Caroline Torosis sworn in as mayor, Jesse Zwick as mayor pro tem

December 10, 2025 4:08 PM

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2025) - In an installation ceremony Tuesday, Caroline Torosis was sworn in as the mayor of Santa Monica and Jesse Zwick as mayor pro tem.

Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur installed Mayor Torosis with an administrative oath and thanked outgoing Mayor Lana Negrete for her leadership, especially during the Palisades Fire emergency. City Clerk Nikima Newsome swore in Mayor Pro Tem Zwick.

Torosis succeeds outgoing Mayor Lana Negrete, who has held the post since 2024.

First appointed to the City Council in 2021, Negrete went on to serve as mayor pro tem from 2022 to 2024. She will now return to her role as a councilmember.

As mayor, Negrete helped lead the city's response to the Palisades Fire, guiding recovery efforts with a particular emphasis on supporting local businesses. Negrete championed cultural events and activations, prioritized engaging young people in civic life and educating residents about how the city's processes work.

"Serving as Santa Monica's mayor and as a councilmember has been the greatest honor of my life," Negrete said. "I'm proud of the collective work we've accomplished together-enhancing transparency, activating our public spaces, streamlining permitting for small businesses, strengthening public safety, protecting our existing neighborhoods and deepening community engagement. This wouldn't have been possible without support from past and current councils and most of all, the community. I will continue to work proudly on behalf of our city as a councilmember and congratulate incoming Mayor Torosis as she steps into this new role."

Torosis was elected to the City Council in 2022 and has served as mayor pro tem for the past year. She previously served as a commissioner on the Santa Monica Rent Control Board.

"I'm ready to get to work and am stepping into this role with clarity and a commitment to making tangible progress every day, progress our community will feel over time," Torosis said. "That means measurable results: thriving businesses, cleaner and safer streets, stronger renter protections, safeguarding residents from displacement and bringing economic life to our business districts and downtown. With this resolve, I am confident that Santa Monica's best days are ahead of us."

Under established council rules, the longest continuously serving councilmember is selected to serve a one-year term as mayor. When two or more councilmembers are elected in the same year, the member who received the higher number of votes is considered to have served longer for the purpose of determining succession.

To view a recording of the council meeting, click here.

Media Contact

Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
[email protected]

Departments

City Council

More Information

Press Image