On Nov. 8, City of San Fernando residents will choose from five candidates to fill the three open seats on the City Council.

Those five candidates include incumbents Mayor Mary Mendoza and Councilmember Sylvia Ballin. Also running again is former Mayor Joel Fajardo and two new candidates — attorney Victoria Garcia and educator/counselor Mary Solorio.

Once elected, the three winners will serve a term of four years.

Mendoza first joined the City Council in 2019 and later became mayor in December 2021. She previously worked as a financial aid supervisor at Los Angeles Mission College and has volunteered with the Las Palmas Senior Citizen Club.

Ballin has been on the City Council since 2011 and has been the City’s mayor twice. In her candidate statement, Ballin said the council has established financial reserves for the city, issued more than 700 new business licenses and raised approximately $30,000 in scholarships during her tenure.

Fajardo served on the City Council for eight years, even serving as mayor, before losing his reelection bid to Celeste Rodriguez in 2020. If reelected, Fajardo promises to fully fund street and sidewalk repairs, renovate and maintain parks, stop property overdevelopment and prioritize public safety and prevent homeless encampments.

Solorio is the daughter of immigrants and a life-long resident of the City. She has worked for San Fernando Recreation and Community Services as an after school counselor, a summer camp counselor and then recreation leader. She received a bachelor’s degree in sociology at California State University, Northridge, and a master’s degree in teaching. Her stated goals are to make the community safer and improve and connect residents to city services and resources. 

Garcia is an attorney who also grew up in San Fernando. She earned her law degree from Stanford Law School and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University. In her candidate’s statement, Garcia said she will support small businesses, families, veterans and seniors. And that she will work to bring a movie theater, entertainment, children’s play places and shopping with a focus on parking and preventing congestion.

Residents will be able to vote either in person or by mail. Registered voters will receive a ballot in the mail, which they can send to the county elections office. As long as the office receives the ballot within seven days of Election Day, it will be counted. Voters can also drop off their ballot in a drop box at a polling place before 8 p.m. on Election Day.

The General Municipal Election will take place on Nov. 8. For more information, go to our election guide at https://sanfernandosun.com/election-guide/.