It wasn’t a problem finding experienced people to fill the vacancies on the Lathrop Planning Commission. 

The two people picked by the Lathrop City Council on Monday night are not only past commissioners, but both served for years on the Lathrop City Council. 

Former Mayor Gloryanna Rhodes – a former commissioner and member of the Lathrop City Council as well as current member of the Lathrop Manteca Fire District Board of Directors – was tapped to fill one of the two vacancies created when two commissioners were elected to the council in November. 

Former councilman Steve Dresser – who lost a close race to former planning commissioner Jennifer Torres-O’Callaghan for the unexpired term that was available – will fill the other vacancy. 

Rhodes was a charter member of the Lathrop Planning Commission, serving from 1992 to 1996 before moving on to the council and other local and regional commitments. Dresser served for five years on the commission – including two as chairperson – before moving on to the council for his first stint. Dresser served for a decade on the council before picking up a two-year term in 2016 and was seeking another unexpired term – the final two years of the term that was vacated when Councilman Ruben Salcedo passed away just days after taking the oath of office – but was defeated by Torres-O’Callaghan in a close race that he led until the final week of vote tabulation. 

Both Rhodes and Dresser will serve out the remainder of a term that will run through June of 2022. They will join Tosh Ishihara, Bennie Gatto, and Ash Ralmilay to comprise the five-member body that addresses development projects as they come up for city review, and occasionally forwards recommendations on to the Lathrop City Council for their consideration. 

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