Re-Elected Councilmembers Sworn Into Office; Kennedy Elected Vice-Mayor

Think of it as January 20. Much like the nation installs its new administration on that date, and the State installs its new electeds on December 1, the City of Pasadena installed new leadership for City Council Monday evening in a non-agenda Special Organizational Meeting, thus beginning a new political year.

John Kennedy, who ran unopposed; Victor Gordo, who easily won his campaign; and Andy Wilson, who won his race in a close runoff election, were all installed by City Clerk Mark Jomsky before a packed City Council Chamber filled with family, friends and supporters.

“Many of the decisions that we are making today,” said Councilmember Gordo, during his installation, “will continue to affect us 15 or 20 years down the line.”

Gordo also spoke about “the importance of the issue of public safety, especially in this time of challenging budgets. We have had some public safety crises in the past few years, and I don’t think we can wait for more public safety crises before we continue the discussion and ensure that we are prepared.”

Wilson, who won his first ever political campaign by only 36 votes, talked about the “battle” of campaigning in his installation speech, and recalled that Councilmember Steve Madison told him after his 2015 appointment to the seat, that “You’re not a real Councilman until you’re elected by the people.”

In a statement reminiscent of the campaign itself, Wilson then said that his opponent Phil Hosp “chose to throw mud” during the campaign, and called his own campaign a victory of “integrity over, perhaps, ambition,” and “action over, perhaps, rhetoric.”

Councilmember John Kennedy was nominated for the office of Vice Mayor by Councilmember Margaret McAustin and was elected unanimously by the full Council. He replaces Councilmember Gene Masuda in that role.

“I shall honor all those who preceded me in this important role, from Masuda to the Honorable Jacque Robinson, to their many predecessors throughout our City’s history,” said Kennedy.

“While our local elections tend not to be as divisive as our national elections, they can be divisive nonetheless,” he continued. “We have many critical issues to address as a city, and we need to put our divisions aside so that we can succeed together as a City Council and succeed on behalf of our constituents to ensure that all Pasadena residents have maximum quality of life and the fullest measure of opportunity.”

A noisy demonstration from members of Black Lives Matter Pasadena began just prior to the installation, but ceased when ordered to, by Mayor Terry Tornek. The members remained at the meeting holding protest signs.