Pacheco appointed Mayor, Frometa Pro Tem for 2020
DOWNEY - History was made Wednesday night, with council members Blanca Pacheco and Claudia Frometa appointed as the mayor and mayor pro tem respectively for 2020.
Although never a guarantee, it is often anticipated that the Mayor Pro Tem will be elevated to mayor the following year. Pacheco – who was elected in 2016 – served as mayor pro tem for the past year.
Ultimately, it was Council member Sean Ashton who made the motion for Pacheco and Frometa. Pacheco provided the second, with a unanimous vote in approval afterward.
Pacheco now makes history, becoming the first Latina mayor of Downey.
Pacheco said that she was excited for the opportunity to serve as mayor, and expressed understanding of the added weight her mark on history makes.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege being able to serve as mayor pro tem with our mayor,” said Pacheco. “I think this is a great opportunity for our city…I hope this will motivate Latinas to pursue whatever career path they want to, whether elected office, STEM field, as attorneys, whatever it may be. I hope this shows more of an example of they can strive to be.”
Pacheco already had a fair amount of momentum towards the mayor’s chair heading into the vote, having covered for current Mayor Rick Rodriguez at meetings and in the public eye during the mayor’s recent extended medical leave.
After the meeting, Rodriguez expressed great confidence in his successor, saying she was ready to “rock and roll.”
“The fact that she came in, carried the gavel, and did a wonderful job; I’m so proud of her,” said Rodriguez. “She’s ready, I’m just in the way…I’ve learned so much from her watching from a hospital bed, watching her take all the hits for me, all these hits for the city, all these complicated issues, her taking those, being so judge-like…I have so much faith in her.”
The 2020 appointments also mark the first time that both the mayor and pro tem positions will be occupied by two women.
Frometa, also thankful to be given the opportunity, described the decision as “something to be really proud about and celebrate as a community.”
“I don’t take this responsibility lightly,” said Frometa. “I’m looking forward to working with our Mayor Blanca Pacheco on some exciting projects, and serving our residents. I think this is the moment in time where we, as women, continue to make strides in our community, and I think that this also sends a message to the younger generations that as women leaders, we can continue to forge new paths. It’s an exciting time.”