By Karen Pearlman
July 29, 2026 (La Mesa) — After nearly four years in office, La Mesa City Treasurer Matt Strabone is stepping down Aug. 12 to take a position as a Legal Advisor to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed in April 1949 by countries in North America and Europe to protect each other.
With Strabone heading for NATO, the City Council on July 28 weighed its options for filling the unexpected vacancy. The council unanimously decided to accept applications immediately to fill the position by appointment, and not through a special election.
City Clerk Megan Wiegelman said that the office must be filled within 60 days of that vacancy and would begin interviews starting at the Sept. 8 city council meeting with the ability to continue interviews on Sept. 22.
“I’m in favor of an appointment, considering how much a special election costs and considering how close we are to November,” said La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis, noting the coming 2026 general municipal election.
The council also authorized the City Manager to execute financial documents on behalf of the City Treasurer during the interim period to ensure the city’s operations continue uninterrupted.
Strabone, a licensed attorney who has spent the last 11 years in the San Diego region, initially announced his departure in a since-deleted Facebook post earlier this month.
While he had privately hoped to keep the details of his departure quiet for a little while longer, City Councilmember Lauren Cazares publicly mentioned his new NATO post during the July 28 city council meeting.
“I have been offered, and I have accepted, a post as a Legal Advisor to NATO,” Strabone wrote in his initial social media post. “I depart now to take on a new challenge with global implications.”
Strabone made local history in November 2022 when he defeated William Exeter with 54.01 percent of the vote.
During the July 28 City Council public comment period, Exeter appeared in person at the meeting to introduce, or reintroduce himself, to the council and members of the public. He reminded those in the audience that he had previously run for city treasurer.
During the discussion about filling the position, Cazares said, “We have 60 days to do this, so in theory, we’re going to have someone for 40 days.”
Cazares congratulated Strabone, calling his move “a really big deal and very exciting for La Mesa, although we are losing him,” and also talked about the possible politicization of the position.
“It’s also not a vote on the city council,” she said, “so this I hope will remain unpoliticized. I know the election itself could become politicized, but there is no way I would support a special election.”
According to previous reporting by East County Magazine, the victory made Strabone the first millennial and the first Democrat ever elected to the position in La Mesa.
During his tenure, Strabone was tasked with maintaining and investing the city’s reserve fund, which sits at approximately $65 million.
When elected, he promised to ensure the fund was “wisely invested, and earning a positive return on our investment that creates more wealth for the city.”
Strabone holds certifications from the California Municipal Treasurers Association and the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute, along with degrees from the University of Southern California and the University of Rochester.
He has also been an active voice in local media, recently co-hosting the “San Diego Politics Show.”
In his now-deleted farewell post, Strabone expressed gratitude for his time in Southern California and his tenure in municipal government.
“The 11 years I’ve spent in the San Diego region have afforded me an opportunity to play a small role in civic life here, and I’m grateful for that,” Strabone wrote. “I will also remain forever thankful to the people of La Mesa for electing me City Treasurer four years ago; serving them has been a wonderful experience that I will always cherish.”