Henry Foster III
Candidate for City Council Member, San Diego, District 4
Henry L. Foster III represents San Diego's District 4 on the City Council, having won a March 2024 special election and taken office that April. He grew up in Valencia Park, is a graduate of Lincoln High School and Hampton University, and is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Foster spent more than 25 years in the construction industry before moving into public service. He served as chief of staff to then-Councilmember (later County Supervisor) Monica Montgomery Steppe, working on policy for Southeastern San Diego, and worked for the City of San Diego as Equal Opportunity Contracting Program Manager and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Liaison Officer, helping direct more than $5 billion in city contracts and expand contracting access through equity programs. Since taking office he says he has secured more than $100 million in funding for parks, street repairs, and youth programs, with a focus on small-business investment and gang-violence prevention.
Positions in brief
Foster emphasizes his record in office, citing investment in small business and economic development, storm drain and street infrastructure, and gang-violence-prevention programs, alongside votes against increased trash, water, and transit fees.
On the economy, Foster points to $3.3 million delivered for Small Business Enhancement programs and relocating the San Diego County Black Chamber of Commerce into the district. On infrastructure, he cites more than $190 million secured for storm drain projects and $39 million for street repair. On public safety, he highlights more than $800,000 directed to violence-interruption programs aimed at reducing gang-related crime. He also touts votes to raise the minimum wage for traffic control workers and to set a $25-an-hour minimum wage for hotel and event-center workers, and says he voted against increases to trash collection fees, water rates, and MTS transit fares.
On the issues
Supports increased investment in small-business programs and relocated the Black Chamber of Commerce into the district.
“Delivered $3.3 million for Small Business Enhancement programs”
Source →Prioritizes street repair and storm drain infrastructure investment.
“Secured over $190 million for storm drain infrastructure and over $39 million for street repair”
Source →Supports funding violence-interruption programs to reduce gang-related crime.
“Secured over $800k for violence interruption programs reducing gang-related crimes citywide”
Source →Supports higher minimum wages for certain service workers.
“Voted YES to increase minimum wage for traffic control workers and $25/hr minimum wage for hotel, event-center workers”
Source →Opposes new fees that raise costs for residents.
Source →Opposes increases to residential water rates.
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.