Elections do have consequences and in Cypress, residents have elected two new Council members who clearly wanted to get Cypress moving in a new direction.
After a settlement over its alleged violations of the California Voting Rights Act, Cypress’ new “Asian” district indeed elected Kyle Chang to represent them in District 3.
In District 4, political newcomer Leo Medrano was elected in the city’s first ever by-district election as both new members were sworn into their City Council seats by city clerk Alisha Farnell.
While there were other items on the agenda, citizens turned up to express their support for whom they hoped the new Council would elect as Mayor.
Traditionally, the Mayor Pro-tem is elevated to the position of Mayor but given the chaos of the Council in recent years, some thought the Council needed a fresh start.
“I encourage you to do so with an eye towards a fresh start for this new city council, a clean slate, free of the influences that compromised prior city councils and may still compromise others on the dais this evening,” said resident Paul Kokkinos.
“I strongly encourage you to make good on your campaign promises and I wish you all the best in the year to come, and I’m eager to see what can be accomplished in the absence of the limitations of past Council majorities,” he added.
“This council is going to go down as taking a lot of rights away from the residents, said long time resident Bob Youngsma. “A lot of them (citizens) are very upset on how you took away the way they could speak. I hope you can correct it,” he added.
“To be honest with you, I hope we don’t do protocol tonight, because you guys change that direction too. So I’m hoping things change for the better, and we did get some good people on this council.”
“I think we have, as Paul mentioned earlier, an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and to start something where we have a council that works together, and that’s what’s best for the city, so I’m optimistic about that,” said resident Tim Vink.
“So I’d like to echo the last speaker’s statement and say that I think Council Member Burke would be a great choice for mayor because he’s consistently taken the position of transparency and doing the right thing, and I think he would put the ethics of the position first and try to bridge the divide that has existed the last few years.”
Others expressed support for Mayor Pro-tem Bonnie Peat.
“We need Bonnie Pete. Bonnie Pete has shown her devotion to the city. She’s lived in Cypress her entire life. She’s been a leader in the community. She’s been on the school board. She’s helped a lot along with her husband with the Boys and Girls Club,” said resident Patricia Boggs.
“She has been a business leader for many years,” said Boggs.
“I first wanted to say thank you to the outgoing council members and to the incoming ones. It is truly a sacrifice. As we said earlier, it’s not an easy job, and I do thank you for doing that job,” said Meagan Martinez King.
“Regarding item number nine, I want to echo the support of Bonnie Peat as mayor. She is one of the kindest, easily the most intelligent and levelheaded, fair and just person that I know, and I think, you know, as a fellow longtime Cypress resident, I think she really has Cypress his interest at heart,” she added.
When the reorganization of the Council came up later in the meeting, outgoing Mayor Scott Minikus nominated Mayor Pro-tem Peat to serve as the next Mayor on the Council. Peat seconded the nomination.
Newly sworn Council member Medrano had other ideas and in a substitute motion, nominated David Burke as Mayor. Chang seconded his motion.
Burke, Chang, and Medrano voted for the substitute motion while Minikus and Peat voted against. Burke was elected 3-2, thus
Burke was elected by the Council as the city’s next Mayor.
In brief remarks, Burke, an attorney, said he is the son of a high school teacher, who taught civics and government. “This seems very natural to me,” he said.
“Government,” he said, “is the most efficient way to do good.”
“I know it’s been challenging the past few years,” noted Burke. “We have a lot of positive accomplishments to be proud of. Many of them were mentioned this evening. But we also want to make sure that we always conduct ourselves with the level of professionalism and respect and civility that you, the residents, deserve,” he said.
“And so that’s going to be one of my top priorities as mayor, is just setting that tone. I want these council meetings to be welcoming for everybody. I want you to feel free to offer your positive feedback, your constructive criticism, whatever is on your mind,” he said.
“And I hope that you know everyone in this room and everyone who attends future meetings will prioritize being respectful,” he pleaded. “Let’s get away from insults and accusations.”
Medrano was then nominatedf for Mayor Pro-tem by Chang and seconded by Burke, and was elected Mayor Pro-Tem by a vote of 4-1. Peat was the lone dissenting vote.
“Good evening, Cypress. I sit before you tonight with deep gratitude and humility, honored to serve as one of your newest city council members. First, I want to thank the people of Cypress for placing your trust in me,” said Medrano.
“Your voices, your concerns and your hopes have been my guide throughout this campaign, and they will continue to guide you as we move forward together,” he added. Before the Council’s reorganization, the Council showered outgoing member Anne
Hertz Mallari with gifts and mementos of the former Mayor’s service to the city.
“It has been my great honor to serve on the Cypress City Council,” said Mallari.
“Cypress is a city that I love. I raised my children here. One of my granddaughters is being raised here, and I think that the unique characteristics of Cypress are due in large part to just there’s a lot of fantastic people that live here, and my encouragement to each one of you is to find something that you love to do and do it here,” she added.
Outgoing Council member Frances Marquez was absent due to COVID, however, one resident, Wanda Youngsma, spoke on her behalf.
“I just want to recognize council member Frances Marquez, even though she’s not here, and thank her for the four years serving our community and listening to the residents, and thank her for trying to do what was best for the city,” said Youngsma.
“I appreciate that she dug in her heels and didn’t quit while being pressured by the bullies sitting on the council,” she added.
“We always knew that we were trying to listen to this residence and do what they wanted.
Finally, Peat thanked Minikus for his year of service as Mayor.
“For the last 12 months, I have seen him in the community. I have seen, you know, all of the videos that you do on a regular basis, and occasionally I did fill in, okay, but not that often. Quite honestly, I appreciate your dedication. I appreciate everything that you did for our city,” said Peat.