Mayor — City of Lemon Grove
Get the facts on the California candidates running for election to the Mayor — City of Lemon Grove
Find out their top 3 priorities, their experience, and who supports them.
News and links
News
Videos
East County Magazine's candidate forum includes all four candidates for Lemon Grove Mayor in 2020: Mayor Racquel Vasquez, Councilman Jerry Jones, Kamaal Martin and Chris Williams.
Candidates
Racquel Vasquez
- Budget Transparency - Focus on diversifying city funding...
- Public Safety - Seeking more grants to support and...
- Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvements - The...
Jerry Jones
- Balanced Budget. Noting changes or improves without...
- Clean and Safe Lemon Grove. Before anything improves...
- Homelessness is having a serious impact on our residents...
Encourage this candidate to share their information on Voter's Edge.
Christopher Williams
- Eliminating the Budget Deficit. Fiscal responsibility...
- Cut the Red Tape for Starting and Maintaining a Business...
- Walkable Neighborhoods. I will prioritize sidewalks,...
My Top 3 Priorities
- Budget Transparency - Focus on diversifying city funding sources. The current General Fund budget is $14.7 million. Nearly 80% of the General Fund budget pays for Sheriff and Fire public safety services.
- Public Safety - Seeking more grants to support and enhance public safety services.
- Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvements - The city will will continue to focus on maintenance of city owned assets and roads improvements.
Experience
Experience
Education
Biography
Who supports this candidate?
Featured Endorsements
- Lemon Grove Firefighters Local 2728
- Congresswoman Susan Davis
- Assemblymember Shirley Weber
Organizations (8)
- Sierra Club San Diego
- Deputy Sheriffs' Association
- Lemon Grove Sheriff's
- San Diego Municipal Employees Association
- San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council
- San Diego Democrats for Equality
- San Diego Democratic Party
- San Diego Progressive Democratic Club
Elected Officials (28)
- Lemon Grove Councilmember David Arambula
- Lemon Grove Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Mendoza
- La Mesa Councilmember Colin Parent
- La Mesa Councilmember Akilah Weber
- Imperial Beach Councilmember Mark West
- Escondido Council Member Olga Diaz
- National City Council Member Dr. Gonzalo Quintero
- San Marcos Council Member Walton Randy
- San Diego Council Member Chris Ward
- Solana Beach Councilmember David Zito
- Carlsbad Council Member Cori Schumacher
- Carlsbad Council Member Priya Bhat-Patel
- Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher
- Assemblymember Tasha Boemer Horvath
- Board of Supervisors Nathan Fletcher
- Assemblymember Todd Gloria
- California State Treasurer Fiona Ma
- Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas
- Del Mar Mayor Ellie Haviland
- Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear
- Escondido Mayor Paul McNamara
- National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis
- Solana Beach Mayor Jewel Edson
- Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina
- Encinitas Deputy Mayor Kellie Hinze
- Escondido Deputy Mayor Consuelo Martinez
- Imperial Beach Mayor Pro Tem Paloma Aguirre
- National City Vice Mayor Mona Rios
Individuals (3)
- Lemon Grove Planning Commissioner Bob Bailey
- Lemon Grove School District Board Member Timothy Shaw
- Port of San Diego Commissioner Rafael Castellanos
Questions & Answers
Questions from League of Women Voters San Diego (3)
During her first term, Mayor Racquel Vasquez focused on balancing Lemon Grove's budget after inheriting 20 years of deficit spending. She prioritized budget transparency, infrastructure, and quality of life improvements while protecting vital services that are important to the community. Let's join together to continue this important work!
Budget Transparency: With my steady leadership and guidance, the City of Lemon Grove will continue to focus on diversifying our funding sources. The city entered into a new public/private partnership with OUTFRONT media to generate over $325,000 yearly for the next 20 years. We received and will continue to apply for more grants to fund the completion of park projects, law enforcement and services offered through the new Homeless Outreach Program.
Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvements: We will continue focus on grant opportunities to fund maintenance and improvement of city owned assets. With my leadership and guidance, the City paved 54 lane miles of roads in four years. The city also removed more encampments, graffiti and illegal dumping sites. Finally, the city added more park gazebos for residents to rent for special events.
