Pasadena’s New Mayor, School Board Members to Take Office Dec. 7

The ballots have been cast, and city officials are already preparing to implement the changes in leadership and policy brought by Tuesday’s election.

City Councilmember Victor Gordo will take over as mayor of Pasadena on Dec. 7, along with new District 2 Councilmember Felicia Williams and incumbents Tyron Hampton, Gene Masuda and Steve Madison, who represent districts 1, 4 and 6, respectively.

Recently elected Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education members will be sworn in on the same day. Incumbent Patrick Cahalan, as well as newcomers Tina Wu Fredericks and Jennifer Hall Lee, led vote counts in their races by large margins as of Friday.

Following the passage of Measure O, once Los Angeles County certifies the election in December, the PUSD will be free to begin issuing bonds, according to PUSD spokeswoman Hilda Ramirez Hovarth.

“This will likely take place sometime in February or March, with funding occurring in April or May,” she said.

“The first issuance will be mainly short-term Ed Tech bonds with a small amount of long-term bonds for safety and small high-priority projects and funding for planning purposes,” Ramirez Hovarth said. “The immediate need for the Ed Tech Bonds is to refresh Chromebooks for students, which are currently reaching their useful life.”

Pasadena’s Measure P, which specifically allows for the continued transfer of some funds from the city-owned power and water utility to the city’s general fund, takes effect on Dec. 7, said city spokesperson Lisa Derderian.

But since the measure merely changes the city’s charter to reinforce the city’s authority to continue existing practices, Pasadena won’t see any significant change, officials said.

The City Council is now tasked with selecting a replacement to fill the District 5 City Council seat, which will be left vacant by Gordo upon his ascension to mayor. The council has 75 days to do so.

See also:

Gordo Declares Victory in Mayor’s Race

Pasadena School Officials Ecstatic About Passage of Measure O

Pasadena’s Measure P Seems Headed for Easy Passage

Cahalan, Wu Fredericks, Hall Lee Still on Path to School Board Victories

Council Can Appoint District 5 Rep If Gordo Wins Mayor’s Race