San Fernando appoints Sonia Fuentes as liaison to Greater LA County Vector Control board

The San Fernando City Council appointed Sonia Romero Fuentes on June 16 to serve as the city's liaison representative to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District board of trustees, filling an unscheduled vacancy through January 2027.

The council heard brief presentations from four applicants: Flor Sanchez; Maria Elizabeth Castaneda; Vladimir Sogomanian; and Sonia Romero Fuentes. The appointment process followed the rules described by the city clerk: each candidate spoke for two to three minutes, council asked questions, and then members cast ranked votes. After a tied first round, the council proceeded to a second vote between the two top candidates and selected Sonia Romero Fuentes by a 3–2 vote.

City clerk Julia Fritz explained the role: trustees must be residents and registered voters, serve the remainder of a two-year term (effective June 17, 2025 through January 2027), attend monthly board meetings in Santa Fe Springs, and receive a $100 monthly travel reimbursement from the district plus a $150 monthly stipend from the city for meetings attended. The district oversees mosquito and vector control across 36 cities and nearby areas and helps prevent diseases such as West Nile virus.

Council members thanked all applicants for their interest; Fuentes, a retired Los Angeles Department of Water and Power supervisor, told council she would "make you all proud for choosing me." Staff said they would follow up with the new trustee about next steps and orientation.

The council appointment fills the vacancy created by the resignation of former trustee Sylvia Balan.