Moreno Valley Names Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, Swears in New Council Members

Three new city council members were sworn in and the Moreno Valley City Council voted on a mayor and mayor pro tempore during the regular city council meeting Dec. 9. To a packed City Council chambers that was standing room only with still others in the lobby just outside the room, the council voted Jesse Molina 3-2 to continue serving as the city's mayor and voted Yxstian Gutierrez 3-2 to serve as mayor pro tem, each for a year term. Following the Nov. 4 election, District 2 will now be represented by Jeffrey Giba, a planning commissioner; District 4 will once again be represented by Yxstian Gutierrez, who served in this capacity for several months following the resignation of former Councilman Marcelo Co; and District 5 will be represented by LaDonna Jempson, a human resources manager who takes the seat after former District 5 representative and former Mayor Pro Tem Victoria Baca was recalled. Molina had served as the city's mayor in the interim following former Mayor Tom Owings, who was recalled in June. The voter-approved Measure R, which called for a directly-elected mayor, will take effect in the 2016 General Election, City Attorney Suzanne Bryant explained. Molina and Gutierrez will assume their respective roles as mayor and mayor pro tem after a swearing in ceremony takes place during the first regular city council meeting in January. Giba thanked God and his supporters for his election to the dais, saying, "We are going to work together up here and get something done in the city." He also explained he was glad for the chance to serve his community as a councilmember. "I have a chance to serve them in a greater capacity, and I appreciate that." Gutierrez thanked his parents for their support and said he was "honored and humbled" to be elected. "I want to thank the voters for their confidence in me," Gutierrez said. "I look forward to working with all the city councilmembers and the mayor as well." Jempson thanked her pastor, her husband and children, and said, "Residents, I hope you hear us. Give us a chance... to work together. Let's put the past behind us and let's move forward as a professional group, raising the standards of this group so that the residents of Moreno Valley can be proud." The swearing in ceremony was preceded by the recognition by the council of outgoing councilmembers Richard Stewart, who did not run for re-election to District 2, and Baca, as well as the recognition of Community and Economic Development Director John Terell. In her closing comments, Baca, who was elected to the council in 2012, said she was proud of the city. "I step down with pride and I am very proud of this community. I am proud of the progress we have made." She commented, "I hope the recalls end because it really keeps Moreno Valley under a black cloud. I was recalled and someone will take my place. That's okay. I'm okay with it." Some residents speaking during the public comment portion of last Tuesday's meeting echoed this sentiment, calling for an end to recall efforts in the name of continuity and saying they felt several recent changes in city leadership caused disruption. Upon Stewart's recognition, he thanked the city staff for their role in the city. "The hard work gets done by the city staff," he said. He also thanked the residents and stressed the importance of keeping communication with them. "The residents are the ones who vote you in and vote you out. They're the ones paying taxes, and if you don't talk to them, or return their phone calls or emails, you won't last very long," Stewart said. Stewart served on the council since 1990 and has served six terms as mayor during his tenure. Terell, a city planning official since 1995, served in this position since 2013, first as an interim director before being named the community development director. In his closing statements, Terell said, "I am humbled by this recognition. I have enjoyed working with the city of Moreno Valley for 24 years... Everyone works together... that's a positive as the city moves on to bigger and better things."