Celeste has worked in public service for over a decade, beginning in the City of San Fernando for the Recreation and Community Services Department, followed by the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, and currently as the lead for Community Wealth Initiatives with the City of Los Angeles Community Investment for Families Department. Throughout her professional career, she has worked to improve the quality of life in communities by creating policies and programs that respond to people’s needs.

Celeste brings her passion for service and social justice to the City Council as well as a wealth of experience designing, funding and implementing programs. Her priorities are to provide a voice for San Fernando residents to engage with decision making at City Hall, ensure economic stability for residents and businesses to build a path for community wealth, strengthen programs for families to thrive, and to invest in vital infrastructure to strengthen the City’s beauty and resilience.

Celeste received her bachelor’s degree in Economics from San Diego State University and master’s degree in Social Work from USC. She is raising her two young children, 6^th generation San Fernando residents, with her partner Robert C. Gonzales. 

Mary was born and raised in the City of San Fernando. She is deeply rooted in the community as five generations of her family, including all of her children, live in San Fernando.

Mary attended Morningside Elementary, San Fernando Junior High, San Fernando High School and Los Angeles Mission College, when it was located in the City of San Fernando. She received her Associate in Arts Degree from Mission College, where she also worked for 43 years. Mary is deeply involved in the community, including as a member of the Las Palmas Senior Citizen Club and a Boardmember of the Greater Van Nuys Rotary Club.

As a City Councilmember, Mary has prioritized the residents of San Fernando. She will work to ensure public safety, protect the City’s water resources, improve roads and infrastructure, promote a healthy business environment, and a green community by planting more trees while being a good steward of the community’s tax dollars.

In addition to serving on City Council, Mary represents San Fernando on the Los Angeles County Library Commission, San Fernando Valley Council of Governments, Los Angeles County City Selection Committee, Upper Los Angeles River and Tributaries Working Group, League of California Cities, and various City Council Ad Hoc Committees.

Cindy is a respected community leader with a long history of helping the community. She grew up in San Fernando, was baptized at Santa Rosa, attended O’Melveny Elementary, First Lutheran School, Ramona Convent and UCLA where she made history as a student-activist.  Cindy is now a board member for the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. 

Cindy is CEO of TreePeople where she is leading efforts to plant and care for over 1,000 trees with the people of San Fernando. 

As a councilmember and Assemblymember, Cindy led efforts around the Cesar Chavez Plaza, the widely-used Olympic pool, Maclay streetscape improvements, senior citizen housing on Kalisher and First Street, Rudy Ortega Heritage Park, Library Plaza, a Historic Resources Survey of historic buildings, tree planting, and the initial concept for the Pacoima Wash Natural Park. 

Cindy is working closely with residents, the arts community and the business community to improve our quality of life, promote the cultural arts and maintain our historic, small-town feel while attracting restaurants, business and good shopping, especially to our Downtown. 

You will find Cindy walking, planting trees, eating at local restaurants or helping in the community.