Dear City of San Diego resident,
My name is Dr. Suzanne Till, and I am running for State Senate District 40. I am from Lakeside. I graduated from El Capitan High School and currently live in Santee. I am a Marine veteran. I teach high school and community college. I am the Vice President of Padre Dam (MWD) Municipal Water District Board of Directors. I am straight off the campaign trail. In 2024, I won my election in the Padre Dam MWD water district by 24 percentage points. Padre Dam MWD serves over 250,00 residents of the State Senate District 40 in East San Diego County.
Even though I am from East County, I represent change for the 200,000 City of San Diego voters residing in the California State Senate District 40.
My platform is “Affordable housing, water and energy.” 31% of San Diego County families struggle with living expenses: housing, food and water. Between 2021 and 2024, the child poverty rate in California tripled. Why? One reason is California’s housing market favors Wall Street and foreign investors, not housing our children. In 2025, 27% of all California homes were purchased by investment corporations, not Californian families. I support Assemblymember Alex Lee’s Bill, AB 2584 to limit corporate ownership of single family homes.
We all drink water from San Diego County Water Authority Carlsbad desalination plant. This water is the most expensive water in the United States. Due to decisions that favor politics not science, the City of San Diego is currently proposing an outrageous 63% water rate increase. By comparison, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, where I am Vice President, guarantees a 0% water and sewer rate increase from 2023 to 2027. There are sustainable and affordable alternatives to City of San Diego water management failures.
We need access to affordable healthcare. We in California must become more self-sufficient in health care coverage and medical research. I am a cancer survivor; the photo right is myself (black sweatshirt) and my sister Karen celebrating another cancer free day in Ocean Beach. Consequently, I will be especially focused on cancer treatment and research.
I experienced the Cedar Wildfire disaster of 2003. Under my leadership Padre Dam MWD now has smart, reliable water infrastructure to fight wildfires in the Padre Dam Municipal Water District service area. Reliable water infrastructure to fight wildfire is not the case for City of San Diego and North County residents. I will restore Lake Hodges, thus reducing your water bill and fire risk in the northern region of the City of San Diego and North County.
Many families with children cannot afford to live in San Diego County. Cancer is the number 1 cause of death for San Diego County residents. The Colorado River, which is 70% of San Diego County’s water supply, is drying up due to climate change. Something has to change. I am here as a change candidate. Let’s create a California state government that embraces civility, science, and bipartisanship. Please donate, we can take back the California Dream.
Suzanne Till
www.suzannetill.com