Unincorporated San Diego County Residents Seek Voting Seat on SANDAG Board

Community planning groups call for separate representation from County on regional transportation agency

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Many residents of unincorporated areas of San Diego County, including large communities like Alpine, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Ramona, and Valley Center, do not have direct representation on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) board. Currently, the County of San Diego holds the voting seat, but the Association of Planning Groups (APG) argues this does not adequately represent the unique needs and interests of the unincorporated areas. The APG is pushing to convert its current advisory role at SANDAG into a full voting seat to ensure the over 500,000 residents of unincorporated San Diego have a direct voice in regional transportation planning and funding decisions.

Why it matters

Residents of unincorporated San Diego County lack direct political representation at SANDAG, the regional transportation planning agency that controls billions in federal, state, and local tax dollars for infrastructure projects. This has led to concerns that the transportation needs and priorities of unincorporated areas are not being adequately addressed compared to the 18 incorporated cities that each have voting seats on the SANDAG board.

The details

The Association of Planning Groups (APG) was formed by community planning groups across unincorporated San Diego County to advocate for a voting seat on the SANDAG board. Currently, the APG's seat is only advisory, meaning it cannot directly influence SANDAG's decisions on transportation funding and projects. The APG argues that with over 500,000 residents, the unincorporated areas of the county should be considered a 'de facto entity' deserving of its own voting representation, similar to the 18 incorporated cities that each have a voting seat.

  • The APG was formed specifically to gain a voting seat on the SANDAG Board of Directors.
  • The APG's current seat on the SANDAG board is 'advisory' only, without voting power.

The players

Association of Planning Groups - San Diego County (APG)

A collaborative effort between community planning groups in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County, formed to advocate for a voting seat on the SANDAG board of directors.

San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)

The regional transportation planning agency for San Diego County that controls billions in federal, state, and local funding for infrastructure projects.

County of San Diego

Currently holds the voting seat on the SANDAG board representing the unincorporated areas of the county, which the APG argues does not adequately represent their unique needs and interests.

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What they’re saying

“APG representation has substantially elevated your needs. But for effective representation of your tax dollars at SANDAG we need to convert this advisory seat into a voting seat.”

— Robin Joy Maxson, Chair of the Association of Planning Groups of San Diego County and board member of the SANDAG board of directors (valleycenter.com)

What’s next

The APG is continuing to advocate for its seat on the SANDAG board to be converted from advisory to a full voting position, in order to ensure the over 500,000 residents of unincorporated San Diego County have direct representation in regional transportation planning and funding decisions.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the challenges faced by residents of unincorporated areas in having their unique needs and priorities represented at the regional level, underscoring the importance of political structures that provide direct and proportional representation for all communities, regardless of incorporation status.