La Mesa Democratic Councilmember Patricia Dillard holds an early lead in the race to become the city’s next mayor.
Dillard leads by 4.2 points among the first 12,466 votes counted over Republican Councilmember Laura Lothian.
At her watch party Tuesday, Dillard told supporters she was “cautiously optimistic“ about the results.
“There’s a lot of really nice people here in La Mesa, and they just want the best for La Mesa, and they want a mayor who is a leader,” she said. “They want someone who is strategic and calm, and is knowledgeable about how to move a city forward.”
Thousands of votes remain uncounted in the race to replace Mayor Mark Arapostathis, who is termed out after 12 years in office. More than 38,000 La Mesans cast ballots in the last mayoral race.
La Mesa’s 60,000 residents have had only had two mayors since 1990. Dillard highlighted her opportunity to shape the future of the city.
“I have to not just do good things now, but also push the city forward to make sure that our legacy for La Mesa is to make sure that our children and our children’s children still can live here if they want to and be a part of such an amazing community,” Dillard said.
Dillard had support from major labor unions as well as the police and fire unions in La Mesa.
Lothian now needs to overcome Dillard’s 4.2-point lead in late-arriving ballots — which typically favor Democrats — in a city in which Democrats hold a 24 point registration advantage.
“I know that my campaign had the enthusiasm,” Lothian said in an interview at a Republican Party gathering at the US Grant Hotel on election night. “I had so much crossover appeal.”
Lothian said she remains optimstic, even in the face of a blue wave that propelled Democrats to victories across the country, even in deep red states. Lothian tried to localize her race and distance herself from President Donald Trump by building a strong social media following based on day-to-day city issues.
“Trump has nothing to do with city council, nothing to do with mayor,” Lothian said.
Lothian outraised Dillard thanks to a groundswell of individual donors. In her last election, Lothian eked out a win by 11 votes.
She said she’s concerned Republican Jim Stieringer, an outsider candidate who trails significantly in the four-person race, could split the conservative vote.
“I won the last election by 11 votes. If I lose by what he gained, I’m gonna hate that guy,” Lothian said.
Regardless of who wins, La Mesa will have its first all-woman city council.
“I’m excited, as excited as a person can be,” said Councilmember Genevieve Suzuki at a Democratic party at the House of Blues. I am ecstatic that we are going for the first time have an all-woman council… It’s about time.”
Amanda-Dawn Natalia and Moana Alo will fill the seats vacated by Lothian and Dillard. The pair ran uncontested.
They will join council members Lauren Cazares and Suzuki.
Alo also marks a first for her Chamorra heritage.
“I didn’t want to be the first, but I am the first native Hawaiian Chamorra in all of San Diego County,” said Alo.
Thaïs Giraudet contributed to this report.