Public Safety: With my leadership and guidance, the city will continue to seek more grants to boost public safety services.
Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
During her first term, Mayor Racquel Vasquez focused on balancing Lemon Grove's budget after inheriting 20 years of deficit spending. She prioritized budget transparency, infrastructure, and quality of life improvements while protecting vital services that are important to the community.
Let's join together to continue this important work!
Candidate Contact Info
My Top 3 Priorities
- Balanced Budget. Noting changes or improves without a balanced budget. If the voters pass cannabis tax, Measure J, and with the proposed digital billboard revenue we can get to a balanced budget.
- Clean and Safe Lemon Grove. Before anything improves or we can attract new businesses we have to improve the look and feel of the city. Citizens have to feel safe in their homes and on the street and business districts must look safe and inviting. Th
- Homelessness is having a serious impact on our residents and businesses. We must develop a plan that gets campers off the street and into shelters or permanent housing. There is no magic solution but as mayor this will have my personal attention.
Experience
Experience
Education
Biography
Jerry is a 43 year resident of Lemon Grove. He and his wife Cheryl raised their three boys in Lemon Grove and educated them in our local schools. Jerry and Cheryl ran their family auto repair business here in Lemon Grove for 25 years.
His community service has included PTA president at Lemon Grove Middle, Lemon Grove Music Parents President at Lemon Grove middle, PTA Council Parliamentarian, Chamber of Commerce Board, Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Chair, Kiwanis President, Community Bonfire committee, Old Time Days Committee.
Jerry served on the Lemon Grove School Board for 6 years before being elected to the city Council in 2002. His regional assignments on the Council have included Metro Wastewater Commission, SANDAG Board of Directors, SANDAG Executive Committee, SANDAG Planning Committee , SANDAG Transportation Committee, SANDAG Public Safety Committee, SANDAG Boarders Committee, MTS Board of Directors (alternate), Heartland Communications Board (alternate), Arjis Board of Directors, East County Economic Development Board of Directors, and East County Chamber Liaison. Jerry has served in several regional leadership roles including SANDAG Planning Committee Chair and is currently the Chair of Metro Wastewater Commission and JPA.
Who supports this candidate?
Organizations (2)
- Lincoln Club of San Diego County
- Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors
Elected Officials (6)
- State Senator Brian Jones
- County Supervisor Dianne Jacob
- County Supervisor Jim Desmond
- Santee Mayor John Minto
- El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells
- Poway Mayor Steve Vaus
Individuals (12)
- Former Lemon Grove Council Member Matt Mendoza
- Linda Schultz
- John DuFon
- Ann DuFon
- Austin Heilman
- Gary Elbert
- Carol MacMillan
- Former Lemon Grove Council Member Howard Cook
- Former Lemon Grove Council Member Tom Clabby
- Former Lemon Grove Council Member Jerry Selby
- Jack Ofield
Questions & Answers
Questions from League of Women Voters San Diego (3)
Besides serving on the City Council since 2002, I have served as Chair of the Metro Wastewater JPA for the past four years. In that role I lead 12 agencies that include the County, eight Cites and two Sewer Districts. I have bult an effective staff and governance team to protect the interests of the ratepayers we represent. We have worked closely with the City of San Diego on their water purification project called Pure Water. While protecting the environment, we have saved our rate payers millions of dollars.
Water security, housing and transportation. I will continue to work with regional leaders to address the issues as I have for the past 18 years.
Homlessness is a regional problem and there must be regional solutions. There is no magic answer but as mayor, this will have my personal attention. I will work closly with the county supervisors and regional mayors to find revenue and solutions that work.
Videos (2)
My thoughts on policing in Lemon Grove.
My thoughts on the condition of our streets.
Candidate Contact Info
Candidate Contact Info
My Top 3 Priorities
- Eliminating the Budget Deficit. Fiscal responsibility is vital to creating a better, stronger, more efficient Lemon Grove. As mayor, I will set accountability & transparency standards for all elected and appointed officials representing Lemon Grove.
