It was a changing of the guard Tuesday night as the Chula Vista City Council welcomed two newly elected council members and bid farewell to two-term Councilwoman Pamela Bensoussan and appointed Councilman Steve Miesen.
Bensoussan was first elected to the City Council in 2008 and was re-elected for the same seat in 2012. During her eight years Bensoussan was an advocate for the arts and spearheaded a project for the city’s first dog park on the west side of Chula Vista at Eucalyptus Park.
Bensoussan lost her only mayoral bid in 2014, losing in the primaries to Mary Casillas Salas and former Councilman Jerry Rindone.
Casillas Salas said she first worked with Bensoussan about 16 years ago as both were working to implement the Mill’s Act in Chula Vista, a tax benefit for preserved historic homes in Chula Vista.
Casillas Salas said it was Bensoussan’s attention to detail that really struck her.
“…When she puts her heart and soul into a project, she makes sure that all the T’s are crossed, all the I’s (are) dotted and there (is) nothing left to chance,” Casillas Salas said. “Even though she was really meticulous with detail, she never lost sight of a broader vision and that’s how she comported herself on the City Council.”
Casillas Salas also called Bensoussan “a person of integrity” and “a person who speaks her mind.”
Miesen, the division manager with Republic Services, served the city of Chula Vista for two years filling the council seat left vacant by Casillas Salas who left midterm to run for mayor.
In his brief time on the dais the Republican served as a key vote to put a half-cent sales tax proposal on last November’s ballot.
Miesen, the subject of ethics complaints and a lawsuit challenging the process that got him appointed, presented some legal challenges for City Attorney Glen Googins.
Despite it all, Googins said Miesen handled himself professionally.
“I think the council would agree in all of your dealings you were the consummate gentlemen, you were incredibly balanced in your approach including some things that took you out of your political comfort zone once you got up and found out about the workings of government,” he said.
As both Bensoussan and Miesen left the five-person council, former mayor Steve Padilla and retired Escondido firefighter Mike Diaz were sworn-in and took their seats on the dais.
Padilla, 47, took his oath of office administered by his daughter Ashleigh.
The former mayor makes his return on the dais after a 10-year absence from City Hall.
“I’ve been given the opportunity to serve again, I’m humbled by that, and I’m aware of the obligations that it brings,” he said. “You might notice that I’m a little bit older, I hope a little bit wiser and I’m looking forward to be part of an amazing team,” he said.
Padilla said his priorities include increasing civic engagement at City Hall, being an advocate for working families by attracting jobs to grow the middle class. He said he will also look into the city investing in sustainable transportation projects.
Diaz, who was backed by the Chula Vista Firefighters’ union, thanked God for his victory over political heavyweight
Rudy Ramirez in the election and said he does not want to be a typical politician.
“I’m just a regular guy,” he said. “My goal is to bring some common sense to City Hall and some of the Southwest spirit that makes our city great.
Diaz said his priorities for Southwest Chula Vista are to work on bringing more economic development for its residents.“Chula Vista is one of the lowest sales-tax generating cities in the county, we need to change that,” he said.
Diaz also said he is going to make it a priority to increase staffing for police officers and firefighters.
