I am honored to currently serve as mayor of La Cañada Flintridge after first being elected to the La Cañada Flintridge City Council in 2013 and after having served on the City’s Planning Commission for five years. My community, regional and governmental experience-end engagement brings the type of background necessary to truly represent the citizens of this great city and make it an even better place to live and raise our families. In addition to currently serving as mayor, I am also a Regional Council member for the Southern California Association of Government, where I represent the cities of La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena and South Pasadena in the largest Metropolitan Planning Organization in the U.S., which covers six counties, 191 cities and more than 18 million people. Within city government, I serve on numerous City Council subcommittees, including economic development, legal, pension review, sewer/septic, downtown specific plan, SR710/Connected Communities Consortium, Diversity Task Force and Southern California Edison. I also serve as the honorary chair of the La Cañada Flintridge Sister Cities Association.
I have a record of promoting transparency of city government, prudent fiscal policies, active public safety, responsible planning, opposition to the 710 tunnel, traffic improvements, joint-use activities with La Cañada Unified School District, active involvement toward the Sagebrush unification with LCUSD and working with our community groups to “Make a Difference.”
Some of my continuing priority objectives for the city include streamlining city planning and permits to improve efficiency, ensuring reliable electricity, establishing healthy community actions, and building stronger partnerships with our schools, local businesses, JPL, community groups and residents.
In continuing service on the City Council, I will also continue to tackle the many challenges we face, including funding constraints; traffic, noise and air pollution; the potential 710 freeway; new water quality regulations; and new governmental requirements and regional planning.
My professional expertise and background will continue to bring value toward achieving success within the city. I am a practicing attorney in the corporate, real estate and land use areas, with large international law firm experience and a focus on investment and development. I received an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating an attorney can receive for quality and ethics, and I have also been named as a “Super Lawyer.” I earned a bachelor’s in economics from UCLA and Jurist Doctorate Degree, cum laude, from Loyola Law School.
On the personal side, my wife, Lisa, and I were both born and raised in Southern California and made La Cañada Flintridge our home nearly 20 years ago. Our two daughters, Melissa and Lauren, were educated in the La Cañada Unified School system at Palm Crest Elementary through LCHS; and they recently graduated from USC and Chapman University, respectively.
I welcome the opportunity to continue to serve you on the City Council and request your vote on March 7.
Guest Column: Jonathan Curtis
