League of California Cities announces new board officers and directors

Sep 25, 2026

Contact: Karina Rodriguez, (916) 658-8223, krodriguez@calcities.org

Carlsbad Council Member Teresa Acosta elected League of California president

Anaheim — The League of California Cities announced its 2026-27 leadership and Board of Directors on Friday, Sept. 25, as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

The Cal Cities Board of Directors elected Carlsbad Council Member Teresa Acosta to serve as president, San Jose Council Member David Cohen to serve as first vice president, and Arcadia Council Member Michael Cao to serve as second vice president. El Cerrito Mayor Gabe Quinto, who served as the 2025-26 president, became immediate past president.

Elected to the Carlsbad City Council in 2020, Teresa brings over two decades of service to her community, with a strong focus on sustainability, safety, and affordability. Her leadership experience spans local, regional, and state levels, having previously served as a Regional Public Affairs Manager at the League of California Cities and a Field Representative for a California State Senator.

In addition to her public service, Teresa has been a small business owner since 2011 and remains an active advocate for environmental issues through her involvement with organizations like the Sierra Club and the Surfrider Foundation. A dedicated mentor and advocate for youth leadership, she founded the Carlsbad Volunteer Leaders program and has served as an adjunct professor at MiraCosta College.

“Teresa has dedicated her career to strengthening communities and helping residents navigate change,” said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. “Her passion for public service, commitment to collaboration, and ability to connect local priorities with statewide solutions will make her a tremendous asset to cities throughout California.”

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 several at-large directors who will serve a two-year term. These directors are:

Lynne Kennedy, Mayor Pro Tem, Rancho Cucamonga
Jeff Maloney, Mayor, Alhambra
Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Council Member, Morgan Hill
Jaime Patino, Vice Mayor, Union City
Ali Sajjad Taj, Council Member, Artesia
Erica A. Stewart, Mayor, San Luis Obispo
Susana Vasquez, Council Member, Hughson (one-year term)

The 2026-27 Cal Cities Board of Directors are:

Officers:

President Teresa Acosta, Council Member, Carlsbad
First Vice President David Cohen, Council Member, San Jose
Second Vice President Michael Cao, Council Member, Arcadia
Immediate Past President Gabe Quinto, Mayor Pro Tem, El Cerrito

Directors:

Ashleigh Aitken, Mayor, Anaheim – Large City
Walt Allen III, Council Member, Covina – At-Large
Jan Arbuckle, Council Member, Grass Valley – At-Large
Dan Arriola, Mayor, Tracy – At-Large
Debbie Baker, Mayor Pro Tem, La Palma – Mayors and Council Members Dept.
Karen Bass, Mayor, Los Angeles – Large City
Scott Bauer, Council Member, Eureka – Redwood Empire Division
LaTanya Bellow, City Manager, Emeryville – Personnel and Employee Relations Dept.
Art Bishop, Council Member, Apple Valley – Desert Mountain Division
James Bozajian, Mayor, Calabasas – Los Angeles County Division
Ulises Cabrera, Mayor, Moreno Valley – Latino Caucus
Domingo Candelas, Council Member, San Jose – Large City Representative
Eric Danly, City Attorney, Petaluma – City Attorneys Dept.
Minnie Diallo, Council Member, Lathrop – African American Caucus
Beatriz Dieringer, Mayor, Rolling Hills – Women's Caucus
Alice Dowdin Calvillo, Council Member, Auburn – Sacramento Valley Division
Jerry Dyer, Mayor, Fresno – Large City
Eddie Flores, Council Member, South San Francisco – Peninsula Division
Christina Fugazi, Mayor, Stockton – Central Valley Division
Todd Gloria, Mayor, San Diego – Large City
Karen Goh, Mayor, Bakersfield – Large City
Renee Golder, Council Member, Santa Cruz – Monterey Bay Division
Alma Hernandez, Mayor, Suisun City – North Bay Division
Randi Johl, Legislative Director/City Clerk, Temecula – City Clerks Dept.
Lisa Kaplan, Council Member, Sacramento – At-Large
Lynne Kennedy, Mayor Pro Tem, Rancho Cucamonga – At-Large
Jim Lewis, City Manager, Atascadero – At-Large
Cesar Macias, Manager, State and Federal Affairs, Oakland – Large City Representative
Jeff Maloney, Mayor, Alhambra – At-Large
Caity Maple, Council Member, Sacramento – Large City Representative
Yvonne Martínez Beltrán, Council Member, Morgan Hill – At-Large
John Minto, Mayor, Santee – San Diego County Division
Eric Nelson, Planning Commissioner, Dana Point – Planning and Community Development Dept.
Chris Nigg, Fire Chief, Fountain Valley – Fire Chiefs Dept.
Dan Parra, Council Member, Fowler – South San Joaquin Valley Division
Jaime Patino, Vice Mayor, Union City – At-Large
Karen Pinkos, City Manager, El Cerrito – City Managers Department
Rex Richardson, Mayor, Long Beach – Large City
Ali Sajjad Taj, Council Member, Artesia – At-Large
David Sander, Council Member, Rancho Cordova – NLC
Kristine Scott, Council Member, Rancho Cucamonga – Inland Empire Division
Jeff Smith, Police Chief, Pismo Beach – Police Chiefs Department
Scott Smith, Director of Public Works, Fountain Valley – Public Works Department
Erica A. Stewart, Mayor, San Luis Obispo – At-Large
John Taylor, Council Member, San Juan Capistrano – Orange County Division
Michael Vargas, Mayor, Perris – Riverside County Division
Susanna Vasquez, Council Member, Hughson – At-Large
Alex Walker-Griffin, Vice Mayor, Hercules – East Bay Division
Tyller Williamson, Mayor, Monterey – LGBTQ Caucus

