League of California Cities announces new board officers and directors

Sep 24, 2021

Walnut Creek Council Member Cindy Silva elected League of California Cities president

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jill Oviatt
Cell: (916) 882-8656, joviatt@calcities.org

SACRAMENTO — The League of California Cities announced its 2021-22 leadership and Board of Directors on Friday, Sept. 24, as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

The Cal Cities Board of Directors elected Walnut Creek Council Member Cindy Silva to serve as president, Artesia Council Member Ali Sajjad Taj to serve as first vice president, and Fowler Council Member Daniel Parra to serve as second vice president. El Centro Mayor Cheryl Viegas Walker, who served as the 2020-21 president, became immediate past president.

“Having such dedicated city leaders as partners leading Cal Cities at a time of unprecedented challenges and opportunities is an honor,” said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. “All of our officers and board members make our organization an even stronger voice for the cities we represent, and I’m excited about all we will accomplish together on behalf of California cities.”

Silva was first elected to the Walnut Creek City Council in 2006, subsequently re-elected in 2010, re-appointed in 2014, and re-elected in 2018. She has served as mayor three times in 2010-11, 2012-13, and 2018-19.

Silva has been a Cal Cities board member since 2015 and served as the East Bay Division president in 2013. She has been an active member of Cal Cities since she was elected to city council and has served on several Cal Cities Policy Committees including: Housing, Community and Economic Development (2010-present, 2016 chair); Governance, Transparency and Labor Relations; and Community Services. Silva also served on a statewide Homelessness Task Force in 2016 and on a housing working group in 2017.

As mayor, Silva founded and co-chairs Walnut Creek Community Service Day, spearheaded a Community Blue Ribbon Task Force on Fiscal Health, and organized the city’s Second Saturday Spotlight in 2013 and 2019. In her council member role, Silva has served on numerous council committees: Finance; Public Education; Housing and Community Development; Public Safety; Youth and Family Services; and several ad hoc committees.

Regionally, Silva represents Walnut Creek on the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority (Recycle Smart) and is a Finance Committee member of the East Bay Regional Communications System Authority. From 2008-10, Silva was Walnut Creek’s representative to the regional transportation planning committee of Central Contra Costa.

Under the Cal Cities’ bylaws, officers are elected to serve a one-year term with the outgoing president becoming immediate past president. Along with Cal Cities Executive Director Coleman, the four officers comprise the organization’s executive committee. Individual releases for each of the board officers can be found at the end of this release.

The board also elected six at-large directors who will serve a two-year term. These directors are:

Britt Huff, Council Member, Rolling Hills Estates
Lynne Kennedy, Mayor Pro Tem, Rancho Cucamonga
Porsche Middleton, Vice Mayor, Citrus Heights
Richard Montgomery, Council Member, Manhattan Beach
Gabe Quinto, Mayor Pro Tem, El Cerrito
Nancy Young, Mayor, Tracy

The 2021-22 Cal Cities Board of Directors are:

Officers:

President Cindy Silva, Council Member, Walnut Creek
First Vice President Ali Sajjad Taj, Council Member, Artesia
Second Vice President Dan Parra, Council Member, Fowler
Immediate Past President Cheryl Viegas Walker, Mayor, El Centro

Directors:

