Cohen, Nakawatase appear headed for run-off in County Treasurer/Tax Collector race

by Karen Pearlman | June 3, 2026 4:57 am

By Miriam Raftery

June 2, 2026 (San Diego) —  If San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson had won a bid for County Treasurer/Tax Collector, it would have created a vacancy on the County Board of Supervisors. But Anderson is currently in third place with 16.01 percent of the vote, trailing well behind Democrat Larry Cohen, who has 45.79 percent, and Shirley Nakawatase with 34.72 percent. Victor Roy has just 3.11 percent, with 22.8 percent of votes counted.

Both Nakawatase and Anderson are Republicans. Despite Anderson’s finance degree and decades of public service as a state legislator, Padre Dam Municipal Water Board District member and Supervisor, the county Republican Party endorsed Nakawatase, a certified public accountant with no governing experience but decades of tax preparation.

Cohen was appointed by Supervisors last November as interim treasurer/tax collector and has emphasized both public sector and private industry financial experience. A San Diego native and UC San Diego graduate with an MBA from Strayer University, Cohen previously served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Juan Vargas and worked in leadership roles for major pharmaceutical and life sciences companies.

Nakawatase’s campaign platform emphasizes efficient and transparent tax collection, prudent investment management and community financial education. Nakawatase says she would modernize taxpayer services with improved online tools and outreach while focusing investments on stability and reliable returns to support public services including youth programs, disability services and infrastructure.

She has also highlighted decades of volunteer leadership, including service as chair of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Regional Center, past president and treasurer of the Imperial Beach Boys & Girls Club, and treasurer for the San Diego County Capital Asset Leasing Corporation.

Cohen previously worked in leadership roles for major pharmaceutical and life sciences companies. Cohen’s campaign has stressed updating aging county systems, improving efficiency and protecting taxpayers through stronger operational management. He has also highlighted his experience crafting financial policy while serving as a senior policy advisor for the U.S. House Financial Services.

View our prior story on the treasurer/tax collector candidates and their positions:  https://eastcountymagazine.org/san-diego-county-treasurer-tax-collector-race-features-four-candidates-seeking-to-watchdog-public-money/[1]

Though Anderson’s seat appears unlikely to be vacated until his Supervisorial position is termed out two years from now, two other Supervisorial seats will be on the November ballot.

A hotly contested race is in District 5 to fill the open seat being vacated as Supervisor Jim Desmond, a Republican, runs for Congress. Currently, San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones, a Republican, has a hefty lead with 41.18 percent of the vote. But the second spot for the runoff is too close to call, with Democratic Party Chairman Kyle Krahel, who has served as district chief of staff for Congressman Mike Levin and planning commissioner in Oceanside at 20.33 percent and Vista Mayor John Franklin, a Republican, at 19.43 percent.

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/cohen-nakawatase-appear-headed-for-run-off-in-county-treasurer-tax-collector-race/