San Jose Council Member David Cohen elected League of California Cities first vice president

Anaheim — The League of California Cities Board of Directors elected San Jose Council Member David Cohen to serve as the organization’s 2026-27 first vice president. Cohen was installed on Sept. 25 as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

“Local government is where public service has the greatest opportunity to make a difference in people's daily lives,” said Council Member Cohen. “I am excited to work alongside city leaders throughout the state to advance practical solutions, support local decision-making, and help communities succeed.”

Cohen has served San Jose’s District 4 since 2020 and has devoted nearly two decades to public service. He spent 14 years on the Berryessa Union School District Board, where he launched dual-immersion Mandarin programs, expanded mental health services, and moved schools to solar energy. He also served six years on the San Jose Library Commission, advocating for longer library hours and new branches. Cohen is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum and a member of San Jose Downtown Rotary.

In addition to his public service, Cohen has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley. He spent 21 years in Silicon Valley managing advanced engineering teams, holds 10 patents, and has published numerous technical papers. His expertise in data analysis, modeling, and leadership informs his work in city government.

“Whether in education, engineering, or public service, David has consistently focused on helping communities thrive,” said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. “His collaborative approach and dedication to finding innovative solutions will strengthen Cal Cities' work on behalf of cities across the state.”

Arcadia Council Member Michael Cao, M.D. elected League of California Cities second vice president

Anaheim — The League of California Cities Board of Directors elected Arcadia Council Member Michael Cao, M.D. to serve as the organization’s 2026-27 second vice president. Cao was installed on Sept. 25 as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

“My experiences in military service, medicine, and local government have reinforced the importance of leadership, teamwork, and service to others,” said Council Member Cao. “I look forward to working with city leaders across California to strengthen local government and help communities address the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Michael Cao, M.D., was elected to the Arcadia City Council in 2022 and served as mayor from 2024 to 2025. During his time on the council, he has championed public safety, community health, and initiatives supporting local veterans. A physician and veteran, Cao served 10 years as an active-duty Major in the U.S. Air Force, including as a Critical Care Airlift Team leader. Following his military service, he joined the faculty of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California before establishing his own medical practice.

Cao has held several leadership roles with Cal Cities, including serving on the Board of Directors and as president of the Los Angeles County Division. He currently chairs the Veterans and Military City Officials Member Group and the Los Angeles County Division Nominating Committee.

“Michael's record of service spans military leadership, healthcare, and local government, reflecting a lifelong commitment to service,” said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. “His ability to lead through complex challenges and advocate for local communities will make him a tremendous asset to cities throughout California.”

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.

###