From left: City Attorney Carmen Vasquez, Treasurer Kale Morita, Councilmember Paulette Francis, outgoing treasurer Guy H. Mato, outgoing city clerk Mina Semenza, Mayor Tasha Cerda, Councilmember Mark E. Henderson, City Clerk Becky Romero, Councilmember/Mayor Pro Tem Rodney Tanaka, Councilmember Jeff Fukasawa, City Manager Clint Osorio.
Gardena’s new and returning city officials were sworn in during a City Council meeting on July 2.
Participants in the ceremony, held after the council certified the June 2 election results, were:
City Councilmember Jeff Fukasawa
City Treasurer Kale Morita
City Councilmember/Mayor Pro Tem Rodney Tanaka
Mayor Tasha Cerda, who was re-elected, defeating City Councilmember Wanda Love, who did not attend the ceremony. Cerda was first elected in 2017 and previously served on the City Council and as city clerk.
Councilmember/Mayor Pro Tem Rodney Tanaka, who was re-elected. He has served on the council since 2017.
Councilmember Jeff Fukasawa, a first-time candidate. He and Tanaka were the top two vote-getters in a five-way race.
Also serving on the council are Mark Henderson and Paulette Francis, who were not up for re-election this year.
City Treasurer Kale Morita, a city commissioner, who won in a two-way race.
City Clerk Becky Romero, who ran unopposed.
Guy Mato, outgoing city treasurer, and Mina Semenza, outgoing city clerk, were thanked for their service. Semenza swore in her successor and Romero swore in the other officials.