Incoming Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste, City Hall, Dec. 12, 2017.
The City Council named Laurene Weste the new mayor of Santa Clarita Tuesday night for a year-long term.
It is the fifth time Weste has held the reins as mayor, with previous stints in 2001, 2006, 2010 and 2014.
Every December, at its reorganization meeting, the City Council appoints a new mayor and a mayor pro-tem chosen from the council’s five members.
The mayor pro-tem is usually next in the rotation to become mayor.
While mostly a ceremonial role, the mayor presides over council meetings, takes part in ribbon cuttings and may sign off on official documents. However, the mayor does not have the power to veto a council vote, and his or her vote is equal to that of the other four City Council members.
Weste takes the mayor’s gavel just a few days before the city’s official 30th anniversary on Friday.
“I will be representing the policies and goals of the City Council and the community,” she said before the meeting. “And I’m thrilled and honored to represent such a great city and to have such a privilege.”
Council members also unanimously appointed Marsha McLean as mayor pro-tem.
McLean said she is looking forward to 2018 and working with Weste on projects the two both care about.
Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste (center) with Councilmen Bill Miranda and Cameron Smyth, Mayor Pro-Tem Marsha McLean and Councilman Bob Kellar, at City Hall, Dec. 12, 2017.
“It’s always a pleasure to work with Laurene,” McLean said. “We have a lot of things in common that we care about – the open space, the parks, the architecture, the ambiance of our community. Even though we’re growing and we’re a pretty large city right now, we still have a small-town feel and I absolutely love that and want to keep that.”
Outgoing mayor Cameron Smyth reflected on a year that he said had something for everyone.
“2017 had a little bit of everything: appointing a new council member and a number of groundbreakings,” Smyth said. “And we tackled several policy issues like the legalization of marijuana and revamping the mobile home ordinance.”
However, Smyth said he was most proud of how the Santa Clarita community came together during times of crisis.
“The record rainfall, along with the recent fires, caused significant concern within the city,” Smyth said. “But I think the highlight was seeing Santa Clarita come together in support of the families and victims of the Las Vegas shooting. To me, that’s what makes Santa Clarita such a great place.”
The city of Santa Clarita and county of Los Angeles presented checks totaling $700,000 to Habitat 4 Families in showing their support for the housing for CalVet families.
After a contentious discussion lasting nearly 20 minutes Tuesday night, the five-member Santa Clarita City Council voted 3-2 to appoint Mayor Pro-Tem Marsha McLean the city's new mayor, with outgoing Mayor Laurene Weste casting the deciding vote.
Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth), has announced a package of bills focused on affordability, tax relief, consumer protections and lowering costs.
1738 - Fr. Francisco Garcés born in Spain; came through SCV in 1776, found Tataviam fighting with Coastal Chumash, observed Santa Clara River flowing by night and dry by day despite the season being spring [story]
The Santa Clarita Planning Commission will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 15, at 6 p.m., in City Hall Council Chambers. The commission will hear a request from BluMax Santa Clarita, LLC on amendments to the MetroWalk Specific Plan to expand the housing types allowed and to delay or eliminate the requirement for affordable senior housing.
Be a part of key governance reform changes coming to Los Angeles County. An independent study is underway to identify strengths and challenges of the county’s current governance model.
Providence Holy Cross Medical Center has announced the largest gift in its 64-year history, a transformative $16 million donation from the estate of Julian and Gladys Saunders.
The dark, ashy sediment appearing on Los Angeles-area beaches does not appear to contain chemicals related to wildfires at levels that are dangerous to human health.
A Mother's Day Eve Evening of Enchantment and Magic wine pairing dinner at Le Chene French Cuisine will be held Saturday, May 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth), has announced a package of bills focused on affordability, tax relief, consumer protections and lowering costs.
The unmistakable sights, sounds and flavors of the Old West are making their way back to William S. Hart Park, 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall, CA 91321 and you do not have to wait long.
Visit the Santa Clarita Public Library Valencia branch, 10-11 a.m. Monday, April 14 for a paws-itively delightful new program, "Paws to Connect: Adults and Animals."
Special Needs Athletes and Peers Sports will host its Food and Wine Tasting with Salt Creek Grille Fundraiser and Blues Music event, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8.
College of the Canyons will host Howard Fisher's Cougar Basketball Camp, with registration for two sessions now open to boys and girls entering third through eighth grade.
The College of the Canyons women's volleyball program invites girls and boys ages 8-14 to participate in the 2025 COC Summer Volleyball Camp, with two sessions beginning in July.
In its efforts to prevent distracted driving and save lives on our roads, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is reminding all drivers to stay focused, keep their eyes forward and keep their hands on the wheel.
Connect with other businesses and attend the Valley Industry Association After Five networking mixer on Thursday, April 24, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at J Blair Group
Family, friends, colleagues and supporters gather at City Hall to congratulate Laurene Weste (center). 
Tweet This
Facebook
Digg This
Bookmark
Stumble
RSS
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
4 Comments
And Tim-Ben Boydston mutters “SMH”
Congrats! Laurene
Do council members get paid? Does the mayor get more than the others?
yes and no, in that order :)