Padilla has been featured on the cover of San Diego Metropolitan magazine (July, 2003); named one of the "25 Leading Men in North America" by Instinct magazine (Nov, 2005); and one of "50 People to Watch" by San Diego Magazine (Jan, 2006).
In 2006, Steve Padilla lost his re-election bid to Chula Vista Elementary School Board member Cheryl Cox, the wife of a popular former mayor and current county supervisor with 45.76% to Cox's 54.24% [REF].