A new era in La Mesa began with the swearing in of two City Council members Tuesday, creating a four-member female majority for the first time in the city’s 112-year history.
“ I think that La Mesa for a long time has just been seen as an older, white suburb,” said Lauren Cazares, one of the two new council members. “And I don’t think we have been that for a really long time. I think we have a real diverse community with diverse experiences and diverse opinions, and I think that makes our city stronger.
“And so I’m really honored to be a part of a council that reflects that diversity,” she said.
Cazares and Genevieve Suzuki won seats on the La Mesa City Council in November and were sworn in Tuesday. They join council members Laura Lothian and Patricia Dillard, with Mayor Mark Arapostathis the only male member on the council.
“I think definitely the city is going in the right direction, because I feel that all of the people on the council, as well as our mayor, have diverse backgrounds,” Suzuki said. “And I think that’s going to help inform our votes and the way we work together and for the community.”
Solana Beach is the only other city in the county with four female council members when including the mayor. With the latest election, Lemon Grove will have a female mayor, two female council members and one male council member, with one vacant seat to be filled by appointment or special election.
At 26, Cazares is the youngest woman elected to the La Mesa City Council, while Suzuki is a mother with two young children, ages 9 and 15.
“I think having Gen on the council and having school-age children that she’s raising here in this community brings a perspective that we haven’t seen in a number of years,” Cazares said.
While the two women said it’s significant to have a female majority on the council, they also said they will represent all of the city’s residents.
“I want to say, ‘It’s about time,’ but then the other thing is, we also have to remember that men are also our community, and we have to do a good job of reaching out to them and reaching out to everybody,” said Suzuki, adding that she talks with her husband often to get his point of view.
While the council has its first female majority, including women of color, the 22 black-and-white photos on a wall in the council chamber show all the city’s mayors have been white men.
After being sworn in, Suzuki thanked her supporters and reflected on an election campaign she said was cordial.
“They were very positive,” she said about other candidates in the race. “It was great, because none of us put each other down. It was just, ‘Here’s what we have to offer.’ If you don’t vote for me, it doesn’t matter because I’m still going to represent you.”
Suzuki also said she will miss going door to door and meeting people in the community.
“I’m a transplant from Hawaii and I feel like I’ve never felt so much aloha as when I was canvassing my neighborhoods,” she said.
Cazares also acknowledged the positive campaign among candidates.
“We all ran because we love this city and because we want you to take care of this city,” she said. “I know that’s true of all the council members that are up here, too.”
As a native La Mesa resident, Cazares said being elected to the council was the biggest honor of her life.
“I’m 26 years old, and to everyone who is under the age of 40 and they’re feeling they’re waiting their turn, whatever it is, whether it’s politics or something else, I just want to say that we’re not just the future, we are the now because of the policies and the legislation that is done at the local, state and federal level is going to impact us,” she said.
Also on Tuesday, the mayor and council members recognized departing Councilmembers Jack Shu and Colin Parent. Shu had served for four years and did not seek re-election and Parent had served eight years and ran for state Assembly, but was defeated.
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