Joe LaCava is an American politician and engineer serving as the president of the

San Diego City Council The San Diego City Council is the legislative branch of government for the City of San Diego. The city council was first established in San Diego in 1850. The council is part of a strong mayor system with a separately elected mayor who acts as th ...

since 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as president pro tempore of the city council from 2023 to 2024 under council president Sean Elo-Rivera and has served as a member of the city council since 2020, representing District 1.

Early life and education

Joe LaCava was raised in the San Diego neighborhoods of Logan Heights and University Heights, before his family moved to

Allied Gardens Allied Gardens is a residential neighborhood in the eastern Navajo community of San Diego, California. It neighbors San Carlos to the east, Del Cerro to the south, the College Area to the southeast and Grantville to the southwest. History Alli ...

. After graduating Patrick Henry High School, he attended

San Diego State University San Diego State University (SDSU) is a Public university, public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CS ...

, where he earned his bachelor's degree in engineering.

Career

LaCava worked for the

United States Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. It administers the nation's 154 United States National Forest, national forests and 20 United States Natio ...

in Northern California upon graduation, and became a civil engineer when he returned to San Diego. He served on the Bird Rock Community Council before becoming chairman of the La Jolla Community Planning Association. He ran for the

seat vacated by Barbara Bry and won in both primary and general election contests during the 2020 San Diego elections, defeating general election candidate Will Moore. He took office in December 2020. He represents the 1st District on the San Diego City Council, which includes the communities of

La Jolla La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood in San Diego, California, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781. The climate is mild, with an average daily temperature o ...

, Carmel Valley, and Torrey Pines, as well as the campus of the

University of California, San Diego The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego in communications material, formerly and colloquially UCSD) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in San Diego, California, United States. Es ...

. The district originally included University City until the 2021 redistricting where it was removed in favor of Pacific Beach. After assuming office in December 2020, LaCava served as president pro tempore of the San Diego City Council from 2023 to 2024. He ran for re-election to his council seat unopposed in the 2024 election. After the election, LaCava was elected to serve as president of the city council in a 9–0 vote.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:LaCava, Joe San Diego City Council members San Diego State University alumni Year of birth missing (living people) Living people