Diane Lazard is Lathrop’s newest planning commissioner.
Last week the Lathrop City Council voted unanimously – with Councilwoman Martha Salcedo absent – to appoint the former Lathrop Planning Commissioner to serve out the remainder of the term that was vacated when Mark Elliott was appointed to the council to serve the remainder of the first half of Omar Ornelas’ term when he resigned in December.
Three candidates submitted applications to the council – Lazard, Debra Rock and Tosh Ishihara – but Mayor Sonny Dhaliwal made the recommendation that they appoint Lazard and when asked whether or not interviews had been conducted, said that when he saw her name on the list didn’t feel that it was necessary.
“She was there when I joined the planning commission years ago and I admire her dedication and her professionalism,” Dhaliwal said. “When I saw who the applicants were I knew who my choice was and I didn’t want to waste anybody else’s time.”
Lazard works in the office of Covenant Construction and as a senior manager for Dell’Osso Family Farms. She is a member of the Lathrop Lions Club where she served as secretary and treasurer and was a committee member for the Lathrop Relay for Life. Lazard is a graduate of San Joaquin Delta College.
But of the three candidates that applied, there was one that had previously been appointed to the commission.
Ishihara, who has served on city commissions in the past, was appointed to serve out the remainder of a term previously vacated and ended up serving as the vice chair of the group that makes recommendations to the City Council on planning projects of all types.
Rock, who was a founding member of the Measure C Oversight Committee tapped to approve all spending disbursement of Lathrop’s additional sales tax money, was a previous candidate for the Lathrop City Council, and also applied to be considered as Ornelas’ replacement.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544