Anita Edmondson, a business owner and teacher who previously served on the Poway City Council, was elected to fill the council’s District 2 seat once again in the recent election against competitor Vanessa Springett.
Official election results announced by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters on July 2 showed Edmondson won with 54.65% of the votes. She held the lead by about 9 percentage points over Springett, who had 45.35% of the votes.
Edmondson, 59, was appointed in 2023 to fill a vacancy left by Councilmember Barry Leonard. Although Edmondson pledged not to run for re-election at the end of that term, she was officially allowed to run for office in the June 2 primary election.
Anita Edmondson won the recent Poway City Council District 2 election with 54.65% of the votes. (Courtesy Anita Edmondson)
She was expected to be sworn into office at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7 at the Poway City Council chambers, 13325 Civic Center Drive.
“I am honored to have received a vote of confidence from District 2 voters,” Edmondson said after the official results were announced. “The results show that residents appreciate how well run the city is and reinforces their desire for an experienced representative who will preserve all the good things that make Poway special.”
The primary election fills a vacancy left by former Councilmember Tony Blain, who resigned Nov. 5, one day after residents voted to recall him. He has been accused of vote trading and threatening recalls against his colleagues and was censured twice by the council.
Blain faces felony charges of perjury and bribery, and of destruction or removal of public documents. His preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday, July 22, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
In the race to replace him, both candidates said the issues they encountered while campaigning included development and improvements along Poway Road, traffic safety in residential neighborhoods and concerns that an outdoor pickleball facility could be built at The Farm development.
Courtesy Vanessa Springett
Vanessa Springett was a competitive candidate in the recent Poway City Council District 2 election with 45.35% of the votes. (Courtesy Vanessa Springett)
As a council member, Edmondson said she plans to address the concerns of her constituents and focus on quality of life issues in Poway.
“I look forward to serving on the City Council once again,” she said. “And this term gives me a valuable opportunity to share resident feedback I received during the campaign with city leadership and explore ways to continue enhancing the quality of life we enjoy in Poway.”
Springett said she congratulates Edmondson on her election to represent District 2.
“Anita is someone who I have long respected for her commitment to our community and I wish her every success as she serves District 2 and all of Poway,” Springett said.