Pasadena City Council Appoints Justin Jones to District 3 Seat

The City Council voted 5-2 to appoint Justin Jones to represent District 3 on Thursday night.

Jones was selected over Brandon Lamar and Pastor Lucious Smith for the vacancy created by the death of John J. Kennedy. 

District 5 Councilmember Jess Rivas voted against Jones’ appointment. Steve Madison abstained.

“Most voters don’t know how the sausage gets made,” Wilson said. “Justin, I think you’ve seen how the sausage gets made. My view is we can best serve the district by putting Jones in the seat.”

 “I believe what best qualifies me to serve on this Council is that I care,” Jones said.

Jones, an engineer, works for LA County. 

Jones was the last one to present his cause to the City Council.

“District 3 is a district I was raised in and am familiar with and recently returned to,” Jones said. “I have seen this city through the eyes of a child and a teenager and now as a young married professional.”

Jones said he has seen the Council help those most in means during COVID.

“My family has deep roots in the district and the City,” Jones said.  

Councilmember Tyron Hampton introduced the motion to appoint Jones which was seconded by Felicia Williams.

“I think your background is probably the most relevant to the Council and it is something we are missing as well,” Williams said. 

Mayor Victor Gordo said the choice was not easy. 

“This is the fourth time I have had to go through this when Mr. Holden left office. When Ms. Rivas and Mr. Wilson joined us and it has not gotten any easier,” Gordo said. 

“Looking at all of the talents that you bring to the table. Mr. Jones, I am prepared to support you.”

Councilmember Steve Madison said the City Council should vote through the lens of who the local residents in District 3 wanted and questioned how the City Council could choose Jones, who has never voted in district.

Madison called on the City Council to give weight to Lamar, but ultimately voted for Jones.   

“If I wanted to just pick someone that agreed with me that would be a different story,” Madison said.

The choice was not easy as Smith, Lamar and Justin Jones each gave presentations to the Council, in that order, and then answered scripted and unscripted questions.

Pastor Smith faced tough questions and was asked if he could reconcile his beliefs with current laws. 

In a past sermon Smith said he was bothered by churches that take liberties with the scriptures to argue that homosexuality is not morally wrong. And was also bothered by the comparison of the gay rights struggle to the civil rights movement for Blacks in America.

Smith said he respected the law and gave respect to everyone he encountered even if the law conflicted with his personal belief.

“I treat everyone with respect,” Smith said. “No matter what I believe or what they believe.”

Callers asked the City Council to appoint Lamar before the candidate interviews. Lamar lost to John Kennedy in the June primary. He garnered 40% of the vote in that contest. 

“I believe in community, collaboration and partnership and the services we have here in Pasadena,” Lamar said.

Lamar did not vote in seven of the nine previous elections. After Mayor Gordo questioned him on his lack of civic involvement, Lamar said he had only recently come to understand the importance of his vote. 

“I believed my vote didn’t matter and my voice did not matter,” Lamar said. “When I came to the position that my voice and vote mattered, that’s when I stepped up.”

Kennedy died on July 21. Jones will sit in the seat until December when the City Council once again takes upon the appointment process.

The City Council can appoint Jones again or a new applicant who qualifies via the City’s process. 

Residents living in District 3 will have their say in 2024 at the General Municipal Election.