Shannon O'Dunn: Fresh Vision for La Mesa City Council

Shannon O'Dunn and husband Charles G. 'Mike' Bemis

About Shannon O'Dunn

Think of me as the Audrey Hepburn candidate for La Mesa City Council.

In the movie, "Charade," Audrey looks at Cary Grant and says the famous line, "Do you know what's wrong with you? Nothing!"

That's how I feel. Shannon O'Dunn looks at her city and says, "Do you know what's wrong with La Mesa? Nothing!"

My goal as a councilmember is to preserve La Mesa's star quality, her wonderful natural characteristics, her hand-stitched quilt of unique neighborhoods, her 19th century downtown village and 21st century healthcare and transit facilities, her appeal, and her bank account. The world is changing around us, and that change will impact us. Some of us, like my son Cullen, were born in La Mesa, others moved here, and we stay here because we like our town the way it is, and we want to maintain her values. La Mesa has gotten it right. The challenge, of course, will be to keep it that way.

Wearing her Dean's hard hat, Shannon inspects construction progress on the Digital Arts Building at Grossmont College

My La Mesa history starts in 1951, when my Air Force father moved us here from Los Angeles and I enrolled in Murray Manor School. Not long after, I discovered my life's calling on a hillside next to my parents' house at Jackson and El Paso, where I found a piece of sandstone, and experienced that ‘aha’ moment that led to a Bachelor of Arts in Geology in 1965 from San Diego State University, and a Master's in Geology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. I taught Geology at Grossmont College from 1971-86, and again from 1993-2000.

My husband Mike Bemis and I were married at Our Lady of Grace, moved to Fletcher Hills to raise our family in 1980, and have lived on Poppy Street in La Mesa since 1990. Our children, Cullen and Carling, went to Northmont Elementary and Grossmont High. I served as Director of Grants and Contract Instruction for the College District from 1986-93. From 2000-2005, I was Dean of Grossmont College's Communication and Fine Arts Division, managing almost 200 employees, and a $4.5 million annual budget.

Shannon checks out a restored 1969 split-roof Stingray Corvette, showcased on a run with the Corvette Owners Club of San Diego

After retiring in 2005, I was appointed to the College District Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee for Prop R. I am active in the La Mesa Lions Club, Foothills Republican Women Federated, and on the Grossmont College Foundation Board. Geology still intrigues me, and I share it by being a speaker, and a trainer in the Mission Trails Regional Park Trail Guide Program.

I make and collect art, and I know a valuable picture when I see one. Which brings us back to La Mesa. As a councilmember, I will work to see that our city continues to provide quality of life for every stage of life. That is my promise to you. No ‘Charade’!

Download Shannon's Curriculum Vitae (CV) This is a Word Document. You can view it online here.