Wave Staff Report
WHITTIER — Long-time Mayor Joe Vinatieri and two other incumbents were soundly defeated in a City Council election April 14.
Semi-official results as of April 20 show James Becerra defeating Vinatieri by a more than two-to-one margin, 11,383 votes (67.22%) to 5,298. Isaiah Leon Savage finished a distant third with 253 votes.
Vinatieri had served as mayor since 2016 when the city changed its City Council format with the mayor being elected by a citywide vote rather than being selected on an annual basis by the City Council. Prior to that, Vinatieri had served two terms on the City Council, first being elected in 2008.
In Council District 2, Mayor Pro Tem Octavio Martinez was defeated by Vicky Santana, a former member of the Rio Hondo College District Board of Trustees. Santana received 3,013 votes (60.79%) 2,883, to 1,221 for Martinez, who was serving his first term on the City Council. Other District 2 candidates were Rene Ramos, 417 votes; Rolando Cano, 255; and Brian Ahern, 50.
In District 4, incumbent Fernando Dutra, who had served on the council since 2012 when he was appointed to replace Greg Nordbak, was defeated by local attorney Aida Macedo. Macedo received 3,404 votes (67.66%) to Dutra’s 1,305.
A third District 4 candidate, Felipe Longoria, had 322 votes.
By losing his council seat, Dutra also will lose his seat on the board of directors of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he is currently serving as chair. His replacement will be selected by the Gateway Cities Council of Government, a sub-regional joint powers authority established by its 27 member cities and Los Angeles County serving Southeast Los Angeles County. It provides a vehicle for member cities to engage in regional and cooperative planning and coordination of government services and responsibilities.
Councilwomen Mary Ann Pacheco, District 1; and Cathy Warner, District 3, council terms end in 2028.
