La Mesa Politics

Dean Takes Another Run At Council

LA MESA -- Patrick Dean, the La Mesa resident who lost in his first bid for City Council two years ago, has spent the last two  years attending virtually every council meeting, meeting with local residents and learning more about his adopted home city.
On Tuesday, he pulled papers to begin his second run for a council seat, and is clearly better known than when he first arrived on the political scene before his last run. The father of two has worked in the restaurant industry and is active in environmental issues.

"I look forward to an exciting race which will allow the candidates to address the issues that face La Mesa today," Dean said in an e-mail to LaMesaToday.com.

Dean joins Village merchant Shannon O'Dunn, current Council member Ruth Sterling and Planning Commission member Kristine Alessio in a field that is increasingly wide and deep in candidates with long roots in public service. La Mesa Realtor Laura Lothian, an unsuccessful mayoral candidate two years ago, is expected to run as well.

At least one new council member will emerge from this November's election as current Council member Dave Allan is not seeking re-election. The candidates need to gather endorsing signatures from current La Mesa voters in order to be qualified for the ballot.