League of California Cities announces new board officers and directors

Contact:
Kayla Sherwood, 530-844-1744, [email protected]

Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Pro Tem Lynne B. Kennedy elected League of California Cities president

Sacramento, CA - The League of California Cities announced its 2024-25 leadership and Board of Directors on Friday, Oct. 18, as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

The Cal Cities Board of Directors elected Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Pro Tem Lynne B. Kennedy to serve as president, El Cerrito Council Member Gabe Quinto to serve as first vice president, and Carlsbad Council Member Teresa Acosta to serve as second vice president. Fowler Mayor Daniel Parra, who served as the 2023-24 president, became immediate past president.

Kennedy, a lifelong public servant, has been a Rancho Cucamonga City Council member since 2014. Her diligent work ensured a balanced city budget and the preservation of essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 2021, Kennedy has been involved with the League of California Cities, participating in the Transportation, Communications, and Public Works Policy Committee, and serving on the Cal Cities Inland Empire Division Legislative Task Force.

Lynne retired as superintendent of K-12 public education and is still active in several community organizations in the Inland Empire, including the San Bernardino Valley Chapter of The Links, Inc.

Under the Cal Cities' bylaws, officers are elected to serve a one-year term with the outgoing president becoming immediate past president. Along with Cal Cities Executive Director Coleman, the four officers comprise the organization's executive committee. Individual releases for each of the board officers can be found at the end of this release.

The board also elected six at-large directors who will serve a two-year term. These directors are:

• Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Council Member, Morgan Hill
• Neysa Fligor, Council Member, Los Altos
• Ray Marquez, Council Member, Chino Hills
• Rudy Mendoza, Mayor Woodlake
• Jaime Patino, Council Member, Union City
• Ali Sajjad Taj, Mayor Pro Tem, Artesia

The 2024-25 Cal Cities Board of Directors are:

Officers:

• President Lynne Kennedy, Mayor Pro Tem, Rancho Cucamonga
• First Vice President Gabe Quinto, Council Member, El Cerrito
• Second Vice President Teresa Acosta, Council Member, Carlsbad
• Immediate Past President Daniel Parra, Mayor, Fowler

Directors:

• Ashleigh Aitken, Mayor, Anaheim - Large City
• Paul Akinjo, Council Member, Big Bear Lake - Central Valley Division
• Walter Allen III, Mayor, Covina - At-large
• Jan Arbuckle, Mayor, Grass Valley - Mayors & Council Members Dept.
• Karen Bass, Mayor, Los Angeles - Large City
• Scott Bauer, Council Member, Eureka - Redwood Empire Division
• LaTanya Bellow, Assistant City Manager, Berkeley - Personnel and Employee Relations Department
• Priya Bhat-Patel, Mayor Pro Tem, Carlsbad - Women's Caucus
• James Bozajian, Council Member, Calabasas - Los Angeles County Division
• Ulises Cabrera, Mayor, Moreno Valley - Latino Caucus
• Andrew Chou, Council Member, Diamond Bar - At-large
• David Cohen, Council Member, San Jose - Large City Representative
• Karen Comstock, Mayor Pro Tem, Chino - Inland Empire Division
• Christine Dietrick, City Attorney, San Luis Obispo - City Attorneys Department
• Alice Dowdin Calvillo, Council Member, Auburn - Sacramento Valley Division
• Jerry Dyer, Mayor, Fresno - Large City
• Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Mayor, Alameda - East Bay Division
• Neysa Fligor, Council Member, Los Altos - At-large
• Todd Gloria, Mayor, San Diego - Large City
• Karen Goh, Mayor, Bakersfield - Large City
• Rene Guerrero, Director of Public Works, Pomona - Public Works Department
• Alexander Hamilton, Fire Chief, Oxnard - Fire Chiefs Department
• Mike Healy, Council Member, Petaluma - North Bay Division
• Britt Huff, Council Member, Rolling Hills Estates - At-large
• Randi Johl, Legislative Director/City Clerk, Temecula - City Clerks Department
• Dan Kalb, Council Member, Oakland - Large City Representative
• Ellen Kamei, Council Member, Mountain View - Peninsula Division
• Lisa Kaplan, Council Member, Sacramento - Large City Representative
• Jim Lewis, City Manager, Atascadero - City Managers Department
• Jeff Maloney, Council Member, Alhambra - API Caucus
• Ray Marquez, Council Member, Chino Hills - At-large
• Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Council Member, Morgan Hill - At-large
• Rudy Mendoza, Mayor, Woodlake - At-large
• Lisa Middleton, Council Member, Palm Springs - At-large
• John Minto, Mayor, Santee - San Diego County Division
• Eric Nelson, Planning Commissioner, Dana Point - Planning and Community Development Department
• Ida Obeso-Martinez, Council Member, Imperial - Imperial County Division
• Jaime Patino, Council Member, Union City - At-large
• Dave Potter, Mayor, Carmel - Monterey Bay Division
• Randall Putz, Council Member, Big Bear Lake - Desert Mountain Division
• Ana Maria Quintana, Vice Mayor, Bell - At-large
• Roberta Raper, Dir. Of Finance and Technology, West Sacramento - Fiscal Officers Department
• Dana Reed, Council Member, Indian Wells - Riverside County Division
• David Sander, Mayor, Rancho Cordova - NLC
• Cindy Silva, Council Member, Walnut Creek - At-large
• Jeff Smith, Police Chief, Pismo Beach - Police Chiefs Department
• Erica A. Stewart, Mayor, San Luis Obispo - Channel Counties Division
• Ali Sajad Taj, Mayor Pro Tem, Artesia - At-large
• John Taylor, Council Member, San Juan Capistrano - Orange County Division
• Kuldip Thusu, Council Member, Dinuba - South San Joaquin Valley Division
• Racquel Vasquez, Mayor, Lemon Grove - African American Caucus
• Tyller Williamson, Mayor, Monterey - LGBTQ Caucus

