With fall in the air and the holidays around the corner, election season is in full swing.

Four individuals are running for two council seats in La Mesa. Candidate Kathleen Brand dropped out of the race earlier this month.

The candidates are civil rights advocate Mejgan Afshan, businesswoman Patricia Dillard, La Mesa Councilmember Laura Lothian, and Pastor Tony Orlando. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Mensajero de La Mesa recently caught up with the candidates to discuss topics ranging from issues facing residents to bringing added business to La Mesa and more.

LMC: What motivated you to run for this position?

Afshan: As a legal observer at the May 30th incident in 2020, I witnessed the unraveling of the peaceful protest into sheer and utter chaos. It was a miracle none of us died that day. I realized then, that I had to get more involved on the local La Mesa level and advocate towards better civic engagement with our marginalized community members and young residents. It’s critical that we create more equity and inclusion for all La Mesans, no matter your ethnicity, faith, race or socio-economic background. Having lived in La Mesa for 31 years and grown up here, I know what a wonderful city we are and how much potential we have to be an even better place where everyone can thrive.

Lothian: I saw our City spending too much time on global talking points and not enough time on local issues: Police. Permits and Potholes. With homelessness and crime on the rise, residents and businesses struggling to get permits, and litter in our parks and on our streets, I believe the City’s resources need to be invested within La Mesa’s boundaries; in my time as a council member, I have done just that. I also witnessed, with dismay, COVID restrictions hurting our children’s childhoods, destroying our small businesses, and depressing people’s lives, and felt our city should have done more to help our community like allowing outdoor tables in public spaces to help restaurants survive the shutdown and not padlocking our parks (that was disgraceful). I will always fight against government overreach and employ pragmatic, common-sense solutions to problems.

Orlando: My motivation for running this year comes down to the essence of a quote from philosopher John Stuart Mill in 1867 with these words, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” After being a resident of this great city for 21 years, it was time to stand up and become more proactive in the cause of a better La Mesa. I saw a city rioted in May of 2020, while businesses were struggling to exist during COVID. With much grief in my heart, it became apparent it was my time to serve. I want to see La Mesa get back to the essence of what has made it great for many years as the jewel of the hills.

LMC: What do you see to be the three top issues facing La Mesa residents as we wind down 2022 and move into 2023?

Afshan: The top three issues that residents and businesses continue to bring to my attention as we canvass and phone-bank week after week, are first and foremost homelessness. As councilmember, I plan on expanding the HOME Program so that we have more people on staff and hours of service available which will also take pressure off our La Mesa Fire Department and La Mesa Police Department and allow them to focus on their more pressing work. The second is our environment and I will push for fulfilling our Climate Action Plan goals and hopefully create more incentives and support for our La Mesa residents and businesses to become more cleaner, greener and sustainable. And lastly, affordable housing, which I will work on with my fellow Council members to make sure working families are protected with rental assistance to prevent more families from becoming homeless and creating 5-10% more lower to very low affordable housing options in the new development being built in La Mesa.

Lothian: 1. With the shocking rise of homelessness, America’s cities are rapidly deteriorating. La Mesa’s homeless problem is bad, and actions must be taken before it reaches crisis levels. Concrete steps I support are placing non-addicted & mentally stable homeless people seeking help in temporary housing spread throughout the City – not building homeless shelters or homeless hotels, demanding MTS enforce trolley fares for passengers (not enforcing fares abets the homeless riding the trolley in and out of La Mesa and is a major factor in La Mesa’s homeless problem), disallowing encampments – especially ones with large groups of homeless people, providing extra police presence where the homeless gather (especially trolley stops and parks) to deter vandalism, fires, shoplifting, assaults, harassment of passersby, loitering, graffiti, etc. 2. Helping our local economy by helping our small businesses thrive. One of the most maddening hurdles faced by our small businesses (and residents) is La Mesa’s painful permit process. Improving the permit process is one of my top priorities. At my prodding, the City Council now receives a Quarterly Permit Activity Report which allows us to monitor permits in the queue. The City Manager hired a Permit Consulting Firm to provide the City Council with a blueprint for improving and expediting the permit process. Their recommendations are imminent. Our yes vote will save La Mesa residents and small businesses time, money, and aggravation. I also spearheaded funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to be awarded to La Mesa’s small business community. I was happy the mayor and city council joined me in a 5:0 vote for allocating $500,000 to La Mesa’s Commercial Facade Improvement Program, which will provide small businesses with funds for painting, windows, doors, signage, lighting, awnings, canopies, landscaping – anything related to the front facade. The first $5,000 is free and the remaining money is split 50/50 between the City and the small business up to $25,000. This effort will improve curb appeal, customer traffic, and the surrounding community. Contact the City or me for more details. 3. This one is a tie: Funding the police and letting the La Mesa Police Department do its job keeping La Mesa safe (I am very proud of the La Mesa Police Officer Association endorsement). Preserving the charm of La Mesa’s Historic Downtown Village by faithfully adhering to La Mesa’s Downtown Village Specific Plan which establishes criteria such as prioritizing beauty, historic and heritage preservation, avoiding unnecessary height and bulk, and new buildings being compatible with historic buildings.

