Baldwin Park council certifies election results and names Avila mayor, Damian mayor pro tem

Baldwin Park, Calif. — At a special meeting on Dec. 11, 2024, the Baldwin Park City Council unanimously approved a resolution certifying the results of the Nov. 5, 2024, general municipal election and completed a scheduled reorganization of the council, including the swearing in of newly elected and reelected members and the selection of a new mayor and mayor pro tempore.

The council voted 5-0 to approve Resolution No. 2024-051 certifying the election results. Mayor Emmanuel J. Estrada moved to approve the resolution and Council member Alejandra Avila seconded; the city clerk then conducted a roll-call vote with all five council members voting yes. The council took the action as a single-item consent matter on the special meeting agenda.

The certification cleared the way for administration of oaths of office. Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio administered the oath to Council member Daniel Damian and Council member Emmanuel J. Estrada; Council member Manuel Lozano was also sworn in during the ceremony. Each new or reelected member made brief remarks after their oaths. Council member Daniel Damian said, "Together, we will focus on what truly matters, and that is our community." Council member Emmanuel J. Estrada said the offices are "full circle" and that "these positions belong to every single one of us."

Following the ceremonial items, the council moved to its reorganization agenda, which implements a city policy adopted Sept. 11, 2024, that establishes an annual rotation process for mayor and mayor pro tempore based on continuous length of service. Because two recently elected members had identical seniority, the council conducted a public drawing to determine the order. Council member Manuel Lozano drew the slot numbered 4 and Council member Emmanuel J. Estrada drew slot number 5; staff then recommended following the rotation order for nominations.

On the recommendation, the council nominated and voted to appoint Council member Alejandra Avila as mayor and Council member Daniel Damian as mayor pro tempore. The nomination to appoint Alejandra Avila as mayor passed on a 5-0 roll-call vote (yes: Emmanuel J. Estrada; Alejandra Avila; Daniel Damian; Monica Garcia; Manuel Lozano). The subsequent appointment of Daniel Damian as mayor pro tempore was moved by Mayor Avila and seconded by Council member Manuel Lozano and likewise passed 5-0. After her appointment, Mayor Alejandra Avila said she would "serve to the best of [her] capacity" and asked for unity on the council.

The meeting included presentations and recognitions from visiting representatives. A staff member from Congresswoman Grace Napolitano’s office and representatives for State Senator Susan Rubio and Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio presented certificates and remarks honoring outgoing and incoming council members. The board of supervisors’ office provided a congratulatory scroll and a county representative noted the recently passed county Measure G expanding the Board of Supervisors, which was mentioned during remarks recognizing the outgoing mayor’s support for that measure.

The council completed routine reorganization action items, swapped seating consistent with the rotation, and adjourned the special meeting at 7:14 p.m. The meeting included a mix of ceremonial recognition, formal votes to certify election results and formal appointments under the city’s rotation policy.

Votes at a glance - Resolution No. 2024-051 (certify Nov. 5, 2024 general municipal election results): Motion carried 5-0 (all council members present voted yes). - Appointment: Alejandra Avila appointed mayor — carried 5-0 (roll-call yes votes recorded for Emmanuel J. Estrada; Alejandra Avila; Daniel Damian; Monica Garcia; Manuel Lozano). - Appointment: Daniel Damian appointed mayor pro tempore — carried 5-0.

What happened next The newly organized council closed the meeting after brief remarks and invited the public to a reception next door. No new policy items or substantive legislative debates were taken up at the special meeting; the agenda was limited to certification, ceremonial presentations, oath administration, and council reorganization.