SAN DIEGO, California — San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer made a special appearance Tuesday night at the U.S. Grant hotel to introduce San Diego City Council Candidate Chris Cate, who won seat six on the council in the November 4 election. 

Cate addressed a crowd of supporters, thanking all–and specifically addressing and thanking the Filipino community.

This election also restores the Mayor’s veto power, which was recently overruled by the 6-3 Democrat-Republican council on the issue of raising the city’s minimum wage, as Breitbart News reported.

Councilmember Scott Sherman rushed back from a vacation to participate in a short-notice session where the council voted on whether to overturn the veto. The meeting was scheduled for a time when all three Republican members had been slated to be out of town, as the council was to be on recess. 

When asked about the change in the balance of power on the council, Cate representative James Hauser told Breitbart News, “The work done at City Hall is non-partisan, and so are the races for City Council and Mayor. Filing potholes, providing after-school programs, building fire stations and funding the police department are not partisan issues. It’s not about being a Democrat or a Republican. It’s about doing what’s best for San Diego.”

Cate’s candidacy was endorsed early on by the local San Diego County Republican Party, even before California’s June primary election.

In an adoring moment, Cate told fiancé Maria at a U.S. Grant Hotel press conference Tuesday night that they will start planning the wedding “tomorrow,” the day after the election. He also thanked family, including a special thanks to his soon-to-be in-laws for keeping the fridge stocked during his campaign.

Follow Michelle Moons on Twitter @MichelleDiana