Politics & Government

Lemon Grove Council Changes Take Effect Tuesday

The council's newest member, Racquel Vasquez, will be sworn into office at Tuesday night's meeting.

The Lemon Grove City Council will soon have a new face on the panel, as newly-elected member Racquel Vasquez gets sworn into office this week.

A large showing is expected at Tuesday's 6 p.m. meeting, as she takes her new place on the council, replacing the outgoing Councilwoman Mary England, who did not seek re-election due to her run for the State Assembly.

What's more, Mayor Mary Teresa Sessom and Councilman George Gastil will continue on in their respective roles with the government agency after having been re-elected on Nov. 6.  

Find out what's happening in Lemon Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Councilman Howard Cook will become the next Mayor Pro Tem for the city, according to the council agenda.  He will serve the next year-long term for the office, replacing George Gastil.  A council resolution shows that the Mayor Pro Tem schedule will be carried out as follows, if approved:

  • Dec. 2012 – Dec. 2013  Howard Cook  
  • Dec. 2013 – Dec. 2014   Jerry Jones 
  • Dec. 2014 – Dec. 2015   Racquel Vasquez

As of Monday afternoon-- the San Diego Registrar of Voters had still not certified the election results, according to Lemon Grove City Clerk Susan Garcia.  However, she tells Patch that she's "anticipating" those results will be made official just in time for the Dec. 4 meeting.

Find out what's happening in Lemon Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The Registrar of Voters legally needs to have it done tomorrow,” she said Monday.

However, if in a worst-case scenario those results don't get certified in time, Garcia says the council will still hold a ceremony for the changes, but Vasquez won't vote on the agenda items.

Each of those elected in this 2012 election will serve four-year terms.

As the council votes to declare the election results for the city, they'll also acknowledge two propositions related to the regulation of medical marijuana dispensaries within the city, propositions Q and T.  Both of those failed to get voter approval.

Councilwoman England lost her race for the newly redistricted 79th State Assembly District to Dr. Shirley Weber.


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