Diana Gonzales Re-Elected to Vernon City Council

At the council meeting held on Tuesday, April 21, incumbent Diana Morales Gonzales was officially installed to serve her first full term on the Vernon City Council following certification of the April 14 General Municipal Election results, confirming her victory over write-in candidate Judith Merlo.

Based on the final official vote count, Morales Gonzales received 47 votes while Merlo received 19 votes.  A total of 67 ballots were received from the City's 101 registered voters, indicating a voter turnout of 66%.  All 67 ballots were publicly canvassed by the canvass board to finalize the tally.

Following the council meeting, Council Member Morales Gonzales said she felt "honored and appreciate[d] the community's continued support" in her bid for re-election and stated her primary concern is "the wellbeing of Vernon's residents, students, and businesses, especially during this pandemic." Council Member Morales Gonzales reaffirmed her commitment to work with her colleagues on the City Council as well as the City's executive team to secure a fruitful future for her beloved Vernon.

A resident of Vernon for 25 years, Council Member Morales Gonzales has been an outspoken member of the community often serving as an advocate of resident's needs.  Since being elected to the Vernon City Council last November to serve the remainder of the unexpired term of former Council Member Yvette Woodruff-Perez, Council Member Morales Gonzales has continued to support services geared towards the community. Council Member Gonzales currently represents the City of Vernon as an appointed member on the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts Board of Directors for District No. 23.  This will be her first full five-year term in office.

At Tuesday's meeting, the City Council also certified the approval of both measures on the ballot for the April 14 General Municipal Election.  Measure U, a charter amendment to change the process for the selection of mayor and mayor pro tempore passed 51-14.  Measure V, a sales tax measure proposing to increase the City's sales tax by ¾ of one percent passed 47-18.  The passage of Measure V is expected to generate much needed revenues for the City's general fund to help maintain and improve City services, including safety, infrastructure, streets, and housing.

For more City of Vernon election information, go to: cityofvernon.org/elections