Desmond served in the United States Navy as an aircraft electrician from 1974 to 1979 before obtaining his pilots license from San Diego Flight Schools between 1978 and 1983. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from San Diego State University in 1985.[4] After college, he founded Technical Standards, Inc. a technical writing company.[5]
Desmond served on the San Marcos city council from 2004 to 2006 before being elected as the city's mayor in 2006.[7] He was re-elected in 2010 and 2014 without opposition.[8][9]
In 2018, Desmond ran for the fifth district seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Desmond, a Republican, and Michelle Gomez, a Democrat, advanced from the June primary with 45.1% and 22.9% of the vote, respectively.[10] Desmond went on to defeat Gomez in the November general election with 56.3% of the vote.[11][12]
He ran for re-election in 2022, and was challenged by Democratic neuroscientist Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson. Since no other candidates qualified to run, both candidates automatically advanced from the June primary. Desmond defeated Boyd-Hodgson 60.1% to 39.9% in the November general election.[13]
In December 2024, he voted against a resolution restricting law enforcement in San Diego County from using county resources to cooperate with federal authorities, including ICE, with planned mass deportations.[19][20][21]
Personal life
Desmond moved to San Diego when he joined the Navy in 1984.[citation needed] He is married and has two children. As of 2022, Desmond and his wife reside in Oceanside, California.[22][23]
References
^ abMowad, Michelle (January 7, 2019). "County Officials Sworn In". County News Center. San Diego, CA. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
