Cerritos, California – A watershed moment in Cerritos politics arrived as Frank Aurelio Yokoyama was sworn in as mayor, with Lynda P. Johnson as mayor pro tem and Mark Pulido as council member, creating the city’s first Filipino American majority on the five-member council. This significant shift highlights the growing influence of Fil-Am council members in the region.
The March 4 elections established this Fil-Am majority and resulted in the city’s first all-Asian American council, with Jennifer Hong and Sophie Tse, of Taiwanese descent, joining the leadership. Furthermore, Johnson, Hong, and Tse solidified most of the female population.
The installation ceremony at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts drew approximately 700 attendees, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who administered Pulido’s oath. Yokoyama, Johnson, and Pulido, long-time residents of Cerritos, conveyed their commitment to serving the diverse community.
Hong, with prior experience on the Parks and Recreation and Planning Commissions, and Tse, a former ABC Unified School District Board member, further diversify the council’s representation. The new council succeeds Naresh Solanki, Chuong Vo, and Bruce Barrows, who were recognized for their decades of service to the city.
Yokoyama expressed gratitude for the council’s trust, highlighting the city’s commitment to reflecting its diverse population. Pulido emphasized a “new day” for Cerritos, pledging collaborative work for the community’s future, underscoring the importance of the Fil-Am council members’ role in shaping that future.
