Jason Lee will serve as Stockton’s vice mayor when the new City Council takes their seats on the dais next week.
The council, which has been on a holiday break since early December, will see four new members sworn in Tuesday, including a new mayor.
Christina Fugazi replaced former Mayor Kevin Lincoln, who opted not to run for a second term, on Jan. 1 following her victory in the November election against San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti.
Fugazi announced Friday evening she’s chosen Lee to serve as her second in command on the council.
“Stockton is in my blood. I’m grateful to Mayor Fugazi for this opportunity and ready to fight for every person in this city,” Lee said in a press release from the mayor’s office. “Together, we’ll tackle public safety, homelessness, economic development, and youth programs to ensure Stockton’s voice is heard loud and clear.”
Lee defeated incumbent Councilmember Kimberly Warmsley to represent Stockton’s south side. Coincidently, Lee will also be replacing Warmsley as the city’s vice mayor if the council approves his appointment at Tuesday’s meeting.
Stockton mayors typically choose their vice mayors at the beginning of a new term, which lasts two years beginning in the January after a general election. The vice mayor position is largely ceremonial, with its primary duties being to run City Council meetings when the mayor is absent.
Fugazi herself served two terms as vice mayor during her eight-year tenure on the council representing Stockton’s downtown, once for former Mayor Anthony Silva from 2015 to 2016 and then again from 2021 to 2022 for current outgoing Mayor Kevin Lincoln.
While the choice of vice mayor lies solely with the mayor, the City Council still must ratify the appointment.
On Friday, Fugazi’s office praised Lee’s accomplishments and “deep commitment and heart for the city,” describing the south Stockton native’s journey to the global stage “as an inspiration to all members of the Stockton community.”
Lee spent his childhood in the district he will now represent on City Council, though he’s since built a career in southern California.
A self-professed millionaire who has rubbed shoulders with the likes of rapper Kanye West, singer Cardi B and comedian Kevin Hart, Lee has started several foundations and businesses, most notably the news and gossip website Hollywood Unlocked, which has millions of followers.
The Hollywood news mogul has followed a path strewn with obstacles, from being raised by a single mother, experiencing senseless violence and having minor scrapes with the law to ultimate success in Tinseltown.
Lee’s return to Stockton and his dive into local area politics has been anything but quiet. However, he earned the support of voters in November with a landslide victory, besting his opponent by a 15-point margin.
Fugazi says Lee’s appointment to vice mayor is a testament to his dedication to Stockton and its residents. She’s confident he will represent them “with pride and drive.”
“He has energized a segment of our population who has felt disenfranchised, marginalized, and at times ostracized,” Fugazi said. “Jason has done what many others have failed to do by having the people he represents be engaged, inspired, and empowered.”
Lee’s appointment as Stockton’s next vice mayor is scheduled to go before the City Council at its meeting Tuesday following a swearing-in ceremony for the city’s new representatives. New Councilmembers Mariela Ponce and Mario Enríquez, who have replaced termed-out Councilmembers Dan Wright and Susan Lenz of districts 2 and 4, respectively, will join Fugazi and Lee in taking the oath of office.
Tuesday’s meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Bob Hope Theater in downtown Stockton.