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Hermosa Beach council elects Michael du Toit mayor; Michael Keegan chosen mayor pro tem
Summary
At a Feb. 24 special meeting, the Hermosa Beach City Council elected Michael du Toit as mayor and Michael Keegan as mayor pro tem, approved committee delegate appointments and recognized outgoing Mayor Rob Seaman. Votes on the leadership positions were recorded by roll call and the motions carried.
The Hermosa Beach City Council elected Michael du Toit as mayor and Michael Keegan as mayor pro tem at a special meeting on Feb. 24, 2026.
Councilmember Francois nominated du Toit for mayor; du Toit accepted. The City Clerk called a roll-call vote and recorded the motion carried. Later, Francois nominated Councilmember Michael Keegan for mayor pro tem; Keegan accepted and the clerk recorded a council vote (Francois yes; Keegan yes; Jackson no; du Toit aye; Mayor Seaman aye) and the motion carried.
Why it matters: the mayor and mayor pro tem represent the city on regional bodies and make committee assignments. The council’s reorganization also updates which council member serves as the city’s delegate to outside boards.
Following the leadership votes, the council approved committee appointments. The council moved to appoint Michael du Toit as the city’s delegate to the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee and to the South Bay City Sanitation District, and to make Councilmember Francois the alternate; the motion passed on a roll-call vote.
The council then recognized outgoing Mayor Rob Seaman for his service. Elected officials, regional office representatives and local organizations presented certificates and remarks honoring Seaman’s year in the mayor’s seat. Scott Houston, vice president of the West Basin Water Board, and a staffer from Congressman Ted Lieu’s office offered the council words of appreciation and presented a congressional recognition certificate.
What the council said: In accepting the mayor’s gavel, du Toit said he would work to keep meetings professional and to focus on the city’s priorities. In his outgoing remarks, Mayor Seaman urged civility in local politics and cautioned against anonymous online attacks and misleading AI-generated images that target officials and families.
Next steps: The council’s reorganization will be reflected in upcoming committee rosters and assignments. No substantive policy changes were enacted as part of the reorganization during the Feb. 24 meeting.
