After months of gridlock that left a council seat vacant and underscored council rifts, Lemon Grove City Council members finally appointed Seth Smith to fill a seat left vacant by the death last summer of Steve Faiai. City leaders say Smith’s experience in local government could pave the path to peace for the tension-riddled community.
But it could be short-lived as three of the five members are up for election in November. One of them, longtime Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza, said she will retire at the end of the year. And the city now finds itself in search of a new top administrator with the sudden departure last month of City Manager Lydia Romero.
Controversy is not unfamiliar to the Lemon Grove City Council. Ongoing tensions have persisted long enough that some city leaders even campaigned in 2022 and 2024 on the premise that they could ease the toxicity.
The 2024 municipal election brought a fresh slate of members to the council. Community members were hopeful this change would put an end to longtime contention between city leaders.
Tensions have eased since former Councilmember Liana LeBaron — known for frequently clashing with her colleagues — lost her bid for mayor against now Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow. However, council dynamics remain fragile.
A yearlong effort to recall Snow recently failed. It was led by a group opposed to a county project that will put 60 sleeping cabins for homeless individuals on Troy Street.
On top of the recall attempt, council newcomers Vice Mayor Jessyka Heredia and Yadira Altamirano have clashed with Snow and Mendoza. For example, both were vocal against the Troy Street cabins project, which Snow and Mendoza supported.
The unexpected passing of Faiai over the summer shook the community and created a council vacancy. It became clear that the council lacked consensus when it came time to select an appointee to fill the seat.
Council members reached a gridlock during their first attempt to fill the vacancy. Altamirano and Heredia wanted Faiai’s wife, Lauren, while Snow and Mendoza primarily wanted Jay Bass. Lauren Faiai eventually withdrew, citing contention on the council as a primary reason for pulling out.
In their second attempt to select an appointee, Seth Smith garnered the most votes by a slim margin.
Smith previously ran for City Council in 2024, with a desire for unity being his front-and-center issue.
“As a city, and as a nation as a whole, we have been experiencing so much division that we are seeing bonds break between friends, family, and the leaders that help our society to function and thrive,” a statement on his campaign website read. “We need to rediscover a place of respectful discussion with the common goal of selflessly working together to provide positive and productive outcomes for the people of Lemon Grove.”
In a Nov. 18 interview, Smith said he learned the importance of aiming to “sit and listen” as the chair of the Lemon Grove Planning Commission.
However many viewpoints there might be on an issue, he said it is always possible to “find a middle ground we can all work with.”
“Sometimes we can’t all win, sometimes everybody’s a little upset, but that’s what compromise is,” Smith said. “I have been good at finding compromise in the Planning Commission, and I think I can continue to do that here.”
Residents and council members have said Smith could help end the division on the council and ease tensions between city leaders and the community.
During the Dec. 16 council meeting where Smith was sworn in, city leaders and community members said they were optimistic that he would be the right person to create unity.
Lemon Grove Planning Commission Vice Chair Jacquelyn Clark described him as a “great leader,” and someone who members of the commission “learned a lot from.”
“He’s composed, he’s fair, he’s reasonable, and he’s insightful,” Clark said. “Bringing that to the council will not only benefit the council, but the whole city of Lemon Grove.”
He will serve on the council for less than a year, with the November 2026 election opening up two four-year seats and one two-year seat. Because Smith’s appointment came at the beginning of the term for the vacancy he filled, state law requires an election is held to fill the remaining two years. Mendoza recently announced her plans to retire when her term ends in 2026, after serving over a decade on the council.
“My star is fading; after 22 years I’m hoping to be out of this pretty soon,” said Mendoza, who also served on the Planning Commission.
The council’s first major task since Smith’s appointment will be to select a new city manager, putting the new leadership dynamic to the test.