Council appoints Ed Reece as mayor
He makes history by becoming city’s first openly LGBTQ leader
The Claremont City Council appointed Ed Reece as mayor, making him the second Latino and first LGBTQ mayor in the city’s 115-year history.
In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the City Council chose Reece as mayor and Councilmem- ber Sal Medina as mayor pro tem for the next year. Reece was first elected in 2018, while Medina joined the council in 2020. The council rotates its leadership annually.
“Claremont is something special and I want to do my part to continue that magic by focusing on what this community needs over the next 12 months and the next four years,” Reece told the packed Council Chambers.
Among his top priorities, Reece said, are securing funding for the L Line extension from Pomona, finalizing an accessory dwelling unit program and reimagining the safety resource officer program at Claremont Unified schools.
Most notably, Reece said he plans to develop “a special enforcement program” with City Manager Adam Pirrie and police Chief Aaron Fate.
The program would “address qualify-of-life issues like prostitution, traffic safety, human trafficking and burglaries,” Pirrie said.
In laying out his list of priorities, Reece said a collective effort is needed to make them a reality.
“To be successful and efficient, we all have to row in the same direction. That means the community, the council, commissions and staff must be on the same page,” Reece said.
After taking his oath of office, Reece noted the historical significance of his appointment.
“I want to recognize that tonight we advanced diversity in our community by installing the second Latino and first openly LGBTQ mayor in the history of the city,” Reece said to a round of applause and cheers from the audience.
Also Tuesday, Councilmembers Jennifer Stark, Jed Leano and Reece were sworn in for their second terms in office. All won their respective district races in November and will hold their seats through 2026.
Leano, the second Filipino
mayor in the city’s history, also was recognized for his service as mayor in 2022.
Reflecting on his time as mayor, Leano said he was welcomed into the role by a historic windstorm in January that racked up millions of dollars in damages and cleanup costs.
“In that experience I saw the most difficult but also the most wonderful things about serving Claremont,” Leano said.
Anne Turner, former director of human services, commended Leano for his advocacy on housing issues.
“What you have done as mayor is to never stop fighting,” said Turner, who administered Leano’s oath of office. “Thank you for that.”