After two rounds of extensive interviews held during special City Council meetings on February 9 and 10, the San Gabriel City Council voted to appoint Carina Rivera and John Wu as its two new councilmembers.
They will fill Council seats vacated by former Councilmember Jason Pu, who resigned in January 2022, and former Mayor Chin Ho Liao, who resigned in February 2022. Rivera and Wu were sworn in at the February 15 City Council meeting and will serve out the remainder of Liao and Pu’s terms through November 2022.
As a single mother and successful business operator, Rivera has a unique perspective of the working class and understands the needs of the underserved and underrepresented members of the community. Her priorities include fostering connections with the working class, veterans, and youth to encourage participation in community events and local government; increasing community engagement; maintaining safety in the community; and increasing mental health awareness, resources, and services.
“I am thrilled to be part of the City Council and cannot wait to leverage my experiences to grow mental health awareness and strengthen community cohesiveness,” said Councilmember Carina Rivera. “I will be a strong advocate for residents and businesses of our beautiful City of San Gabriel, and look forward to working with everyone to introduce change and growth.”
A longtime resident of San Gabriel with a diverse background, Wu is an active member of the community, the real estate industry and the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce. He is committed to improving the City’s infrastructure, resident safety, engagement with the business community as well as budget efficiency.
“I am excited to join the San Gabriel City Council and work closely with fellow councilmembers and the City’s dedicated staff to elevate the City’s business profile,” said Councilmember John Wu. “With 21 years of experience in the real estate industry and community services in San Gabriel, I intend to leverage my experience to help attract and retain businesses as well as enhance engagement with the business community during my tenure. Bringing the community and businesses together in a more cohesive way will further improve the quality of life for all parties involved.”