La Mesa voters may fill two open council seats in November, Baber mulling a run

Barry JantzBarry Jantz 2 Comments

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With La Mesa Councilmember Ernie Ewin’s announcement this morning that he will not seek reelection this year, at least one open City Council seat will appear on the November ballot.

It is anticipated that Ewin’s council colleague Mark Arapostathis will make an announcement in the next day or so as to his intentions. If he doesn’t announce his plans to run for mayor against incumbent Art Madrid, my intel is sorely lacking.

As both Arapostathis and Ewin would be up for re-election this year, that means La Mesa voters potentially filling two Council seats with new faces in the fall, as well as the showdown for the mayor’s spot.

Not since 1990 has there been a La Mesa election resulting in two new councilmembers, Jay La Suer and yours truly. Actually, that contest also produced a new mayor, with Madrid defeating incumbent Fred Nagel.

At least one person thus far has expressed a possible interest in seeking a Council seat, longtime La Mesa-Spring Valley School Board Member Bill Baber.

“Ernie has been a great friend of La Mesa taxpayers,” said Baber this morning. “His fiscal savvy will be missed on the Council.”

As for Baber running himself? “Ernie and Councilmember Kristine Alessio asked me to run for an open seat. I plan to make a decision soon.”

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Comments 2

  1. Ewin is not running for mayor:

    From March 30…
    After months of anticipation about Councilmembers Ernie Ewin and/or Mark Arapostathis potentially running for Mayor this year in La Mesa, Ewin tells me this morning, “I am not running for mayor of La Mesa … any further comments regarding this and my intentions for re- election will be conveyed to the citizens early Tuesday morning.”

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