- Cut the Red Tape for Starting and Maintaining a Business in Lemon Grove. Immediately concentrate on streamlining the permit and internal process for new and existing businesses in city hall. Cut unnecessary and expensive fees and red tape.
- Walkable Neighborhoods. I will prioritize sidewalks, bike lanes, and EV charging systems. Sidewalks and such are a public safety issue and promote greater activity for better health and wellness among our residents.
Experience
Biography
I am the founder of Pick Axe Holdings LLC. Pick Axe Holdings specializes in select experiential properties in the real estate industry. A self-administered holdings company focused on the acquisition, development, management, leasing, and expansion of income-producing real estate assets. I am also the co-owner of Lee’s Automotive, an auto and R.V. repair business that has been in Lemon Grove since 1960. Before becoming a business owner, I worked for various venture capital funds, where I was responsible for managing and allocating accredited investors (millionaires and billionaires) investment capital. My corporate experience involves management responsibilities at fortune 500 companies, including Pacific Bell, Household Automotive, and HSBC. Among many successful endeavors related to venture capital from Oil and Gas to Transportation & Logistics, I am now a well-recognized face for diversity, inclusion, and social equity in Southern California. NBC has covered my journey and ABC, The Union-Tribune, San Diego Reader, CityBeat, and High Times magazine. I am the first cannabis applicant in Lemon Grove’s history to win a cannabis zoning clearance on appeal. I am also the co-founder of Importunity Communications, which publishes highly successful print and digital newspapers the Candid Chronicle and the San Diego Monitor. I have been with the love of my life for 17 years, and we have two beautiful daughters, 17 and 11 years old. I enjoy a good book, a fun time, and a round of golf for exercise.
I have extensive business experience. Owning, operating, and succeeding at a high level managing businesses, people, resources, and money. I know how Lemon Grove city hall works and doesn’t work. I have applied for numerous development permits in Lemon Grove for breweries to dispensaries. I understand what the the 673 line items in the master fee schedule means to our small businesses. Lemon Grove is not in a financial position to allow someone to gain this experience on the job. I am a natural-born leader. I am not afraid to think outside the box to get things done. I do not wait for permission or approval to do the right thing. I am a free and independent thinker, ready to serve the people of Lemon Grove and not special interests or political institutions. I have a deep understanding of our city hall’s issues and challenges from a business owner's perspective. I have personally experienced the injustice in our city hall with no accountability. Post-COVID and in these times of social unrest, we need a leader who understands what the taxpayers go through, someone who values that you don’t get paid if you don’t do your job. Because in the real world, that is how it works. Career politicians don’t experience this anxiety but onl;y every four years around election time.
When I look at Lemon Grove, I see an opportunity, and I have hope that we will not accept L.G. for what it is but what it could be. My vision, refusal to be satisfied, coupled with unparalleled experience identifying and growing opportunities, will get our city back to a place we are all proud to call home.
Volunteering and giving back is one of the most important things one can do. It’s not only about the impacts I can make in the lives of those less fortunate but the role it can play in making me more tolerant and understanding to others. Although I expect nothing in return for volunteering, I have found that giving back brings a world of rewards many never expect. I am currently or have been a part of numerous philanthropic organizations as a founder, board member, coach, host, or volunteer/ed. These organizations champion and host a series of programs and events that assist in youth development, day camps, food and housing, sports scholarships, social equity, community improvement, entrepreneur, college advocacy, and senior outreach, among other vital resources for those in need. I am the co-founder of the Lemon Grove Improvement Council (also known as Improving Lemon Grove) and Lemon Grove Business Improvement Group ( aka L.G.B.I.G). The Lemon Grove Improvement Council has been responsible for free community events including Bulk Item Clean-ups, Women's Self-Defense Lessons, Costumes & Candy Festival, and an Expungement Empowerment Night. .
Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
My political philosophy is simple, to put the people over politics and results over promises. I like to avoid the labels in local politics to get things done to improve the quality of ALL resident's lives.