Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo
Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo is visiting the Pasadena Rotary Club virtually on Wednesday, Jan. 20, to discuss “The Spirit to Succeed.”
This annual visit usually serves as a preview of what the mayor will be focusing on in the upcoming year. Since COVID-19 restrictions are still in effect, Gordo’s visit and his talk will be conducted on Zoom.
The online meeting is open to the public and begins at noon.
Gordo, formerly the City Council’s District 5 representative, was elected mayor in the Nov. 3 election.
Gordo was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and grew up in Pasadena as the oldest of six children. His mother worked as a seamstress and his father as a restaurant dishwasher and cook. Gordo got his first job at age nine delivering copies of a local newspaper while attending Pasadena High School. In high school, he excelled in football, baseball and soccer.
Gordo was the first in his family to go to college, first at Pasadena City College, and then Azusa Pacific University. He worked his way through college by working as a waiter and restaurant manager.
After college, Gordo became program director for the Pasadena Day One Community Partnership, and later became the field representative for District 5 Councilmember Bill Crowfoot.
While working as a field representative, he spent four to five nights a week attending law school at the University of La Verne. He was elected to the Pasadena City Council in March 2001 and passed the California Bar exam in July of that year.
During his time on the council, Gordo has advocated for economic growth and stability in local business districts, opposed overdevelopment, championed a living wage, fought for improving educational outcomes for children, supported public schools, and pushed for increasing government transparency and accountability.
In 2007, he was selected as the City Council’s representative on the Rose Bowl Operating Co. In 2009, the RBOC Board of Directors elected him as president to oversee the renovation of the Rose Bowl Stadium. He served as president for 10 years.
Professionally, Gordo serves as general counsel for the Laborer’s International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 777. He lives in District 5 with his wife and two children.
To watch Wednesday’s Rotary Club meeting, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
If you need help with Zoom, call Tammy Silver at (626) 744-9533 or email tamaramsilver@gmail.com.
