South Pasadena City Council Elections 2024

Story by Owen Hou
Staff Writer

Five candidates across the city’s three districts are in the running to serve on the South Pasadena City Council in this year’s elections. In District 1, Evelyn Zneimer and Omari Ferguson are the competing candidates, while District 2 sees a race between Charly Lu and Sheila Rossi. Jon Primuth currently runs unopposed in District 3.

Omari Ferguson, chairperson of the Public Works Commission, will run against Zneimer in District 1. A South Pasadena resident and a professional electrical engineer, he aims to ensure responsible spending on city projects, such as the SPPD’s switch to electric vehicles. Tiger requested an interview but has yet to receive a response at the time of printing.

Evelyn Zneimer is the current mayor of South Pasadena, and is running for reelection to city council. She has assisted the community of South Pasadena for over 30 years. Zneimer was first elected to the city council in 2020, and succeeded Jon Primuth as mayor in December 2023. Zneimer seeks to resolve issues with South Pasadena’s infrastructure, including streets, sewers, and water pipes.

“I actually will be launching the first multicultural event…My aim is to promote diversity and inclusion by introducing different cultures and traditions,” Zneimer said.

Charly Lu, running for District 2, currently serves as the Public Safety Commissioner and has lived in South Pasadena for more than two decades, actively engaging with the city’s community and advocating for community collaboration. 

Lu’s campaign priorities are safety in the city, improving both digital and physical infrastructure, and providing more housing.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunities from the city,” Lu said. “Now, I’m eager to step up my service to make some impact and make our city better, more safe, and protect [the] small-town charm.”

Sheila Rossi will be running against Charly Lu in the District 2 election. She currently serves as the vice chair of both the South Pasadena Finance Commission and the Finance Ad Hoc Committee. A 17-year South Pasadena resident, Rossi has been actively involved with the community, working with schools, PTSA, and community organizations such as the executive board of SPEF and the South Pasadena Arts Council. 

She plans to implement a community-centered approach to city government, reduce unnecessary spending, and select the right city manager.

“I’ve…been very active in the community, so I have a very broad network of community members that I’ve interacted with, have worked with, and have gotten to really understand their needs and know them,” Rossi said.

Jon Primuth is the District 3 candidate and is currently running unopposed. He is the former mayor of South Pasadena and is currently running for reelection onto the city council. 

Primuth opened an estate planning practice in Pasadena to focus on planning, trust, and probate matters for families and business owners. In the community, he was an elected trustee of the SPUSD school district for five years, and has served on multiple nonprofit boards for vulnerable populations.

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