Carlsbad Council Member Teresa Acosta elected League of California Cities second vice president

Sacramento - The League of California Cities Board of Directors elected Carlsbad Council Member Teresa Acosta to serve as the organization's 2024-25 second vice president. Acosta was installed on Oct. 18 as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

"It's a privilege to step into this role at such a pivotal time for California's cities," said Council Member Acosta. "I look forward to working closely with leaders across the state to advocate for policies that not only address today's challenges but also lay the groundwork for a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future."

Elected to the Carlsbad City Council in 2020, Teresa brings over two decades of dedicated service to her community, with a strong focus on sustainability, safety, and affordability. Her leadership experience spans local, regional, and state levels, having previously served as a Regional Public Affairs Manager at the League of California Cities and a Field Representative for a California State Senator.

In addition to her public service, Teresa started a consulting business in Carlsbad in 2011 and remains an active advocate for environmental issues through her involvement with organizations like the Sierra Club and the Surfrider Foundation.

"Teresa is a dedicated public servant with a long-standing commitment to enhancing the quality of life in California's cities," said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. "Her wealth of experience and forward-thinking leadership will be invaluable to the Cal Cities Board of Directors."

A dedicated mentor and advocate for youth leadership, she founded the Carlsbad Volunteer Leaders program and has served as an adjunct professor at MiraCosta College.

El Cerrito Council Member Gabe Quinto elected League of California Cities first vice president

Sacramento - The League of California Cities Board of Directors elected El Cerrito Council Member Gabe Quinto to serve as the organization's 2024-25 first vice president. Quinto was installed on Oct. 18 as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

"As a proud member of Cal Cities for nearly a decade, it has been an honor to contribute to an organization that consistently advocates for the most pressing issues facing our cities," said Council Member Quinto. "I am eager to continue working alongside dedicated leaders to drive meaningful progress and ensure California's cities thrive."

When Quinto began his first term on the El Cerrito City Council in 2014, he became the council's first Filipino American, and first LGBTQ member. Quinto has prioritized equity and diversity in El Cerrito and on the boards he's served on over the years.

Quinto's extensive involvement with Cal Cities includes past presidencies of the East Bay Division, Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, and LGBTQ Caucus, as well as committee roles in equity, diversity & inclusion, governance, and environmental policy initiatives.

"Gabe's leadership and passion for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion have strengthened our organization and benefitted communities across the state," said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. "I am excited to see how he will continue to champion positive change for California's cities in the years ahead."

Quinto is active in several organizations, including Equality California and CivicWell. He also serves as a board member of A Wider Bridge.

Carlsbad Council Member Teresa Acosta elected League of California Cities second vice president

Sacramento - The League of California Cities Board of Directors elected Carlsbad Council Member Teresa Acosta to serve as the organization's 2024-25 second vice president. Acosta was installed on Oct. 18 as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

"It's a privilege to step into this role at such a pivotal time for California's cities," said Council Member Acosta. "I look forward to working closely with leaders across the state to advocate for policies that not only address today's challenges but also lay the groundwork for a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future."

Elected to the Carlsbad City Council in 2020, Teresa brings over two decades of dedicated service to her community, with a strong focus on sustainability, safety, and affordability. Her leadership experience spans local, regional, and state levels, having previously served as a Regional Public Affairs Manager at the League of California Cities and a Field Representative for a California State Senator.

In addition to her public service, Teresa started a consulting business in Carlsbad in 2011 and remains an active advocate for environmental issues through her involvement with organizations like the Sierra Club and the Surfrider Foundation.

"Teresa is a dedicated public servant with a long-standing commitment to enhancing the quality of life in California's cities," said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. "Her wealth of experience and forward-thinking leadership will be invaluable to the Cal Cities Board of Directors."

A dedicated mentor and advocate for youth leadership, she founded the Carlsbad Volunteer Leaders program and has served as an adjunct professor at MiraCosta College.

This week, the Cal Cities Board of Directors also elected Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Pro Tem Lynne B. Kennedy to serve as president and El Cerrito Council Member Gabe Quinto to serve as first vice president. Fowler Mayor Daniel Parra, who served as the 2023-24 president, became immediate past president.

Established in 1898, the League of California Cities is a nonprofit statewide association that advocates for cities with the state and federal governments and provides education and training services to elected and appointed city officials. Cal Cities' mission is to expand and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians.

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