The city of Los Alamitos honored outgoing mayor Tanya Doby at their December meeting as they voted in new leadership for 2024.
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Jordan Nefulda, the Mayor Pro-tem was elected Mayor while former Mayor Shelley Hasselbrink was elected Mayor Pro-tem.
Before moving out of the Mayor’s seat, however, Doby conducted the city’s last bit of business in 2023, honoring Mark Hoover of the local business Audophile. The city, to promote its local businesses, has been recognizing one each month giving them attention and promoting them on the city’s social media.
“I basically grew up in Seal Beach,” said Hoover, “went to Los Al High School then moved away. I came back and found Los Alamitos as a great place to continue our business,” he told the mayor.
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So he moved the 25-year-old company, Audiophile, a vinyl records business, to the city and recently opened the front of the store where customers can purchase vinyl records, which are back in style.
“Basically, we carry all sorts of music, from classical to jazz, to contemporary so we pretty much have everything in our inventory. Basically, we’re just trying to keep the music business alive,” he said.
In addition, key officials such as State Sen. Janet Nguyen, Assemblymember Tri Ta, a representative of U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel, the Los Alamitos Chamber and members from the city administration all paid tribute to Doby, presenting her with framed certificates in recognition of her leadership of the city for the past year.
“Your love for this city is unmatchable. And we all can see it and you definitely won’t stand there and accept a no, which is what we need in our cities. And so again, thank you for your dedication and support for our city through the year,” Nguyen told Doby.
“This has been an honor for my staff and myself to work with you and everyone on the city council for almost a year,” said Ta. “I really, really am thankful and appreciate your leadership, your dedication and support for your community,” he said.
“I still remember that you came to my office and had a meeting with us to raise all the challenges or concerns that your city has faced and I really appreciate that,” Ta added.
Lt. Col. Dan Fox, the commander of the Joint Forces Training Base, attended the event to thank Doby on behalf of several generals and officers of the base who have worked with Mayor Doby throughout the year.
“I wanted to extend this certificate of appreciation to you,” said Col. Fox. “It is being presented in recognition of your selfless service and sacrifice and is a symbol of our appreciation for the monumental support you have shown to the service members and civilians of the Joint Forces Training Base,” said Fox.
Doby also received thanks and praise from incoming Mayor Nefulda and city manager Chet Simmons.
“I would just like to say thank you,” said Doby, “first to my husband, who made this decision with me to go on this journey with me and has supported me when even I didn’t necessarily understand what I was supposed to be doing.”
“And I want to thank my staff who have been just the most amazing I cannot say enough, like I will go to war for my staff. And I say that in other rooms with other people that don’t have staff as exemplary as mine. Because I hear the stories I hear about, you know, the people sitting managers and their admin and their clerks and their, you know, their finance people, whatever the case may be, and I am significantly and tremendously blessed,” she said.
“So, I’m thankful for my colleagues that came along with me, stood with me worked with me, and would encourage me when it got to be a bit overwhelming when sometimes I couldn’t see you, know, sometimes we lose sight of the bottom line. I’m grateful for my colleagues that would come and link arms with me and stand with me and telling me ‘Tonya keep going because our turn is coming.’
Nefulda then proceeded to assign Council members to their respective outside board and commissions throughout Orange County. Simmons said the city has added an “intergovernmental” post and also another position for a member of the Council to work closely with the military base.