Rick Rodriguez chosen to be Downey's next mayor

Rick Rodriguez was elected Tuesday to be Downey’s next mayor. He will be sworn-in Dec. 13. Photo by Claudia Gomez

DOWNEY – Council members Rick Rodriguez and Blanca Pacheco were unanimously voted to fill the roles of mayor and mayor pro tem, respectively, in 2019.

The selections of Rodriguez and Pacheco came with little to no surprise, as they were the seemingly natural successors to the roles. Rodriguez has served as Downey’s mayor pro tem for the past year.

While it is not official -- nor guaranteed -- until after the council votes on the matter, the mayor pro tem is usually elevated to mayor the following year.

The decision came after a motion from current mayor Sean Ashton – whose first stint as mayor is ending early next month – and a second by Councilman Alex Saab.

Rodriguez said that he is excited to step into the mayor’s chair.

“I love this community,” said Rodriguez. “What an honor it is to serve as mayor.”

As Rodriguez looks ahead, he said he hopes to tap into Downey’s spirit of giving and charity.

“My plans are to really expand on the whole volunteerism piece that I started years ago,” said Rodriguez. “I’ve been in office two years and we already have this clergy council well underway. And now with this new program we started as of today…DCC, the Downey Care Collaborative, it’s all about serving.”

Rick Rodriguez, Sean Ashton and Blanca Pacheco. Photo by Claudia Gomez

“We have that heart of the volunteer in our community, and I want to expose that. Everything should not cost tax dollars; there should be a lot of goodwill in our city, and there is.”

The DCC was announced by Rodriguez during his personal comments earlier in the meeting. Its purpose is to target and aid at-risk youth, especially in foster care.

“The County of Los Angeles Department of Children and Family services receive 100 calls a month on child abuse and kids being hurt,” said Rodriguez. “I wanted to attack that number and get them mentored by veterans, and get them services like ASPIRE after school care. Get them Christmas gifts, get them Thanksgiving dinners from our churches. That’s all going to happen now.”

Blanca Pacheco will serve as Downey’s mayor pro tem in 2019, setting her up to become mayor in 2020. Facebook photo

While she did not have any specific plans immediately in mind, Pacheco expressed a likewise excitement to continue to serve the community with Rodriguez in their new expanded roles.

“We’ll be a great team working together,” said Pacheco. “I don’t have anything set in stone just yet, but my whole intent in being on City Council is just to help the residents, so I’m just going to continue to helping them more as mayor pro tem.”

Rodriguez and Pacheco, who represent District 3 and District 1 respectively, were elected in 2016 and are nearing the half-way point of their first term in office.

Rodriguez will be sworn in as mayor on Dec. 13. Newcomer Claudia Fromenta, who recently won the seat currently held by soon-to-be termed out Fernando Vasquez, will be sworn in two days earlier on Dec. 11.