“Show up, listen, and do the work.”

Welcome, and thank you for visiting. I’m John Minto, Mayor of the City of Santee, and I’m glad you’re here.

For nearly three decades, I wore the badge of a San Diego Police Officer and Detective, and for more than twenty years I’ve had the honor of serving Santee — first on the City Council beginning in 2002, and as Mayor since 2016. Public service has been the throughline of my life, from walking a beat in the Gaslamp Quarter to sitting at the dais in Santee City Hall.

Santee has been home to my wife and me since 1992, and I’ve spent the years since getting involved in nearly every corner of this community — from Kiwanis and the Park and Recreation Committee to the Chamber of Commerce, the Street Fair, and our Fourth of July celebration, Santee Salutes. That kind of hands-on involvement shapes how I lead: I believe in a balanced budget, an efficient and accountable city government, safe neighborhoods, and a Santee that keeps its small-town character while planning smartly for the future.

Beyond City Hall, I’m proud to serve as Second Vice Chair of the SANDAG Board and on the League of California Cities (Cal Cities) Board of Directors. I also chair the Republican Party of San Diego County’s Supervisorial District 2 and the County of San Diego’s City Selection Committee — the body composed of all 18 city mayors that appoints city representatives to countywide agencies such as LAFCO and the Air Pollution Control District. Whether the conversation is about local streets or countywide policy, I bring the same approach: listen first, work hard, and get results.

This site is a straightforward, accurate record of who I am and what I’ve done — meant to stay reliable over time, not to chase the news cycle. For anything current, you’ll find links here to the official city and party pages that track it.

And as always — have a great Santee day.

John W. Minto