Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner will serve as the new chair of the San Diego Association of Governments for the next two years, following a board of directors vote on Jan. 10. As SANDAG chair, she succeeds former San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Nora Vargas.
Heebner had been serving as SANDAG’s second vice chair and has been a SANDAG primary board member for 14 years. She served on the Solana Beach City Council from 2004 to 2016, and for part of 2018 to complete someone else’s term. Since 2020, she has been the city’s mayor.
“I am honored to lead the organization in its mission to plan, build, and provide critical infrastructure and resources for the San Diego region,” Heebner said, according to a SANDAG news release. “I am committed to supporting the SANDAG team in strengthening the agency’s internal operations and ensuring transparency for the Board and the public.”
Her term begins as the agency prepares to move forward with key decisions about the long-awaited rail realignment project in Del Mar, including which route to select for a new inland tunnel.
San Diego City Councilmember Joe LaCava, whose District 1 includes La Jolla and Carmel Valley, was elected vice chair at the Jan. 10 meeting.
“I’m very honored to take on this role,” LaCava said, according to the SANDAG news release. “I look forward to collaborating with fellow Board members and our regional partners to find solutions to our regional needs and improve the lives of people across the region.”
Santee Mayor John Minto was elected to serve as Second Vice Chair at the Jan. 10 meeting.
“We’ve got some really important work to do as SANDAG,” said Minto in the news release. “I believe that by aligning our efforts, we can create vibrant communities where all residents can thrive.”
