La Mesa, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

La Mesa Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

6 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Mayor · 1 seat

City Council · Unopposed

All La Mesa voters choose one mayor and up to two council candidates; council seats are at-large, not by district. Two candidates are running for the two council seats.

3 notes on these statements

Mayor Mark Arapostathis is termed out after 12 years in office and is not on the ballot. Times of San Diego · Sep 28, 2026

The ballot also includes a City Treasurer contest between Bill Exeter and Emmett Stewart, which this guide does not cover. San Diego County Registrar of Voters

Laura Lothian, Patricia Normandy-Dillard, Jim Stieringer, Quinn Reese, Moana Alo and Amanda-Dawn Natalia took part in a Sept. 29 candidate forum at La Mesa First United Methodist Church. Times of San Diego · Oct 1, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Lauren CazaresVice Mayor and Councilmember5sourcedGenevieve SuzukiCouncilmember5sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesHousing and transit-area development, Homeless outreach (HOME program), Downtown Village parkingKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

Get your La Mesa ballot cheat-sheet

Candidates, positions and dates in one email, sent now.

One email now. We only email again if you ask. No ads, never sold.

Next date

Ballots start going out

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Housing and transit-area development

Where it standsThe council adopted objective design standards for housing in 2025, and a 147-unit affordable housing project is planned at the Spring Street trolley station.

What's on the tableHow the city responds to state housing and transit-oriented development laws, and what it approves near transit.

  • The council adopted an Objective Design Standards ordinance for housing development under the Housing Accountability Act, 5-0 on second reading. La Mesa City Council minutes
  • A 147-unit affordable housing project is planned at the Spring Street trolley station; Normandy-Dillard lobbied the MTS board to support multi-bedroom apartments, and Lothian opposed the project. Times of San Diego · Sep 28, 2026
  • At the Sept. 29 forum, all four mayoral candidates opposed SB 79's state-mandated transit-oriented development. Times of San Diego · Oct 1, 2026

Homeless outreach (HOME program)

Where it standsLa Mesa's HOME program sends social workers rather than police to most homeless calls where no crime is being committed.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, change or end the HOME program and how to fund it.

Downtown Village parking

Where it standsThe council updated downtown parking meter rates and permit rules in October 2025, and in May 2026 asked staff to assess low-cost parking changes.

What's on the tableWhether to add parking, change curbs and permits, or build a parking structure downtown.

City budget and the Civic Center

Where it standsThe council adopted a balanced two-year budget in October 2025, departments have been asked to cut 10%, and Civic Center plans are two decades old.

What's on the tableHow to fund city services and whether to move ahead with Civic Center redevelopment and a library expansion.

E-bike safety rules

Where it standsThe council adopted an e-bike safety pilot ordinance in May 2026 by a 4-1 vote.

What's on the tableHow the pilot program is evaluated and what enforcement and safety measures follow.

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. How should La Mesa approach new housing development?

  2. 2. What should La Mesa do with its HOME homeless outreach program?

  3. 3. What should the city do about downtown Village parking?

  4. 4. Should the city move ahead now with Civic Center redevelopment and a library expansion?

  5. 5. Should La Mesa restrict e-bike riding by young children?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Lauren Cazares, Genevieve Suzuki3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

  • The City Council has five members: the mayor and four council members, elected at-large to four-year terms. City of La Mesa
  • Two council seats are up for election in each even-numbered year, and the mayor is elected at-large to a four-year term. City of La Mesa
  • A person is ineligible to hold office on the City Council after serving three consecutive terms. City of La Mesa
  • The mayor leads council meetings and votes on agenda items as a member of the council. KPBS · Oct 2, 2026

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

Take your ballot with you

Who is on your ballot, where each candidate stands, and the dates that matter, in one email you can carry to the polls. Sent right now.

One email now. We only email again if you ask. No ads, never sold.

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.