The upcoming 2020 election for Pasadena mayor and council seats is heating up.
For mayor current Mayor Terry Tornek is being challenged by Councilmember Victor Gordo, Gordo is currently councilmember for District 5.
District 1 – Tyron Hampton, currently vice-mayor, has no challenger,
District 2 – Margaret McAustin not running after 13 years as a council member, there’s at least four candidates in the run, Felicia Williams, Kevin Litwin, Tricia Keane, Bo Patatian.
District 3 – John Kennedy –
District 4 – Gene Masuda is running for re-election, but has at least three candidates running for the seat. Kevin Wheeler, Joe Baghadlian, Charlotte “char” Bland.
District 5 – With Victor Gordo running for mayor, there’s currently no candidates who have filed.
District 6 – Steve Madison is running for relelection, but has at least two candidates running against him, Ryan Bell and Tamerlin Godley
District 7 – Andy Wilson – current council member, running for re-election?
Candidates for Mayor:
Terry Tornek – Current Mayor
Victor Gordo – current District 5 Councilmember
Major Williams
Jason Hardin
District 2 and 4 appear to be the most competitive races, with district 2 candidate Felicia Williams a likely winner, and District 4 most likely Gene Masuda being reelected.
For Mayor, the most likely winner will be Victor Gordo, with past Mayor Bill Boggard as compaign manager and Gordo’s many years of experience in the city including the Rose Bowl Operating Company(RBOC) and a recognizable name in the community.
Upcoming debates and forums:
January 14, 2020
Pasadena Mayoral Candidates
Forum on the Environment — January 14
The Arroyo Seco Foundation will host the Pasadena Mayoral Candidates Forum on the Environment to be held in the Donald Wright Auditorium of the Pasadena Central Library, 285 E. Walnut St. in Pasadena on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The theme of the event will be “How Green Should Pasadena Be?” Topics to be covered will include climate change, the Arroyo Seco and trees, among other issues of local concern.
The program will begin with a brief opening statement from each of the four candidates on their environmental record and views. The candidates include Jason Hardin, Victor Gordo, Major Williams and current Mayor Terry Tornek. Following the initial statements, there will be a panel of local environmental leaders who will ask questions of the candidates. The public will also be invited to ask questions of the candidates. The event will conclude at 8:30 pm.
The discussion is a timely event since the primary election for the Mayor’s race will be held on March 3, 2020. “We are pleased that all four candidates have confirmed their participation,” said Tim Brick, Managing Director of the Arroyo Seco Foundation, “and look forward to a lively discussion of critical environmental concerns and solutions.”
Feb 4, 2020:
Pasadena, CA — On February 4, 2020, Pasadena voters will gather at Robinson Recreation Center (1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave.) to attend the city’s first-ever youth-led Climate Action Forum. All mayoral and city council candidates have been invited to attend the forum and discuss their ideas and vision for how Pasadena can be a leader on the climate crisis and be a more sustainable, climate-resilient city.
“Pasadena is in a unique position to be a leader on the climate crisis, and cities like ours have a responsibility to lead during a period of federal inaction,” said Ozzy Simpson, a senior at Sequoyah School and co-organizer of the Pasadena Climate Action Forum. “Local, systemic change—such as enhanced public transportation systems, cleaner and renewable energy, and energy-efficient buildings—from mayors and city councilmembers is required.”
For the first time in Pasadena history, the forum’s moderating panel will be composed entirely of people under the age of 35, highlighting that young people have the most at stake in addressing the climate crisis. Pasadena’s youth vote is also expected to surge in the March 3 elections, given mobilizing issues like the climate crisis and Pasadena’s elections sharing the same ballot as higher-turnout statewide and primary elections.
Mayoral candidates will participate in their own portion of the forum from 6 to 7 PM, while city council candidates will participate from 7 to 8 PM. Prior to the forum, local environmental groups will table to share how concerned voters can get involved in their organizations.
The Pasadena Climate Action Forum builds on the recent momentum from local students who led the September 20 and December 6 climate strikes at Pasadena City Hall in an effort to make the city take serious action against the climate crisis. At the December 6 climate strike, three city council candidates and one mayoral candidate signed the Green New Deal pledge, committing themselves to championing the legislation on a federal and local level as well as not accepting donations of over $200 from the fossil fuel industry. The sitting mayor and councilmembers were asked by local students to sign the same pledge on December 9.
The Pasadena Climate Action Forum is being organized by an intergenerational coalition of local organizations concerned about the climate crisis, including the newly formed Sunrise Sequoyah hub, Pasadena Environmental Advocates, Day One, Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition, and more. If other organizations are interested in joining, please contact Ozzy and David at the numbers listed at the top of this press release.
RSVP to the Pasadena Climate Action Forum at sunrisesequoyah.org/ClimateActionForum
Pasadena Climate Action Forum
Start: Tuesday, February 04, 2020 • 5:00 PM
End: Tuesday, February 04, 2020 • 8:00 PM
Robinson Recreation Center• 1081 N Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103
Host Contact Info: info@sunrisesequoyah.org
