Councilmember Foster Doubles Down on Discontent with Mayor

San Diego Councilmember Henry Foster says the mayor needs to get his priorities in check – or else. 

Late last week, multiple sources confirmed to Voice of San Diego that Mayor Todd Gloria described Foster’s downfall as his No.1 political priority.  

“You would think his priority should be the people,” Foster said during a discussion at Politifest 2026. “You would think his priority should be our infrastructure. His priority should be making sure we don’t have floods like we did in 2024.” 

He added: “That is the greatest disservice I think I have ever seen.” 

Foster was elected to the City Council to represent southeastern San Diego in 2024, after his predecessor, Monica Montgomery Steppe, won a seat on the Board of Supervisors.  He’s running for re-election against community activist and nurse Martha Abraham. I reported last month that during the primary election where more than 22,000 people voted, Abraham lost to Foster by just 12 votes. 

A lot of people in the district are upset at City Hall and supporting Abraham. 

At Politifest, Foster said he would consider bringing forward a ballot measure to repeal the strong mayor form of government. That would give the mayor far less executive power, and essentially relegate the mayor to serving as a member of the City Council. 

“If I do not see change, if I do not see leadership, if we do not bring on a professional expert, a COO that has operational experience, then yes I will be bringing forward a ballot measure,” he told me. 

Last month, when the city sent thousands of homeowners the wrong charge for their trash bill. That pushed other council candidates to also say the city needs a chief operating officer – though, they didn’t go as far as pushing for the end of the strong mayor system.  

Foster said he’s going to continue to prioritize District 4 in each budget cycle, and that given his track record of challenging the mayor on various issues, he can understand why his downfall is the top priority. 

“My comment to the mayor is it’s gonna be a rough and rocky road,” he said in closing. 

Foster’s predecessor, Montgomery Steppe, also defended the incumbent in a post on Facebook. 

“You could govern, Mayor. But you won’t. Because your petty and your politics have always merged together. Now, it’s just on display for all to see,” she wrote. “The petty is FINALLY public.” 

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