Mayor

Ed Eng

District 3

Mayor Ed Eng was elected to the La Mirada City Council in March 2015, and reelected in 2020 and 2024, and served as Mayor in 2017-2018, 2021-2022 and 2025. Mayor Eng is a bestselling author, business professor, Board advisor, and former senior executive at a Fortune 500 company. Mayor Eng holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, an MBA, an MS, and a BS in Engineering. Mayor Eng has been a resident of La Mirada since 1990. His wife Cathy is a retired teacher in the ABC Unified School District. They have one son, Brandon, who graduated with a degree in Political Science from UC Berkeley and is currently the founder and CEO of a music group.

Mayor Ed Eng was elected to the La Mirada City Council in March 2015, and reelected in 2020 and 2024, and served as Mayor in 2017-2018, 2021-2022 and 2025. Mayor Eng is a bestselling author, business professor, Board advisor, and former senior executive at a Fortune 500 company. Mayor Eng holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, an MBA, an MS, and a BS in Engineering. Mayor Eng has been a resident of La Mirada since 1990. His wife Cathy is a retired teacher in the ABC Unified School District. They have one son, Brandon, who graduated with a degree in Political Science from UC Berkeley and is currently the founder and CEO of a music group.

Mayor Pro Tem

Anthony Otero

District 5

Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Otero was elected to the La Mirada City Council on March 3, 2020 and served as Mayor from 2022-2023. Mayor Pro Tem Otero has been a resident of La Mirada since 2007 and has been actively involved in this community since moving to La Mirada. He is the Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 438, and is himself an Eagle Scout from Troop 941, which was based in his hometown parish of St. Marianne Catholic Church located in Pico Rivera. Mayor Pro Tem Otero is currently a Police Captain-Commanding Officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. Otero joined the LAPD in 1996 and has served in various investigative, uniformed and administrative assignments. Through the course of his professional career, he has served in many assignments and received numerous awards for his service and professionalism. After graduating from Don Bosco Tech in 1991, Mayor Pro Tem Otero attended Whittier College, and majored in Business Administration. As a working professional, he returned to school to earn a Masters Degree in Public Administration from National University, a Masters in Executive Leadership from the University of Southern California, and a Doctorate in Policy, Planning, and Development, also from the University of Southern California. Mayor Pro Tem Otero is a proud graduate from the Sherman Block Leadership Institute, and the Los Angeles Police Department (West Point) Leadership Academy, of which he is an adjunct instructor. He was honored to have served as a United States Marine, and was honorably discharged accordingly. Mayor Pro Tem Otero lives in La Mirada with his wife and three children. He enjoys various outdoor activities and is an avid outdoorsman.

Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Otero was elected to the La Mirada City Council on March 3, 2020 and served as Mayor from 2022-2023. Mayor Pro Tem Otero has been a resident of La Mirada since 2007 and has been actively involved in this community since moving to La Mirada. He is the Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 438, and is himself an Eagle Scout from Troop 941, which was based in his hometown parish of St. Marianne Catholic Church located in Pico Rivera. Mayor Pro Tem Otero is currently a Police Captain-Commanding Officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. Otero joined the LAPD in 1996 and has served in various investigative, uniformed and administrative assignments. Through the course of his professional career, he has served in many assignments and received numerous awards for his service and professionalism. After graduating from Don Bosco Tech in 1991, Mayor Pro Tem Otero attended Whittier College, and majored in Business Administration. As a working professional, he returned to school to earn a Masters Degree in Public Administration from National University, a Masters in Executive Leadership from the University of Southern California, and a Doctorate in Policy, Planning, and Development, also from the University of Southern California. Mayor Pro Tem Otero is a proud graduate from the Sherman Block Leadership Institute, and the Los Angeles Police Department (West Point) Leadership Academy, of which he is an adjunct instructor. He was honored to have served as a United States Marine, and was honorably discharged accordingly. Mayor Pro Tem Otero lives in La Mirada with his wife and three children. He enjoys various outdoor activities and is an avid outdoorsman.

