League of California Cities announces new board officers and directors

Contact: Kayla [email protected] (530) 844-1744

El Cerrito Mayor Pro Tem Gabe Quinto elected League of California Cities president

Long Beach - The League of California Cities announced its 2025-26 leadership and Board of Directors on Friday, Oct. 10, as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

The Cal Cities Board of Directors elected El Cerrito Mayor Pro Tem Gabe Quinto to serve as president, Carlsbad Council Member Teresa Acosta to serve as first vice president, San Jose Council Member David Cohen to serve as second vice president. Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Pro Tem Lynne B. Kennedy, who served as the 2024-25 president, became immediate past president.

When Quinto began his first term on the El Cerrito City Council in 2014, he became the council's first Filipino American and first LGBTQ member. Quinto has prioritized equity and diversity in El Cerrito and on the boards he's served on over the years.

Quinto's extensive involvement with Cal Cities includes past presidencies of the East Bay Division, Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, and LGBTQ Caucus, as well as committee roles in equity, diversity and inclusion, governance, and environmental policy initiatives.

"Gabe has been a steadfast advocate for building bridges and more resilient communities," said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. "His leadership at Cal Cities has already left a lasting impact, and I know he will bring the same passion and vision to his role as president."

Quinto is active in several organizations, including Equality California and CivicWell.

Under the Cal Cities' bylaws, officers are elected to serve a one-year term with the outgoing president becoming immediate past president. Along with Cal Cities Executive Director Coleman, the four officers comprise the organization's executive committee. Individual releases for each of the board officers can be found at the end of this release.

The board also elected six at-large directors who will serve a two-year term. These directors are:

• Walter Allen, Council Member, Covina
• Jan Arbuckle, Council Member, Grass Valley
• Dan Arriola, Mayor, Tracy
• Lisa Kaplan, Council Member, Sacramento
• Jim Lewis, City Manager, Atascadero
• Cindy Silva, Council Member, Walnut Creek

The 2025-26 Cal Cities Board of Directors are:

Officers:

• President Gabe Quinto, Mayor Pro Tem, El Cerrito
• First Vice President Teresa Acosta, Council Member, Carlsbad
• Second Vice President David Cohen, Council Member, San Jose
• Immediate Past President Lynne Kennedy, Mayor Pro Tem, Rancho Cucamonga

Directors:

• Ashleigh Aitken, Mayor, Anaheim - Large City
• Paul Akinjo, Mayor, Lathrop - Central Valley Division
• Walter Allen III, Council Member, Covina - At-large
• Jan Arbuckle, Council Member, Grass Valley - At-Large
• Karen Bass, Mayor, Los Angeles - Large City
• Scott Bauer, Council Member, Eureka - Redwood Empire Division
• LaTanya Bellow, City Manager, Emeryville - Personnel and Employee Relations Department
• James Bozajian, Mayor Pro Tem, Calabasas - Los Angeles County Division
• Ulises Cabrera, Mayor, Moreno Valley - Latino Caucus
• Karen Comstock, Council Member, Chino - Inland Empire Division
• Eric Danly, City Attorney, Petaluma - City Attorneys Department
• Bea Dieringer, Mayor Pro Tem, Rolling Hills - Women's Caucus
• Alice Dowdin Calvillo, Council Member, Auburn - Sacramento Valley Division
• Jerry Dyer, Mayor, Fresno - Large City
• Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Mayor, Alameda - East Bay Division
• Neysa Fligor, Vice Mayor, Los Altos - At-large
• Todd Gloria, Mayor, San Diego - Large City
• Karen Goh, Mayor, Bakersfield - Large City
• Renee Golder, Council Member, Santa Cruz - Monterey Bay Division
• Rene Guerrero, Assistant Director of Public Works, Ontario- Public Works Department
• Alexander Hamilton, Fire Chief, Oxnard - Fire Chiefs Department
• Alma Hernandez, Mayor, Suisun City - North Bay Division
• Randi Johl, Legislative Director/City Clerk, Temecula - City Clerks Department
• Ellen Kamei, Mayor, Mountain View - Peninsula Division
• Jim Lewis, City Manager, Atascadero - At-Large
• César Macias, Manager, Community, State & Federal Affairs, Oakland - Large City Representative
• Jeff Maloney, Council Member, Alhambra - API Caucus
• Caity Maple, Council Member, Sacramento - Large City Representative
• Ray Marquez, Council Member, Chino Hills - At-large
• Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Council Member, Morgan Hill - At-large
• Rudy Mendoza, Mayor, Woodlake - At-large
• John Minto, Mayor, Santee - San Diego County Division
• Eric Nelson, Planning Commissioner, Dana Point - Planning and Community Development Department
• Ida Obeso-Martinez, Mayor Pro Tem, Imperial - Imperial County Division
• Ian Oglesby, Mayor, Seaside - African American Caucus
• Daniel Parra, Mayor, Fowler - South San Joaquin Valley Division
• Jaime Patino, Council Member, Union City - At-large
• Karen Pinkos, City Manager, El Cerrito - City Managers Department
• Randall Putz, Council Member, Big Bear Lake - Desert Mountain Division
• Roberta Raper, Director of Finance and Technology, West Sacramento - Fiscal Officers Department
• Rex Richardson, Mayor, Long Beach - Large City
• David Sander, Council Member, Rancho Cordova - NLC
• Cindy Silva, Council Member, Walnut Creek - At-large
• Jeff Smith, Police Chief, Pismo Beach - Police Chiefs Department
• Erica A. Stewart, Mayor, San Luis Obispo - Channel Counties Division
• Ali Sajad Taj, Mayor, Artesia - At-large
• John Taylor, Council Member, San Juan Capistrano - Orange County Division
• Michael Vargas, Mayor, Perris - Riverside County Division
• Tyller Williamson, Mayor, Monterey - LGBTQ Caucus

