Incumbent Christian Garcia and newcomer Judy Fitzgerald had early leads in preliminary returns for two seats on the Escondido City Council on Tuesday.

A structural deficit in the citys operating budget was the most-cited priority among candidates, and voters seemed to see solving it with a new 1-cent sales tax. Measure I, which was heavily promoted by the council and favored by most candidates, was trending toward approval in the early going with the initiative solidly above the simple majority threshold for passage. If it passes, the extra revenue the initiative generates will support spending on homelessness, street repair and public facilities maintenance.

In Escondidos District 3, which includes properties east of Interstate 15 and generally south of downtown, Garcia held a commanding lead over challenger Christine Spencer, director of grants and impact at Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas, and Veronica Cigarroa, a mental health care professional with TURN Behavioral Health.

A high school teacher and former Palomar College trustee, Garcia was appointed to serve the remainder of Councilmember Joe Garcias term after redistricting shifted the incumbent inside the boundaries of a redrawn District 2.

Escondidos District 4, which includes most of the city west of I-15 is wide open with the retirement of incumbent Councilmember Michael Morasco. Fitzgerald, a former city planning commissioner and former Carlsbad and Oceanside police officer, is leading Roderick Rod Howell, a 45-year contracting officer with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Overall, candidates listed similar priorities in their campaign messaging, with combating homelessness and budget balancing most commonly cited.