The San Diego City Council on Tuesday unanimously elected Joe LaCava as its next president, capping a day in which the District 1 councilman was sworn in for his second term.
LaCava, who was Council President pro Tempore preceding Tuesday’s 9-0 vote, will replace Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera as the head of San Diego’s legislative body. The council president is tasked with placing items on the council’s agenda, appointing members to committees and leading meetings.
Unlike last December, when Elo-Rivera won a contentious 5-4 vote for his third consecutive term as president, good feelings were in abundance Tuesday.
Councilman Kent Lee, who had received some public support for the council’s top job, was happy to nominate LaCava, describing him as “thoughtful and analytical” and well prepared to handle a looming financial challenge. Councilman Henry Foster III seconded the motion for LaCava.
The city faces a $258 million deficit in the coming fiscal year, in part because voters rejected a one-cent sales tax measure in November’s election.
“We have a lot of work to do, we all understand that’s the nature of what we do,” LaCava said after taking the gavel. I’m here to amplify your voice.”
As his first official act, LaCava asked a disruptive man to leave the council chambers, following several warnings by Elo- Rivera earlier in the meeting. The man was escorted out by police after refusing to leave the premises voluntarily.
Late last year, several council members spoke against Elo-Rivera as he headed to his third year as president – describing him as “unreliable” and not inclusive. The sore spots seemed to have healed, with nearly every council member thanking Elo-Rivera for his tenure.
“The constituents of District 7 were well served with you as council president,” Councilman Raul Campillo said.
Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert acknowledged how well the group had been able to work together over the past year, saying it was “great to be unified as a council.”
Councilwoman Vivian Moreno thanked Elo-Rivera for his willingness to look for infrastructure funding for her district – the 8th, which includes underserved areas such as San Ysidro, Barrio Logan and Sherman Heights – and praised LaCava for considering the needs of communities south of Interstate 8.
LaCava’s district includes La Jolla, University City, Torrey Pines, Carmel Valley and Pacific Highlands Ranch.
The San Diego City Council, like all local government bodies in California, is officially nonpartisan, but all nine members ran as Democrats.
