DOWNEY – It was a busy night in Downey on Tuesday as three officials – two new and one returning – were sworn into office with another saying goodbye.

Current Mayor Sean Ashton and newcomer Claudia Frometa took their oaths in front of a packed council chambers, officially beginning their four-year terms.

Ashton returns to office after being initially elected in November of 2014. He retained his seat after running unopposed to represent District 2 last month.

“I’m truly honored to be here tonight to represent the city of Downey for another four years,” said Ashton. “When I thought about this a little over four years ago, I literally just wanted to fix the roads, but it’s so much more than that...I look forward to serving you for the next four years as council member.”

Ashton’s first run as mayor will end Thursday when Rick Rodriguez is sworn in as mayor for 2019. Rodriguez – who has served as mayor pro tem this year – was unanimously voted as the city’s next mayor at a city council meeting last month.

All eyes are now on Claudia Frometa as she steps in to replace Fernando Vasquez as representative for District 4.

Frometa seemed ready and anxious to take to the task as she addressed the audience.

“I am humbled to be here. I am honored to have been elected as a council member representing District 4,” she said. “While I feel that I have big shoes to fill, I want to express to you my commitment to continue to be that bridge builder. We are living in volatile and difficult, challenging political times…here at the local level we must stand together regardless of party affiliation and work together to make our community a better community.”

“Downey has been the shining light for communities around us and for our region, and we still have work to do,” Frometa added. “Over the next four years, I look forward to representing our city with integrity.”

Frometa takes her seat after securing victory ahead of Carrie Uva and Tony Hernandez-Ayala.

The atmosphere in the Council Chambers had a bittersweet feel, however, as Downey said thank you and goodbye to Councilman Fernando Vasquez, whose second and final term came to a close that evening.

Vasquez had served as the District 4 representative on Council since 2010, including two stints as mayor in 2014 and 2017. He is now forced to relinquish his seat due to the two-term limit that is imposed in Downey.

Vasquez was visibly emotional as he addressed his constituents for the last time.

“Thank you for allowing this 27-year-old kid to embark on a journey of public service,” said Vasquez. “I wasn’t the typical candidate that Downey was used to seeing. I was a kid. I was a Democrat. I was Latino. The first of its kind for District 4…but when you put political party aside, I think my love for Downey is bigger than political party ideology.”

“Downey has been an amazing city. It’s done so much for me. It’s given me an opportunity to give back to the city, one that has saw me grow up [and] that gave me everything that I have.”

Just over an hour before the proceedings at City Hall, it was Giggy Perez-Saab’s moment in the spotlight, being sworn in to the previously vacated Downey Unified Board of Education District 3 seat.

Surrounded by her family, Perez-Saab stood front and center in the school board chambers as she was administered the oath of office by her husband, Councilmember Alex Saab.

“I am deeply honored by your vote of confidence,” said Perez-Saab. “This is a moment of personal honor for me, but also a deep personal responsibility and I do not take this lightly.”

“I am well aware that no one person can resolve every problem they may encounter in their service, but I can continue to build a foundation laid upon our current honorable school board.”

Perez-Saab now takes the place of previous board member Willie Gutierrez, who had served as part of the board since being elected in 2000. Gutierrez announced he was resigning from his seat in April of this year after moving to Long Beach.

Tuesday’s Board meeting was also a chance to appoint the next president for 2019, which unanimously went to Nancy Swenson. Donald LaPlante and Tod Corrin were appointed vice president and clerk respectively as well.

Downey's new leaders take oaths of office