Carlsbad Council Member Teresa Acosta elected League of California Cities first vice president

Long Beach - The League of California Cities Board of Directors elected Carlsbad Council Member Teresa Acosta to serve as the organization's 2025-26 first vice president. Acosta was installed on Oct. 10 as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

"I am honored to serve as first vice president of Cal Cities and to represent the many voices of California's diverse communities," said Council Member Acosta. "Cities are at the heart of innovation and problem-solving, and I am eager to work with my colleagues to create pathways for stronger and more sustainable communities."

Elected to the Carlsbad City Council in 2020, Teresa brings over two decades of service to her community, with a strong focus on sustainability, safety, and affordability. Her leadership experience spans local, regional, and state levels, having previously served as a Regional Public Affairs Manager at the League of California Cities and a Field Representative for a California State Senator.

In addition to her public service, Teresa has been a small business owner since 2011 and remains an active advocate for environmental issues through her involvement with organizations like the Sierra Club and the Surfrider Foundation.

"From local service in Carlsbad to statewide leadership, Teresa has consistently championed solutions that strengthen our cities," said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. "Her collaborative spirit and commitment to the well-being of Californians will benefit communities throughout the state."

A dedicated mentor and advocate for youth leadership, she founded the Carlsbad Volunteer Leaders program and has served as an adjunct professor at MiraCosta College.

San Jose Council Member David Cohen elected League of California Cities second vice president

Long Beach - The League of California Cities Board of Directors elected San Jose Council Member David Cohen to serve as the organization's 2025-26 second vice president. Cohen was installed on Oct. 10 as part of the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo.

"It's an honor to take on this leadership role with the League of California Cities," said Council Member Cohen. "I consider city government the highest form of public service and look forward to elevating the voices of our communities. I am committed to working together to find practical solutions to California's biggest challenges."

Cohen has served San Jose's District 4 since 2020 and has devoted nearly two decades to public service. He spent 14 years on the Berryessa Union School District Board, where he launched dual-immersion Mandarin programs, expanded mental health services, and moved schools to solar energy. He also served six years on the San Jose Library Commission, advocating for longer library hours and new branches. Cohen is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum and a member of San Jose Downtown Rotary.

In addition to his public service, Cohen has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley. He spent 21 years in Silicon Valley managing advanced engineering teams, holds 10 patents, and has published numerous technical papers. His expertise in data analysis, modeling, and leadership informs his work in city government.

"David is a proven leader whose career reflects both innovation and dedication to public service," said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. "His experience in science, technology, and local government will bring a valuable perspective as we work to strengthen and support California's cities."

This week, the Cal Cities Board of Directors also elected El Cerrito Mayor Pro Tem Gabe Quinto to serve as president and Carlsbad Council Member Teresa Acosta to serve as first vice president. Mayor Pro Tem Lynne B. Kennedy, who served as the 2024-25 president, became immediate past president.

Established in 1898, the League of California Cities is a nonprofit statewide association that advocates for cities with the state and federal governments and provides education and training services to elected and appointed city officials.

###