Lemon Grove Turns to Familiar Face for Council Vacancy

Seth Smith for City Council Website

By San Diego Monitor News Staff

The Lemon Grove City Council has selected local planning commissioner Seth Smith to serve out the remainder of a vacant council term, filling the seat left open after the passing of Councilmember Sitivi “Steve” Faiai earlier this year.

Smith is expected to be sworn in when the council meets on December 16 and will serve through December 2026. City officials opened an application process in late summer, drawing interest from 11 qualified residents. After a round of public interviews in February, councilmembers deliberated and ultimately chose Smith, who has spent years involved in Lemon Grove’s civic affairs.

Smith, an architectural designer and project manager, previously chaired the city’s Planning Commission, where he helped review housing projects and guide zoning updates. He moved to Lemon Grove in 2010 to study at the NewSchool of Architecture and Design, later graduating cum laude with a focus on urban planning and design.

Since then, he has volunteered with several community initiatives, including food distribution programs, neighborhood cleanups, and Relay for Life events. In conversations with residents during the appointment process, Smith emphasized the need to improve local infrastructure—calling out broken sidewalks, drainage issues, and street-safety concerns as priorities he hopes to address.

He has also voiced support for expanding affordable housing options and encouraging transit-oriented development, particularly near the city’s transit corridors. Smith has said he wants to bring a transparent, neighborhood-focused approach to council decisions.

Many community members familiar with Smith’s work on the Planning Commission say they expect him to bring a practical, detail-oriented perspective to the council.

As Lemon Grove looks toward 2026, Smith will join colleagues in shaping the city’s direction on housing, development, and essential public services while stepping into a seat held by the late Councilmember Faiai, whose service remains well-regarded in the community.