Press Release: Taxpayers Association Appoints Mark Kersey as President and CEO
FORMER COUNCILMEMBER MARK KERSEY NAMED NEW PRESIDENT & CEO AT TAXPAYERS ~ “A Perfect Fit”
February 17, 2026 – Former San Diego City Councilmember Mark Kersey has been appointed the new President and CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. His tenure begins immediately.
Chairman of the Board of Directors Mike McLaughlin said the directors voted unanimously to hire Kersey as President and CEO. “We’ve spent the last 12 months talking to many people about and preparing for the 2026 election cycle. We found just the right person at just the right time. Mark was Heaven-sent. He’s the perfect fit for us,” said McLaughlin. “His experience, knowledge, communication skills, and ability to maneuver the region’s political landscape were immediately and enthusiastically recognized by the Board. He is also a good person,” added McLaughlin.
Kersey is enthusiastic about taking the helm of the 80-year-old organization: “The San Diego County Taxpayers Association is a widely respected organization with a long history, and its independent policy expertise and analysis are needed today more than ever. Thanks to the work of the dedicated Board, Taxpayers is fully prepared to engage in the significant policy debates surrounding the 2026 budget cycles and election season. I’m thrilled and honored to be selected to lead the region’s preeminent taxpayer watchdog organization at such a critical juncture."
In the next 10 months every voter in San Diego County will face choices on approving school bonds, tax measures, and fee increases. The Taxpayers Association plays a critical role in developing and disseminating thoughtful, non-partisan policy analysis to help voters make informed decisions.
“We could not have found anyone better than Mark to head up Taxpayers,” said Patty Ducey-Brooks, the Association’s Communications Director. “We exist because we defend taxpayers and their hard-earned dollars. Democrat/Liberal. Republican/Conservative. Independent. We don’t take partisan sides; the only side we take is for the taxpayers of this County and their families. We really do want to work with everyone, but sometimes you have to challenge the status quo, including individuals and organizations that are not acting on behalf of the taxpayers that they are here to serve. Mark knows this. He’s smart, thoughtful, reasonable, and has the courage to act. We have a mission to protect the taxpayers, and Mark will lead this effort with passion and full support of the Taxpayers’ Board.”
Sarah Schroeder, Taxpayers’ Policy Director said, “Our Board just approved new criteria for evaluating school bond proposals. We are now updating our Tax Evaluation Criteria and streamlining our process for taking positions on city and county tax measures. It’s great to be part of a team that prioritizes topflight policy analysis, with Mark leading us as we tackle this critical work.”
For additional information and to arrange interviews, contact Patty Ducey-Brooks at 619-481-9817.
Taxpayers Successes in 2025
In 2025, the Taxpayers’ Board of Directors and its policy committees completed contracted work on homelessness service providers, conducted a new 2025 School Bond Transparency Report Card, and created a strategic blueprint for the 2026 election season. The organization also adopted, revamped, and streamlined criteria that it will use to analyze proposed 2026 tax and bond measures. Finally, Taxpayers staged the annual Golden Watchdog & Fleece awards in a revamped cocktail hour format, an eagerly anticipated event that will take place again later this year.
About Mark Kersey
Kersey was elected to the San Diego City Council in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016, receiving over 70% of the vote. He was the leading advocate for investing in, and maintaining, the City’s infrastructure during his tenure. Kersey spearheaded the effort to create the Council’s Infrastructure Committee—which he chaired for all eight of his years at City Hall—and led the charge to formulate the City’s first-ever comprehensive multi-year infrastructure investment plan. His work culminated in the voters’ overwhelming passage of Proposition H in 2016, which created the City’s Infrastructure Fund and dedicated funding for infrastructure maintenance throughout the City—without raising taxes. Mark is an alumnus of Northwestern University and the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He has founded and co-founded multiple small businesses in San Diego, most recently Cask & Coast California Bourbon.
About Taxpayers
Founded in 1945, The San Diego County Taxpayers Association® is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting accountable, cost-effective and efficient government and opposing taxes and fees, which are unnecessary, ill-conceived, or poorly planned.