Orlando: Homelessness, fighting tax increases, and increasing our public safety efforts.

LMC: Politics in general have taken a nasty turn nationwide in recent years. What is your message to La Mesa voters as to how you will govern with those having different viewpoints to yours?

Afshan: As a proud La Mesan who attended La Mesa Middle School, Helix High School, and Grossmont College, I am dedicated to building a more equitable and inclusive community for everyone. When we win and I become Council member, I look forward to a continuous, open- minded and thoughtful dialogue with all parts of our community. I don’t shy away from asking difficult questions, love learning new things, and am committed to understanding the different perspectives here in La Mesa.

Lothian: Hostilities due to party affiliation take a back seat to safe, clean, beautiful, thriving communities. With my record of helping La Mesa’s small businesses, initiating a litter pick-up program, prompting City Hall to no longer purchase and throw away disposable plastic bottles, successfully lobbying for pickleball stripes to be added to an under-utilized tennis court, and drastically reducing recycling fines, I enjoy support from Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.

Orlando: This is a question that I have given much thought. I think we have lost the art of having conversations. I’m highly interested in listening to others, especially those who do not agree with me. I think that creates a healthy culture of authenticity as well as transparency if we can be open to dialogue even if someone does not see eye to eye with myself. My hope is that we can set aside our differences and find the issues that we can come to an agreement on that places the residents of La Mesa at the forefront.

LMC: What will you do as a council member to bring more business to La Mesa?

Afshan: As your next Council member, I look forward to creating more opportunities for improvement in serving our local businesses, increasing the diversity of types of businesses, and hosting more events where businesses can showcase their specialties whether it be hosting a Spring Festival, industry market events, or inviting more business roundtables to generate new ideas.

Lothian: Improve the permit process, help implement the new Commercial Facade Improvement Program funded by ARPA money, continue my positive relationships with the La Mesa Village Association and the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce who represent La Mesa’s business community, spearhead a buildings mural program which will bring tourists and commerce, spearhead artist-painted crosswalks like Downtown Long Beach has to attract tourists and commerce, support events throughout La Mesa enjoyed by locals and visitors.

Orlando: We must eliminate roadblocks that hinder business from operating as well as regulations and requirements that hinder growth and development. For example, if a business needs an awning to shield its customers from the elements, it should be a very simple permitting process that should not take months to resolve. La Mesa should be a destination for businesses to want to be here and allow them to thrive.

LMC: What is something positive you can say about your opponents?

Afshan: They are creative, I give them that.

Lothian: Tony Orlando is one of the nicest, most friendly people you will ever meet. When he says he wants to be a public servant, he means it. He’s bright with a good sense of humor. If we both serve on the City Council, our city would have less litter, less homelessness, less crime, and more vision. I have only met Patricia Dillard and Mejgan Afshan once, at the La Mesa First United Methodist Church Candidate Forum, and they were both friendly and polite. Ms. Dillard appears to be liked by many La Mesans.

Orlando: I have met or have a relationship with all of the candidates. I have a tremendous amount of respect for anyone who is willing to sacrifice and run for public office. I wish them all nothing but the best and hope to work with each of them in any capacity regardless of the outcome on Election Day.

Editor’s note: Candidate Patricia Dillard declined a request to submit answers for this story. This Q&A will appear in the Oct. 28 print edition of La Mesa Courier.

Photo credit of ballot: Kendra Sitton

– Reach editor Dave Thomas at: [email protected].