Williams Ready To Go After Being Sworn In

Councilmember Felicia Williams was sworn in on Monday, becoming the only woman on the City Council.

Williams replaces Margaret McAustin, who decided not to run for a fourth term for the council’s District 2 seat after her husband John was diagnosed with cancer.

“It is an amazing feeling after so many years of planning to fulfill my goals and take my seat on the council. Thanks to the voters who put their trust in me, and my family, friends, and supporters,” Williams told Pasadena Now.

“I can’t do it alone, so I look forward to working with a great team of councilmembers to create the policy of the people, and talented staff to implement it,” she said.

Williams said her top priority would be safely reopening city businesses with practical rules that evenly apply to everyone.

Small and big businesses, schools, places of worship, and fitness centers need the same rules so businesses can plan and people can get back to work, Williams said. “This will also help us stabilize the city budget so we can continue to provide needed services,” she said.

Her long-term focus will include enhancing social services so that everyone has an equal chance of having a high quality of life, addressing housing needs that are specific to Pasadena, and returning Pasadena to a leadership role in environmental stewardship.

Along with being the council’s only woman, Williams becomes the eight-member board’s third African-American member, and its second Asian-American member.

Williams has been a member of several city commissions since 2006, most recently the Planning Commission, on which she served as chair.

Her community involvement also includes serving on the boards of several local nonprofits, including Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, and the Pasadena Educational Foundation.

“Above all, I am committed to respecting different points of view in an effort to build consensus — the only way that we can tackle these big problems is together as a community and a region. Thank you, happy holidays, and stay safe.”