New Leadership for La Mirada

by Tammye McDuff

in City

Reading Time: 2 mins read

Anthony A. Otero Begins Second Term as Mayor Following Annual City Council Reorganization

A familiar face has once again taken the City’s highest ceremonial office. During the La Mirada City Council’s annual Reorganization Meeting on Tuesday, July 15, Councilmember Anthony A. Otero was selected by his fellow council members to serve as Mayor of La Mirada for the 2026–2027 term. Councilmember Steve De Ruse was chosen to serve as Mayor Pro Tem, while outgoing Mayor Ed Eng concluded a year marked by continued community engagement, economic growth, and civic celebrations.

The annual reorganization is one of the City’s longstanding traditions. Rather than electing a mayor through a citywide vote, members of the City Council select one of their own to serve as Mayor for a one-year term. While the position carries the same voting authority as the other council members, the Mayor serves as the City’s official representative at civic functions, presides over Council meetings, and provides leadership in representing La Mirada throughout the region. For Otero, the appointment marks his second opportunity to serve in the role, having previously been Mayor during the 2022–2023 term.

First elected to the City Council in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, Otero has been a La Mirada resident since 2007. Throughout his time on the Council, he has advocated for maintaining the City’s exceptional quality of life while supporting responsible fiscal management, neighborhood improvements, economic development, and public safety.

Serving alongside Mayor Otero will be Mayor Pro Tem Steve De Ruse, one of the Council’s most experienced members. De Ruse was first elected in 2011 and has since been re-elected in 2015, 2020, and 2024. A La Mirada resident since 1976, he has spent decades contributing to the community and continues to provide steady leadership through his extensive municipal experience. The evening also celebrated the continuation of two additional City Council members’ public service.

Following the November election, John Lewis, representing District 1, and Michelle Velasquez Bean, representing District 2, were formally administered the Oath of Office after being re-elected to serve another term on the City Council.

With the Council now fully seated and new leadership in place, the City begins another year focused on serving residents and businesses alike. Priorities expected to remain at the forefront include public safety, economic vitality, infrastructure improvements, neighborhood preservation, parks and recreation, and continued collaboration with local organizations, businesses, schools, and community partners.

As La Mirada continues to grow while preserving the small-town character residents value, the annual reorganization serves as a reminder that effective local government is built not only on elected officials, but on the partnerships between City leadership and the community they serve.

The Olive Grove News congratulates Mayor Anthony A. Otero, Mayor Pro Tem Steve De Ruse, and Councilmembers John Lewis and Michelle Velasquez Bean as they begin another year of service to the residents of La Mirada.

La Mirada City Council 2026–2027