Philip Ortiz – El Cajon Councilmember: Recall and Immigration Vote

Phil Ortiz is a Republican member of the El Cajon, California, City Council representing District 4, first appointed in May 2019 and elected in his own right in 2020 and 2024. His tenure has centered on public safety, homelessness, and city finances, and he became the focus of a 2025 recall campaign after voting for a resolution directing local police to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in cases involving serious crimes.

How He Got on the Council

Ortiz joined the council on May 28, 2019, after a unanimous vote by his future colleagues to fill the seat left vacant by Ben Kalasho’s resignation.¹ He was 34 and already serving on the city’s Planning Commission.

In November 2020 he won a full term in District 4 with about 46% of the vote, taking 3,081 ballots against two active challengers.² The San Diego County Republican Party endorsed him.³ He ran unopposed for re-election in 2024 and received 3,220 votes.⁴

The 2025 Immigration Resolution

On February 11, 2025, the council voted 3-2 to pass a resolution declaring that El Cajon is not a sanctuary city and authorizing local police to cooperate with federal immigration authorities regarding undocumented immigrants accused or convicted of serious crimes.⁵ Ortiz voted yes with Mayor Bill Wells and Councilmember Steve Goble. Councilmember Gary Kendrick voted no.⁶

A Goble amendment attached to the resolution asked the U.S. Attorney General to indemnify local officers who cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, shielding them from potential state legal consequences under California’s SB 54.⁵ The federal government did not agree to that request.⁴

Ortiz explained his vote by saying, “I want violent criminals removed and I have big problems with SB 54.” He argued that existing state law excluded a range of offenses, including shoplifting, theft, fraud, and arson, from being grounds for transfer to federal immigration authorities.⁴ The vote drew multiple protests, and in January 2026 residents again appeared before the council asking that the resolution be rescinded.⁶

The Failed Recall

In April 2025, the Recall Phil Ortiz Committee, led by Mairene Branham, filed a petition accusing Ortiz of a “pattern of discrimination and endangering immigrants.” Latinos en Accion was closely involved, with Violet Lombera speaking for both groups at council meetings.⁷ Supporters called Ortiz a “traitor” to the Latino community and said he was pushing an “anti-immigrant agenda.”

To qualify for the ballot, organizers needed signatures from 20% of the 11,320 registered voters in District 4, roughly 2,500 signatures, by October 3, 2025. An initial batch of 90 signatures establishing intent to circulate was validated in May 2025, but the committee did not submit the required number by the deadline. City Clerk Angela Cortez confirmed that organizers told her on October 3 they would not move forward. Some organizers said potential signers feared retaliation, which they said hampered the effort.⁴

Ortiz said he was “proud of my record helping our immigrant community” and described the organizers as a “small group that hold extremist views,” adding that his constituents had rejected the recall.⁴

Other Priorities on the Council

Ortiz has consistently identified public safety and homelessness as his top priorities. In August 2024, he joined a unanimous council vote supporting Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, and said he had personally gathered signatures to help place the measure on the November 2024 ballot. At town halls in 2023, he linked the passage of Propositions 47 and 57 to growth in the state’s homeless population and has publicly advocated reforming Proposition 47.⁸

On fiscal management, he has pointed to refinancing the city’s pension payments, which he said lowered rates from 7% to 3.5%. On homelessness, he has favored partnering with existing nonprofits rather than creating a new city department. During the 2020 campaign he supported increased police training, hiring bilingual officers, and lane reductions, which he called “road diets,” to curb street racing in District 4.⁹ During the pandemic, he highlighted the city’s allocation of about $3 million in aid, including roughly $1 million for rental, utility, and food assistance and $2.4 million in business grants.¹⁰

Background Outside City Hall

Ortiz is an East County San Diego native. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from San Diego State University and a master’s in organizational management with an emphasis in public administration from Ashford University. Since 2015 he has co-owned New Earth Energy Specialists, which performs diagnostic and energy-efficiency testing on homes for California compliance.¹¹ He also sits on the board of the East County Chamber of Commerce and is a home pastor at Foothills Christian Church in El Cajon, where his ministry work includes youth programs and homeless outreach. He lives in El Cajon with his wife, Rachel, and their two children.¹²

1
San Diego Union-Tribune. El Cajon Names New City Councilman
2
East County Magazine. Ortiz Winning Election Handily
3
San Diego News Desk. Phil Ortiz Campaign
4
East County Magazine. Recall Ortiz Effort in El Cajon Fails to Qualify for Ballot
5
NBC San Diego. El Cajon Passes Immigration Enforcement Resolution
6
KPBS. El Cajon Residents Call on City Council to Walk Back Immigration Resolution
7
San Diego Union-Tribune. Recall Attempt Launched Against El Cajon Councilmember Ortiz
8
East County Californian. El Cajon Council Supports Push for Greater Punishments
9
East County Magazine. Highlights of El Cajon District 4 City Council Candidates Forum
10
San Diego Union-Tribune. Three Candidates Competing for District 4 City Council Seat in El Cajon
11
San Diego Union-Tribune. Meet Phil Ortiz, El Cajon’s Newest Councilman
12
electphilortiz.com. Meet Phil