Vicki L. Stuckey honored as her council term ends

Published on July 05, 2022

Council Member Vicki L. Stuckey honored at Lakewood Celebrates

At a “Lakewood Celebrates” community reception on June 14, Council Member Vicki L. Stuckey was honored as she winds down her two years of service on the Lakewood City Council, which will end on July 12.

Stuckey was unanimously appointed by the City Council on Sept. 8, 2020 to fill the remainder of the council term vacated by the retirement of Council Member Diane DuBois on Aug. 31, 2020. 

Stuckey’s council service was groundbreaking as she is the first African American council member in Lakewood’s history.

Because of Lakewood’s new by-district council election system, Stuckey was ineligible to run for a full council term in 2022 because she lives in a part of the city that will not have a district election until 2024. An initial district map proposed by Lakewood’s demographic consultant would have allowed Stuckey to run in 2022 but would have delayed the eastern portion of Lakewood from having a district election until 2024. A Lakewood council member has never come from the eastern-most portion of the city. Stuckey proposed moving eastern Lakewood’s election to the first round of district elections in 2022, even though it meant she had to leave the council in 2022 and could not potentially run for a seat until 2024.   

Watch the video of Council Member Stuckey being honored at Lakewood Celebrates.

A 30-year resident of Lakewood, Stuckey previously had served 19 years on Lakewood city commissions, including four years on the Community Safety Commission and 15 years on the Planning and Environment Commission. She served as chair of the latter commission four times. 

“Vicki had just retired in 2019 after working 34 years for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, rising through the ranks from a deputy to ultimately serving as captain of the Altadena Sheriff’s Station,” said Mayor Steve Croft at Lakewood Celebrates. “So perhaps the stars were aligned to have Vicki become more available to help guide the city she loves just when Diane DuBois retired.” 

“And while she’s reached the completion of this council term, I am sure this is nowhere near the last we’ve seen of Vicki in Lakewood community life,” said Croft. “Vicki has been active in Lakewood organizations, including the Pan American Association and the board of the Lakewood Regional Medical Center…and I have no doubt she’ll remain an active member of our community.”

Council Member Stuckey received a rousing applause for her remarks at Lakewood Celebrates. “I was appointed to the council when Diane DuBois retired after many, many dedicated years. I was honored and I had some big shoes to fill. Diane, thank you for coming tonight and thank you for your leadership.

“Being appointed during the pandemic was, shall I say ‘different.’ The city created and reimagined events to keep citizens involved in a safe manner. We had a drive-through ‘trick or treat’ for our families. We recognized that we needed an event to recognize the wide variety of cultures in our city, and with lots of input from our citizens and excellent staff, we now have the Fest-Of-All annual event recognizing the wide variety of cultures in Lakewood. And we did all this and many other events while staying safe and fiscally sound,” said Stuckey.

“Thank you again for giving me this opportunity to serve as your council member for the past two years,” said Stuckey. “It’s been an honor and a pleasure. Although my term is coming to an end, I will stay involved just as I did prior to being appointed to the council. Thank each and every one of you for your support.”