Mayor — City of Lemon Grove

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! 

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.  

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.   .

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.