Incumbent council member Brian Maienschein ran for reelection uncontested and was therefore elected with 100 percent of the vote in the March primary.

District 7 consisted of the communities of Allied Gardens, City Heights, College Area, Del Cerro, El Cerrito, Grantville, MCAS Miramar, Mission Trails Regional Park, Redwood Village – Oak Park, Rolando, San Carlos, Stonebridge Estates, and Tierrasanta.

Council member Michael Zucchet of district 2 was initially tapped to serve as deputy mayor.

[5] Zucchet briefly served as acting mayor of San Diego after the resignation of Dick Murphy.

Atkins took over as acting mayor when Zucchet was forced to resign shortly thereafter due to a corruption conviction.