La Mesa leaders tapped 20-year-old Emmett Stewart as interim city treasurer, making him the youngest person to ever hold office in the city. He will serve until voters chose a permanent replacement in November.
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The La Mesa City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday, with Councilmember Laura Lothian opposed, to tap Stewart to oversee the city’s financial portfolio for the next four months.
The seat became open after City Treasurer Matt Strabone resigned in August to take a job as a legal adviser for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Officials opted to appoint his interim replacement to avoid the cost of a special election for the short period.
Officials interviewed the applicants, Stewart and William ”Bill” Exeter, who are also the only candidates vying for the permanent treasurer position in November. The interim interviews gave an early preview of the race — and a battle for incumbency as campaign season kicks into full gear.
The city treasurer is responsible for managing the city’s portfolio, which was valued at nearly $96 million, according to the most recent city records.
Stewart was born and raised in La Mesa and is completing his degree at the University of California Los Angeles in mathematics and economics. He is a business operations intern for Expeditors, a global logistics company.
“I recognize that I bring a fresh set of eyes and ears to our local government,” Stewart said. “Bringing youthful perspective to the treasurer’s office is about adapting modern financial tools, energy and an eagerness to listen.”
His experience quickly came into question by Lothian, who said she had concerns about selecting a young candidate without significant professional financial experience overseeing the city’s millions in investments.
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During the interview, Lothian pressed Stewart on his understanding of the scale of the role.
“Do you know the amount of money that you would be overseeing?” she asked.
“A lot of money,” he replied.
When she asked how much, Stewart replied, “I do not know the direct number.”
“This to me is not a conversation about ageism … it is about experience,” Lothian said. “He didn’t know our (city) budget (numbers)… that scares me.”
The rest of the council backed Stewart for the role, with some describing his age as something that could benefit the city in the long run.
“I think it’s really important that young people are represented,” Councilmember Lauren Cazares said, noting that she had experienced “ageism” while running during the 2024 election. She ultimately won and became the youngest person, age 26, to be elected to office in La Mesa’s history.
Exeter, 64, opened his interview statements by quickly underscoring the gap in experience between him and his opponent.
“La Mesa needs a treasurer that has already proven himself,” he said.
Exeter ran for the position in 2022, but lost to Strabone. He is a financial advisor with over 41 years of experience in the financial services industry. Lothian said she supported him to fill the interim position.
In La Mesa, treasurers work part time for a monthly salary of $1,100 and serve four-year terms.
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