**Mayor Blanca Pacheco and Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Frometa. Photo courtesy Claudia Frometa**

I slid into the only empty chair. Lucky for me it was a front seat right behind the glass wall that separates the Downey Council Chamber from the overflow crowd at City Hall. From the lobby we were watching one of the glories of democracy, the peaceful transition of power from the incumbent mayor to the next-in-line council member.

A familiar face greeted me, and I remembered Alodia Perez-Lam, the mother of Downey’s newest school board member Giggy Perez-Saab. We had met a year ago at the Downey Theatre Christmas show on one of Alodia’s frequent visits here from Miami.

Born in Cuba and raised in Downey, Alodia is abuela to the three Saab children and she keeps up with Downey doings because she has a mail subscription sent to Miami from the Downey Patriot.

We could easily watch Mayor Rick Rodriguez as he received special commendations and plaques from friends and organizations. Miss Downey and her court including Little Miss Downey came up front to commend Mayor Rick for his year, and the littlest one spoke for all. That court experience gives young women such poise and confidence.

Mayor Rick gave heartfelt thanks to his colleagues and the city for his year as mayor. A slide show of his many accomplishments showed my favorite, Mayor Rick at “Movies With the Mayor,” standing on the grassy lawn of the Columbia Memorial Space Center in costume as Obi-Wan Kenobe the Jedi knight.

Sitting with time now to reflect, I thought how the deeper meaning of my title, Society Editor, recalls the fact that in ancient Greece, the highest duty a citizen could have was to serve the city-state, the civitas, from which we get our word society. Here was a roomful of people following that noble calling.

Mayor Rick received a standing O from the packed chamber, and then former Mayor Meredith Perkins ably did the honors, administering the Oath of Office to incoming Blanca Pacheco, who joins an illustrious line of female mayors that stretches all the way back to Hazel Scottto in 1971. Downey is comfortable with women breaking the gender barrier: the next year’s mayor- elect, the mayor pro-tem is also a woman, Claudia Frometa.

It was comforting seeing the procedures through the glass wall that symbolizes transparency, the condition Downey wants to have between its officials, administrators and the people. I was surrounded by Alodia, on one side, and Bill Hare of the Downey Symphonic Society on the other. Directly behind me sat long-time Rotarian and past club president John Lacy. Greg Welch, newly installed chairman of the Board of Managers of the Downey Family YMCA waited directly in front on the other side of the partition, to give his congratulations to Mayor Rick.

Busy placing flyers about the January 11th Conference on Human Trafficking was Soroptimist and PTA worker Celia Goñez. Courage Forward will co-sponsor this important event, at the Downey Adult School.

Martha Medford Sodetani of the Downey School Board arrived with son Gordon, and fellow School Board member Giggy Perez-Saab with their three children came in support of husband Councilman Alex Saab.

Councilman Sean Ashton followed the proceedings from his vantage point council seat, where he sat near City Manager Gilbert Livas.

State Senator Bob Archuleta helped introduce new Mayor Blanca. She wore a red dress and fitted white jacket and stood in the well of the chamber to outline some of her projects for the coming year. Blanca plans to introduce Christmas with Santa and the Mayor, and a summer program, Girls on Fire Sumer Camp for 6th-12th graders. She will keep the environment-friendly Ride (a bike) and Stride programs, and implement a Citywide Pedestrian Plan.

Rapid flashing beacons will be introduced for better traffic control, and new Downey city entrance monument signs will be erected.

There will be another Movie With the Mayor outdoors at the Space Center– wonder what one Mayor Blanca and staff will choose. Concerts in the Park will continue, always fun family nights, with picnics and blankets; and hot dogs and home-made desserts on sale to benefit the Downey Rose Float Association.

A one-time event will be the celebration on April 18 of the Downey Theatre’s 50th Anniversary, an all-day free affair with music and drama and a special program by the Downey Symphony Orchestra, Sharon Lavery conducting.

Spotted in the crowd: Ben Dickow who is director of both the Columbia Memorial Space Center and the Downey City Library. The latter is undergoing a significant transformation. Incoming Mayor Blanca promises an opening in June of 2020. Dr. John Garcia, Superintendent of the Downey Unified School District was in the audience, still sporting that short white beard.

At the reception, Lori Tiffany, director of the Downey Family YMCA circulated, as did Amber Vogel, Venutech Manager of the Downey Theatre. “This is the only show in town tonight,” Amber said. “And it’s been a good one.”

The fare featured a special dish, tamales with three kinds of chicken filling, “red, green, and not-so-spicy white,” as the server helpfully advised; and a delicious cake with boiled icing laced with honey. Lemonade and good cold water for the thirsty.

Speaking to Mayor Rick, I asked how it felt now to be the “old” mayor. “Once the mayor, always the mayor,” Mr. Mayor Rick said. “But of course I’ll continue to serve the city as councilman, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.”

A presenter had described Mayor Rick as “all heart and energy.” That pep has returned to Mayor Rick’s step and we are glad he has survived his year.

Councilwoman Claudia Frometa in black jacket and skirt, black tights and stiletto heels wore a Christmasy necklace of sparkling red hearts. “I look forward to this year,” Claudia said. “We’ll be busy. And even more the year after, but I’m excited.”

The last words belonged to the newest leader of the Council.

“It means a lot,” said Blanca Pacheco. Those were the sentiments of everyone in City Hall that night.

Downey says goodbye to one mayor, welcomes another