public Service Career
Todd Gloria has spent most of his adult life working for the public. He started his career at the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency. He then joined the office of U.S. Congresswoman Susan Davis. She was an important mentor to him since they met in 1993. At that time, Gloria was a high school freshman. Davis directed a program for high school students focused on civic education.
In 2002, Gloria became Davis's district director. He held this job until he was elected to the City Council in 2008. He also served as a San Diego Housing Commissioner from 2005 to 2008. He was also a former chairman of the San Diego LGBT Community Center.
In 2012, he was elected as the President of the San Diego City Council. A year later, he became the interim mayor after the previous mayor resigned. He then served as a representative for the 78th District in the California State Assembly. He became the Majority Whip there. While in the Assembly, he helped create laws for San Diego. These laws addressed important issues like housing, homelessness, gun violence, and global warming. He was also the vice chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus.
Serving on the San Diego City Council
Gloria first ran for the District 3 seat on the San Diego City Council in 2008. This seat was open because Toni Atkins had reached her term limit. Gloria won the primary election. He then faced Stephen Whitburn in the November run-off election. Gloria won with 54.3% of the votes.
In the 2012 election, Gloria ran for re-election without any opponents. He was re-elected in the June primary. During his second term, District 3 included many neighborhoods. Some of these were Balboa Park, Downtown San Diego, Golden Hill, and North Park.
Key Roles and Interim Mayor Term
From 2011 to 2016, Gloria led the city's Budget and Finance Committee. He also represented San Diego on the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Board. He was also part of SANDAG, where he chaired the transportation committee. As a Council member, he helped combine several homelessness organizations in San Diego. His goal was to better use the city's money to help end homelessness. In December 2012, he was chosen as Council President.
On August 30, 2013, Mayor Bob Filner resigned. Todd Gloria then became the interim mayor of San Diego. He served until March 3, 2014, when Mayor Kevin Faulconer was sworn in. While he was interim mayor, Gloria kept his City Council seat. He also kept his title as City Council President. However, another council member, Sherri Lightner, took over the Council President duties. Gloria decided not to run for mayor at that time.
As interim mayor, Gloria changed some of the previous mayor's decisions. He hired back lobbying firms that had been let go. He also made it easier for citizens to get public records. His administration also started working on the San Diego Climate Action Plan.
California State Assembly Service
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On April 7, 2015, Gloria announced he would run for the California State Assembly. He ran for the 78th district seat in 2016. This seat was held by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, who could not run again. Gloria was supported by Atkins. While running, Gloria talked about the city's climate action plan. On November 8, 2016, Gloria won the election easily. He was re-elected in 2018 with over 70 percent of the votes.
Soon after starting his term in 2016, Gloria was chosen to be Assistant Majority Whip. This is a leadership role in the Assembly. In January 2018, he became the Majority Whip.
Mayor of San Diego: Leading the City
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Running for Mayor
Gloria announced he would run for mayor of San Diego on January 9, 2019. His campaign focused on important issues. These included the housing crisis, making things more affordable, public transportation, and climate change. Many politicians supported Gloria, including Governor Gavin Newsom.
In August 2019, Gloria won the support of the San Diego County Democratic Party. This allowed the party to help his campaign. Gloria received 70% of the votes needed for this support.
Gloria and another candidate, Barbara Bry, moved on to the general election. On November 3, he was elected mayor. This was a historic moment for San Diego. He became the first mayor of color for the city. He was also the first mayor with Native American and Filipino-American heritage in a U.S. city with over a million people. Gloria was sworn in on December 10, 2020.
Mayor's Focus: Key Initiatives
Improving City Infrastructure To make the city's buildings and roads better, Gloria suggested a budget for 2023. This plan was called the "Ready to Rebuild" proposal. It was almost $5 billion in total. The budget increased money for street maintenance by $27.6 million. It also added $4.3 million for parks and recreation. This budget helps many projects to improve San Diego's infrastructure. These projects focus on important services for residents. This includes fire stations, libraries, and parks.
Public Safety Efforts In 2021, Gloria suggested changes for policing and public safety. Many of these ideas came from San Diego citizens. One important part was to properly fund the Commission on Police Practices (CPP). This group checks and investigates incidents involving the San Diego Police. The proposal also asked police to avoid using military-grade weapons unless it was absolutely necessary. However, some parts of these changes have not yet happened.
Addressing Homelessness and Housing In 2023, San Diego approved more housing permits than it had in decades. This nearly doubled the number from 2022. This increase in housing came after changes that made it easier to build homes.
As mayor, Gloria has often said that homelessness is a top priority. San Diego has added many beds for people experiencing homelessness. However, the number of unsheltered people in downtown San Diego has also increased. There has also been a rise in homeless deaths.
During his campaign, Gloria suggested using housing that offers support services. He also wanted to replace temporary shelters with permanent housing. In 2021, Gloria proposed a budget of about $10 million for homelessness and housing. This budget focused on a "compassionate, person-centered approach." Most of the money would go to temporary shelter beds. It also invested $1 million into a program that helps homeless residents connect to housing.
In June 2023, Todd Gloria signed the "Unsafe Camping Ordinance." This law stops people from setting up tents in public spaces if shelter beds are available. It also completely bans tents in parks, near schools, and near shelters. Gloria said this law would create consequences for illegal behavior. He also stated that the city had expanded its shelter programs. However, some reports showed that many people referred to shelters could not find a spot. Some homeless people reported being moved by police when no shelters were available.
Finding affordable housing in San Diego is still a challenge. In 2023, almost 60% of homes cost over $1 million. The average home price was $910,000. This makes San Diego one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. The average monthly rent also rose to $3,175.
In April 2024, Gloria announced a plan for a large homeless shelter. It would be in a 65,000-square-foot building. This shelter, called Hope @ Vine, would add 1,000 beds. The long lease would ensure the city has access to these beds for many years. The city council still needs to approve the final agreement.
Personal Life
Todd Gloria lives in downtown San Diego. He lives with his partner, Adam Smith. They have a dog named Diego.
Images for kids
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Gloria in 2022
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Council Member Todd Gloria speaking to the San Diego Workforce Partnership.
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Gloria and then-San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer at a San Diego Comic-Con event in 2014
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Gloria at Balboa Park's 100th anniversary, 2015.
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Gloria (front left) meets with Vice President Kamala Harris (front right) in 2021