Jan Arbuckle, Vice Mayor, Grass Valley – At-large
Denise Athas, Council Member, Novato – At-large
Al Austin, Council Member, Long Beach – Large City Alternate for Mayor Garcia
Emily Beach, Council Member, Burlingame – Peninsula Division
LaTanya Bellow, Human Resources Director, Berkeley – Personnel and Employee Relations Department
John Binaski, Fire Chief, Clovis – Fire Chiefs Department
London Breed. Mayor, San Francisco – Large City
Joe Buscaino, Council Member and President Pro Tem, Los Angeles – Large City Alternate for Mayor Garcetti
Ken Carlson, Council Member, Pleasant Hill – East Bay Division
Chris Catren, Police Chief, Redlands – Police Chiefs Department
Ross Chun, Mayor Pro Tem, Aliso Viejo – Orange County Division
David Cohen, Council Member, San Jose – Large City Alternate for Mayor Liccardo
Michael Colantuono, City Attorney, Grass Valley – City Attorneys Department
Pippin Dew, Council Member, Vallejo – North Bay Division
Jerry Dyer, Mayor, Fresno – Large City
Edgard Garcia, Council Member, El Centro – Imperial County Division
Todd Gloria, Mayor, San Diego – Large City
Karen Goh. Mayor, Bakersfield – Large City
Eric Guerra, Council Member, Sacramento – Large City Alternate for Mayor Steinberg
Steve Hofbauer, Mayor, Palmdale – Desert Mountain Division
Dawn Holm, Director of Finance, Sacramento – Fiscal Officers Department
Lindsey Horvath, Mayor, West Hollywood – NLC Board of Directors
Britt Huff, Council Member, Rolling Hills Estates – At-large
Randi Johl, Director of Legislative Affairs/City Clerk, Temecula – City Clerks Department
Dan Kalb, Council Member, Oakland – Large City Alternate for Mayor Schaaf
Lynne Kennedy, Mayor Pro Tem, Rancho Cucamonga – At-large
Jim Lewis, City Manager, Pismo Beach – City Managers Department
Corina Lopez, Council Member, San Leandro – NLC Board of Directors
Tony Madrigal, Council Member, Modesto – Central Valley Division
Ray Marquez, Vice Mayor, Chino Hills – At-large
Annie Mezzacappa, Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Anaheim – Large City Alternate for Mayor Sidhu
Lisa Middleton, Mayor Pro Tem, Palm Springs – At-large
Porsche Middleton, Vice Mayor, Citrus Heights – At-large
John Minto, Mayor, Santee – San Diego County Division
Richard Montgomery, Council Member, Manhattan Beach – At-large
Eric Nelson, Planning Commissioner, Dana Point – Planning and Community Development Department
Robert Newman, Director of Public Works, Santa Clarita – Public Works Department
Lori Ogorchock, Council Member, Antioch – Mayors and Council Members Department
Blanca Pacheco, Mayor Pro Tem, Downey – At-large
David Pollock, Council Member, Moorpark – Channel Counties Division
Dave Potter, Mayor, Carmel – Monterey Bay Division
Ana Maria Quintana, Vice Mayor, Bel – Los Angeles County Division
Gabe Quinto. Mayor Pro Tem, El Cerrito – At-large
Dana Reed, Mayor Pro Tem, Indian Wells – Riverside County Division
David Sander, Council Member, Rancho Cordova – At-large
Joan Smith Freeman, Council Member, Yreka – Sacramento Valley Division
Mireya Turner, Council Member, Lakeport – Redwood Empire Division
Nancy Young, Mayor, Tracy – At-large
Vacancy, Inland Empire Division
Vacancy, South San Joaquin Valley Division

Walnut Creek Council Member Cindy Silva elected League of California Cities president

Sacramento — The League of California Cities Board of Directors elected Walnut Creek Council Member Cindy Silva to serve as its 2021-22 president. Council Member Silva was installed on Sept. 24 as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

“Cities are at the forefront of our state’s pandemic recovery and I could not be prouder to serve as president of Cal Cities this year,” said President Silva. “I’m honored to work alongside such skilled, thoughtful, and insightful local leaders as we collectively work to ensure that all of our cities have the tools and resources that they need to effectively serve their communities.”

Silva has served on the Walnut Creek City Council since 2006 and has served three terms as mayor (2010-11, 2012-13, 2018-19). Prior to her election to the city council, Silva spent three years on the Walnut Creek Planning Commission, two of which the city was updating and adopting General Plan 2025.

Silva has been an active member of the League of California Cities for more than a decade. She has been a member of the Cal Cities Board of Directors since 2015 and served as president of the East Bay Division in 2013. Silva also served on a number of Cal Cities Policy Committees over the years, including Housing, Community and Economic Development; Governance, Transparency and Labor Relations; and Community Services. Silva has served on specialized Cal Cities task forces and working groups as well, including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2020); Governance (2020); Housing (2017, 2019); Homelessness (2016); and Strategic Initiatives (2012-13).

“Cindy’s long tenure in providing valuable insight, knowledge, and expertise to Cal Cities has been invaluable over the years,” said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. “As president, her passion and dedication for strengthening California’s communities will be integral as we continue our work to find solutions to pressing challenges facing our cities.”

As mayor, Silva founded the now-annual Walnut Creek Community Service Day in 2011, which she still co-chairs. Over the years, Community Service Day has amassed an average 1,200 volunteers annually, has cumulatively generated nearly 50,000 hours of volunteer service for public facilities and local nonprofits, and collected nearly 80,000 pounds of food and $50,000 for the local food bank.

Also as mayor, Silva spearheaded a Community Blue Ribbon Task Force on Fiscal Health and organized the city’s monthly Second Saturday Spotlight in 2013 and 2019. In her council member role, Silva has served on numerous council committees: Finance; Public Education; Housing and Community Development; Public Safety; Youth and Family Services; and several ad hoc committees, including the city’s 2020-21 Economic Rebound Program and the North Downtown Specific Plan advisory committee (2016-2019).

