Scott Barnett

Scott has spent four decades in local and state government, been in elected office (twice) Del Mar City Council at age 21 and San Diego School Board in 2010.

Scott Barnett started in local government and politics with his election to the Del Mar City Council at age 21 in 1984 where he also served as the City’s representative on the North County Transit and San Diego Association of Governments boards.

Since then he has been been involved in hundreds of public policy issues as Executive Director of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association where he instituted the iconic Golden Fleece and Watchdog Awards.

Scott founded Taxpayers Advocate, has run dozens of local political campaigns, and was an elected Trustee (2010-2014) on San Diego Unified School Board where he lead efforts to implement innovative public-private partnerships which resulted in privately built public facilities, freed up budget dollars and generated new funds for student learning.

He served as a policy analyst and press secretary to Republican Assemblyman Joel Anderson and was appointed by Democratic Assembly SpeakerToni Atkins to the prestigious State of California Little Hoover Commission, a bi-partisan board including state legislators which reviews state programs and spending.

He is recognized as a skilled advocate and an expert in media relations and has appeared dozens of times on local, state and national media.

Scott Barnett sworn in to the Del Mar City Council at age 21 in 1984. He also served as the City’s representative on the North County Transit District and San Diego Association of Government boards. During his tenure he was the leading advocate to redevelop the downtown core which included voter approval and construction of the Del Mar Plaza and Del Mar Hotel/Inn L’Auberge projects.

Scott Served as an Elected Board Trustee on the San Diego Unified School Board from 2010-2014. During his tenure he focused on working with district employees and parents to improve efficiency in the non academic departments such as transportation and custodial services. He also lead the effort to leverage excess and underutilized school sites to generate new ongoing lease revenues, and creating joint-use facilities built and maintained by the private and non-profit sector to benefit the public.

Scott was appointed by then Speaker Toni Atkins to the prestigious State Little Hoover Commission a bi-partisan group including state legislators. It’s mandate is to review budgets, legislation and state and other governments and public service providers.