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ELECTIONS – Local cities
Compiled by Bill Ruh
CVAR Government Affairs Director
With the elections now certified, I will include the names of the local winners below in each city that held elections. With only a few exceptions, CVAR knew the winners in each of our cities. We encourage REALTOR® members to contact the winners to congratulate them. Building relations with a local elected leader is a great way to help influence our REALTOR® policy at the local level.
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
At their December meeting, the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Board of Directors voted unanimously to re-elect Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval as Chair and La Verne Mayor Pro Tem Robin Carder as Vice Chair. In addition, the board welcomed Claremont Council Member Ed Reece to the board. Councilman Reece was sworn in for a 2 ½-year term during the meeting, after being appointed by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments last month. The continuing leadership of Chair Sandoval and Vice Chair Carder, along with the addition of Board Member Reece, comes at an important time for the $2.1 billion, 12.3-mile Foothill Gold Line light rail project. The westernmost 9.1 miles of the project (from Glendora to Pomona) is currently undergoing major construction, and the Construction Authority is seeking the additional funding needed to complete the entire project segment to Claremont and Montclair.
Sandoval and Carder have led the board since late 2018. During their leadership tenure, the project’s Alignment design-build contract was awarded to Kiewit-Parsons, a Joint Venture, and the project segment from Glendora to Pomona has advanced from final design into major construction despite being in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Major construction activities are now underway throughout the project corridor, and the project segment is anticipated to be completed in 2025. If an additional $450 million in funding is secured by October 2021, the entire project from Glendora to Montclair will be completed altogether as part of the Alignment design-build contract, with an anticipated completion year of 2028.
BALDWIN PARK
Election results: Mayor: Emmanuel Estrada; City Council: Marlen Garcia, Monica Garcia and Danny Damian.
Additionally, Titanium Healthcare Inc has acquired Your Community Medical Group located in Baldwin Park. The purchase ensures that the largely Medicaid population supported by the clinic will receive superior care through the Titanium model. Titanium Healthcare Inc is a cutting-edge healthcare organization that delivers exceptional care though exceptional care coordination, tele-health and clinical intervention.
CHINO
Election results: Mayor: Eunice Ulloa; Council District 1, Dr. Paul Rodriguez; Council District 4, Karen Comstock
The Chino Valley school board voted to delay an agreement that would allow district personnel to do soil testing on property designated for a second school in the Chino Preserve area. Developer Lewis Management Corporation owns the 12-acre property located south of Pine Avenue, on the east side of Main Street. It had formerly been used for agriculture and dairy and has been vacant and undeveloped since 2009. The delayed agreement gives the school district and its consultants access to the property and preliminary construction testing and inspections which are required by the California Department of Education and Division of State Architect. A previous agreement for the same purpose from September 2019 had expired.Superintendent Norm Enfield said the district had been unable to test last year because top soil on the property needed to be removed. The district set aside $20 million for the school in 2016 after Chino Valley voters approved the $750 million Measure G facilities bond. School board and district officials have stated publicly that the money is still set aside for the project.
CHINO HILLS
Election results: Council District 3, Art Bennett; Council District 5, Cynthia Moran
In other business, The Crossings at Chino Hills, a 346-unit apartment complex on the northeast corner of Fairfield Ranch Road and Monte Vista Avenue, east of the 71 Freeway, has been acquired by Irvine-based Advanced Real Estate Services, Inc. for $130 million.
The apartments were purchased by Advanced Real Estate with “1031 exchange funds” from a recent sale of a large mobile home park in Huntington Beach.
The IRS code 1031 allows investors to avoid paying capital gains taxes when an investment property is sold and the money reinvested in a property of like kind.
The property, across the street from the Chino Hills Hindu Temple and was constructed by Bridge Investment Group in 2018 and 2019.
The Crossings at Chino Hills include a pool, clubhouse, gym, turf soccer field, dog park, EV charging stations, package lockers, business center and playground.
CLAREMONT
Election: Council District 1,Corey Calacay; Council District 5, Sal Medina
On Dec. 8, the Claremont City Council appointed Jennifer Stark as Mayor. Stark was first elected in 2018 and served as Mayor Pro-Tem in 2020. After taking the oath, Mayor Stark acknowledged the tremendously difficult time that is the reality of 2020, in Claremont, nationwide and across the globe. She promised that the council will advocate for businesses damaged by stay-at-home orders, and voiced support for those of us mourning the loss of loved ones, for our exhausted medical community and essential workers.
Mayor Stark highlighted two big challenges facing the city that are not related to the pandemic—notably tackling the housing element and hiring a new city manager, while advocating for federal and state funds.
Additionally, the city did inform the public that all gardeners, tree trimmers, and landscapers must have a valid city business license to work in the city of Claremont. Noise associated with property maintenance is permitted to occur between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Also, gasoline-powered leaf blowers are strictly prohibited in the city. Only electric or battery powered leaf blowers may be used between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., seven days a week. Property owners should advise their landscaping service to follow city regulations on the use of blowers, the hours of maintenance, and to be sure that they are currently licensed to work in the city. For more information, please contact the Community Improvement Division at (909) 399-5467.
DIAMOND BAR
Election Results: Council, Ruth Low; Stan Liu
In Diamond Bar news, all outdoor playgrounds have been closed following the latest COVID news, contrary to earlier reports that they would open as of Dec. 9.
While city facilities remain closed to the public, staff is available to conduct business and respond to inquiries by phone, email or online.
For more information on COVID-19 related closures and restrictions as well as the temporary modifications to city services, visit www.diamondbarca.gov/COVID19 or call City Hall at (909) 839-7000 during its open hours of Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
El Monte

Mutual Trading’s new El Monte headquarters