Regionally, Silva represents Walnut Creek on the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority and represents Contra Costa county on the East Bay Regional Communications System Authority. At the state level, Silva serves as a governor-appointed member of the California Seismic Safety Commission.

During its meeting this week, the Cal Cities Board of Directors also elected Artesia Council Member Ali Sajjad Taj to serve as first vice president and Fowler Council Member Dan Parra to serve as second vice president. El Centro Mayor Cheryl Viegas Walker, who served as the 2020-21 president, became immediate past president.

Artesia Council Member Ali Sajjad Taj elected League of California Cities first vice president

Sacramento — The League of California Cities Board of Directors elected Artesia Council Member Ali Sajjad Taj to serve as the organization’s 2021-22 first vice president. Taj was installed on Sept. 24 as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

“Being on the Cal Cities Board of Directors has given me the privilege of working with an incredible network of city leaders who are dedicated to public service,” said Council Member Taj. “I look forward to continuing this partnership and supporting Cal Cities as we advocate for policies that enhance our communities and the lives of our residents.”

Taj was first elected to the Artesia City Council in December 2013 and served as mayor in 2016-17 and 2019-20. Throughout his tenure on the city council, Taj has focused his time and energy on solving day-to-day quality of life issues for Artesia residents by supporting projects that improve the city’s lighting, street quality, and traffic safety, while being an advocate for bringing new businesses that generate revenue for city services and provide new amenities for residents.

Taj has been actively involved with Cal Cities for many years and was first elected to the Cal Cities Board of Directors in 2017. He has served on the Public Safety Policy Committee and Finance Committee, and currently serves as Audit Committee Chair and as a board member of the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus.

“Ali has been a dedicated local leader and valuable member of Cal Cities for many years,” said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. “Ali’s expertise, insight, and commitment to strengthening communities through effective policymaking will help Cal Cities advocate for city priorities in the coming year.”

Taj worked in the financial services industry for two decades and held several key leadership positions, including district manager, regional manager, managing principal, and vice president of multinational firms like American Express, Ameriprise Financial, Weddell & Reed, and T.D. Ameritrade.

Taj represents Artesia on numerous regional boards and committees, including as board member and membership committee chair for California Contract Cities Association and as vice chair for the Eco-Rapid Transit Orange Line Development Authority of Los Angeles County.

During its meeting this week, the Cal Cities Board of Directors also elected Walnut Creek Council Member Cindy Silva to serve as president and Fowler Council Member Dan Parra to serve as second vice president. El Centro Mayor Cheryl Viegas Walker, who served as the 2020-21 president, became immediate past president.

Fowler Council Member Daniel Parra elected League of California Cities second vice president

Sacramento — The League of California Cities Board of Directors elected Fowler Council Member Daniel Parra to serve as the organization’s 2021-22 second vice president. Parra was installed on Sept. 24 as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

“Throughout my tenure, I have seen firsthand Cal Cities’ strong advocacy efforts on behalf of California residents, and benefited from the educational resources and professional development opportunities this organization has to offer,” said Council Member Parra. “I am humbled to stand beside such esteemed local leaders as we collectively work to find solutions to the challenges facing our communities.”

Parra has served on the Fowler City Council since 2008 and has been a strong voice for his community since being elected to local office. During his tenure on the city council, Parra was instrumental in the revitalization of Fowler’s downtown through the use of redevelopment funds. The effort not only helped bring new jobs to Fowler, but also brought the community together and encouraged residents to buy and stay local.

Parra has been actively involved with the League of California Cities for many years, having served twice as chair of the Transportation, Communications, and Public Works Policy Committee. Parra currently serves as state director for Cal Cities’ South San Joaquin Valley Division and is past president of the Cal Cities Latino Caucus.

“Daniel is a passionate city leader who has remained steadfast in his commitment to both Cal Cities and improving California’s communities,” said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. “His experience, knowledge, and leadership skills will be a huge asset to the Cal Cities Board of Directors, and I am looking forward to working with him.”

A native of the central valley, Parra is active in several community organizations including the Fowler Lion’s Club, the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus, and the Fowler NFL Flag Football League. Parra previously served in the United States Air Force.

During its meeting this week, the Cal Cities Board of Directors also elected Walnut Creek Council Member Cindy Silva to serve as president and Artesia Council Member Ali Sajjad Taj to serve as first vice president. El Centro Mayor Cheryl Viegas Walker, who served as the 2020-21 president, became immediate past president.

Established in 1898, the League of California Cities is a nonprofit statewide association that advocates for cities with the state and federal governments and provides education and training services to elected and appointed city officials. Cal Cities’ mission is to expand and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians.