National City Councilmember Jose Rodriguez, a leading candidate for mayor, did not earn the San Diego State University bachelor’s degree he listed on two signed city applications, his campaign acknowledged Monday. One of those applications led to his first appointment on a city advisory board.
Rodriguez did not speak with The San Diego Union-Tribune. He instead referred questions to campaign adviser Dan Rottenstreich, who sent an emailed statement.
“Jose was one assignment short of the full graduation requirements because he had to help take care of two new-born twins and a toddler all while supporting his extended family after his father’s sudden death from cancer,” Rottenstreich wrote.
In the statement, Rottenstreich said Rodriguez worked full time through four years of college and walked in his SDSU commencement.
“He always hoped to finish that final class, which is why he listed a B.A. years ago,” Rottenstreich said.
Rottenstreich did not say whether Rodriguez has since completed the requirements.
City records show that Rodriguez signed an application in February 2016 seeking appointment to the Planning Commission, the Community & Police Relations Commission and the Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens Advisory Board. Under “Educational Background,” he handwrote “B.A. History from SDSU 2014” and “A.A. History from SD City College 2011.”
The council appointed him to the parks board that April. He ran unsuccessfully for council later that year.
In January 2019, Rodriguez applied to fill a vacant City Council seat. He again listed “BA History San Diego State University” alongside his associate degree. A motion to appoint him failed on a 2-2 vote. He won a council seat in 2020.
A college degree is not required to serve on city boards and commissions or to run for office.
La Prensa San Diego was the first to report the educational degree discrepancy.
Last week, The San Diego Union-Tribune sent candidates a questionnaire. In his response, Rodriguez listed his education as “AA History, San Diego City College, San Diego State University,” and did not name a degree from SDSU.
“This is what desperate campaigns with nothing to say resort to,” Rottenstreich wrote. “Jose’s opponents can attack that if they want, but National City families know Jose’s story because it’s theirs.”
Rodriguez faces fellow Councilmember Marcus Bush, former Councilmember and City Treasurer Mitchel Beauchamp and environmental activist Jacobb Castrejon in the Nov. 3 election to succeed retiring Mayor Ron Morrison. Mail ballots began arriving this month.
Rodriguez lost the 2022 mayoral race to Morrison by roughly 68 votes. He has the endorsements of the Democratic Party and the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council. Morrison has endorsed Bush and said in August that Rodriguez is “not fit for office.”
Both candidates have framed the race around their own credibility. Rodriguez has called his political consistency evidence that voters can trust him.
“My values don’t change and I think his have,” Rodriguez said of Bush in August.
Bush responded at the time: “This election is about trust, integrity, it’s about accountability and transparency — I’ve always been that way. That hasn’t been the same for Jose.”
The race is playing out as the city faces a budget crisis. City Manager Doug Schulze has warned that the roughly $13 million general fund deficit could grow to $30 million by 2029, with insolvency possible by 2030 without intervention.