Joe LaCava unanimously named to another year as San Diego City Council president

San Diego Councilmember Joe LaCava, a La Jolla resident known for delving deeply into policy debates, will serve a second consecutive year in the pivotal role of council president.

LaCava was unanimously awarded a second term Monday by his colleagues, who praised him for steady leadership during a budget crisis and fierce council debates about a new trash fee and backyard apartments.

“Council President LaCava has approached this role with thoughtfulness, integrity and transparency,” Councilmember Kent Lee said.

“I have really appreciated the evenhandedness and grace,” said Councilmember Stephen Whitburn. “This may be the easiest vote we take all year.”

The council president sets the nine-member council’s agenda, determines key assignments to powerful committees and leads the council in its efforts to govern the city in concert with Mayor Todd Gloria.

LaCava’s re-election makes it less likely there will be major shake-ups in who leads the council’s committees next year.

Such shake-ups in those assignments, which will be announced later this month, typically come when the council president shifts to someone new.

Councilmember Marni von Wilpert said LaCava also deserves praise for keeping members of the council safe while still allowing sometimes boisterous members of the public to attend meetings.

“You’ve had to govern in a time when we’ve seen increased threats of violence against elected officials across the nation,” ...