By Arnold Adler
Contributing Writer
DOWNEY — Mario Guerra, who served on the City Council from 2006 to 2014, is back in city government as a member of the Downey Planning Commission.
The City Council Jan. 10 approved his appointment by newly elected Councilman Hector Sosa to represent District 2 on the southwest corner of the city. His term will expire in December 2026.
The vote was 3-0 with Councilwoman Catherine Alvarez excused.
Guerra, 63, said he does not intend to seek another council term.
“I’m too busy,” said Guerra, noting his current position as civilian aide to Christine Warmuth, the U.S. secretary of the Army; and a current member of two parochial school boards (St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower and St. Pius X – St. Matthias Academy in Downey), a credit union, the YMCA and a deacon at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Pasadena, a recent assignment.
He previously served as a deacon for 10 years at St. Raymond Catholic Church in Downey and 10 years at St. Linus Catholic Church in Norwalk.
“I like what I am doing, but I was flattered to accept the appointment of Councilman Sosa,” Guerra said. “He was aware of my municipal experience and my love for the city. I am honored to serve District 2 residents on the Planning Commission.”
He noted his Army experience dates back to the Obama and Trump administrations and his recent reappointment by the Biden administration.
“Ms. Warmuth, who visited Downey recently, is the first woman secretary of the Army,” said Guerra, who noted “I have an office in the Pentagon” but stressed he has no plans to move from his long-time home in Downey to Washington, D.C.
“I like the Army work but I’m passionate about the city of Downey,” said Guerra, who said he enjoys his office on Firestone Boulevard, which is next to Porto’s Bakery, which features pastries from his native Cuba. He came to the United States with his parents at age 6.
“I sold my insurance business,” he said, but noted he is on that board as an advisor. He also serves on the board of the Downey Credit Union and on the Downtown Downey Advisory Committee.
“I am still chaplain to the Downey Police Department and am working with the family of a woman and her daughter who died in a fire at their home two days before Christmas,” Guerra said. “The mother went back into the burning building to save her daughter but both perished.
Guerra said he plans to continue to be active in politics. He is the elected treasurer of the California Republican Party, the California GOP Budget Chairman and the CAGOP Executive Committee, his online biography states.
Guerra is founding chairman of Grow Elect, served as government affairs chairman for the California Contract Cities Association; and is founding chairman of the Healthy Downey Coalition.
In separate action Jan. 10, the council voted 3-0 to approve the appointments by Mayor Claudia Frometa of Dorothy Pemberton and Rodolfo Sandoval III, to the Public Works Committee representing District 4 in the northeast corner of the city. The terms expire December 2026.
Each Council member is allowed two representatives on the Public Works Committee, Deputy City Clerk Linda Thai said.