Councilmember

Steve De Ruse

District 4

Councilmember Steve De Ruse was elected to the La Mirada City Council on March 8, 2011, and re-elected in 2015, 2020 and 2024.  He works as the senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Artesia and as Director for the Los Angeles Southern Baptist Association after serving nearly 13 years as a senior pastor at a church in La Mirada. He has been a small business owner, track coach at John Glenn High School, television program host, and radio guest commentator. Councilmember De Ruse served on the City’s Community Services Commission from November 2006 to March 2011.  He served as Chairman of that commission from August 2008 through March 2010.  Councilmember De Ruse also served on the Citizen Task Force on City Finances and Operations from November 2009 to April 2010. Councilmember De Ruse was a member of the La Mirada Clergy Council from 2001 to 2010, and served as president from 2001 to 2005.  He is a member of the La Mirada Rotary Club serving as president from 2010 to 2011.  Councilmember De Ruse served on the Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority (SASSFA) Board of Directors from April 2011 to April 2015 and served as Chairperson from 2013-2015.  He has served as a board member of the I-5 Consortium Cities Joint Powers Authority since April 2015 and Sanitation District No. 18 since April 2013.  He represented the City on the Southern California Association of Governments Regional Council from 2018 to 2023. Councilmember De Ruse holds a Master’s Degree in Theology and a Doctor of Ministry Degree, both from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. He has been a resident of La Mirada since 1976. He and his wife, Mary, have been married for more than 50 years and have two daughters, Adrienne and Elaine, and two granddaughters.

Councilmember Steve De Ruse was elected to the La Mirada City Council on March 8, 2011, and re-elected in 2015, 2020 and 2024.  He works as the senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Artesia and as Director for the Los Angeles Southern Baptist Association after serving nearly 13 years as a senior pastor at a church in La Mirada. He has been a small business owner, track coach at John Glenn High School, television program host, and radio guest commentator. Councilmember De Ruse served on the City’s Community Services Commission from November 2006 to March 2011.  He served as Chairman of that commission from August 2008 through March 2010.  Councilmember De Ruse also served on the Citizen Task Force on City Finances and Operations from November 2009 to April 2010. Councilmember De Ruse was a member of the La Mirada Clergy Council from 2001 to 2010, and served as president from 2001 to 2005.  He is a member of the La Mirada Rotary Club serving as president from 2010 to 2011.  Councilmember De Ruse served on the Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority (SASSFA) Board of Directors from April 2011 to April 2015 and served as Chairperson from 2013-2015.  He has served as a board member of the I-5 Consortium Cities Joint Powers Authority since April 2015 and Sanitation District No. 18 since April 2013.  He represented the City on the Southern California Association of Governments Regional Council from 2018 to 2023. Councilmember De Ruse holds a Master’s Degree in Theology and a Doctor of Ministry Degree, both from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. He has been a resident of La Mirada since 1976. He and his wife, Mary, have been married for more than 50 years and have two daughters, Adrienne and Elaine, and two granddaughters.

Councilmember

John Lewis

District 1

Councilmember John Lewis was elected to the La Mirada City Council on March 7, 2017 and re-elected in 2022. He previously served as Mayor from 2020-2021 and 2024-2025. He is the managing partner at the Law Office of Lewis & Lewis, APC. He is also the managing broker of Lewis Realty in La Mirada. Councilmember Lewis was a member of the La Mirada Planning Commission from 2012-2017 and served as chairman from 2014-2015. He also served as vice-chairman of the La Mirada Charter City Commission and is a member of the La Mirada Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Committee.  Councilmember Lewis is also a past president and member of the Rotary Club of La Mirada, a member of La Mirada Chamber of Commerce, and is on the board of directors for the Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority (SASSFA). Councilmember Lewis earned his Juris Doctorate of Law in 2000 from Whittier College School of Law, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management from Biola University, an Associate in Arts Degree from Cerritos College in Administration of Justice in 1996, and Associate in Arts Degree from Golden West College in Business Administration in 1989. Councilmember Lewis is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar, the California State Bar, the Florida State Bar, the United States District Court, Central District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit. He has been a resident of La Mirada since 1990. He and his wife, Alitza, have one son, Zurich and a granddaughter.

Councilmember John Lewis was elected to the La Mirada City Council on March 7, 2017 and re-elected in 2022. He previously served as Mayor from 2020-2021 and 2024-2025. He is the managing partner at the Law Office of Lewis & Lewis, APC. He is also the managing broker of Lewis Realty in La Mirada. Councilmember Lewis was a member of the La Mirada Planning Commission from 2012-2017 and served as chairman from 2014-2015. He also served as vice-chairman of the La Mirada Charter City Commission and is a member of the La Mirada Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Committee.  Councilmember Lewis is also a past president and member of the Rotary Club of La Mirada, a member of La Mirada Chamber of Commerce, and is on the board of directors for the Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority (SASSFA). Councilmember Lewis earned his Juris Doctorate of Law in 2000 from Whittier College School of Law, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management from Biola University, an Associate in Arts Degree from Cerritos College in Administration of Justice in 1996, and Associate in Arts Degree from Golden West College in Business Administration in 1989. Councilmember Lewis is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar, the California State Bar, the Florida State Bar, the United States District Court, Central District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit. He has been a resident of La Mirada since 1990. He and his wife, Alitza, have one son, Zurich and a granddaughter.

Councilmember

Michelle Velasquez Bean

District 2

First elected in 2024, La Mirada Councilmember Michelle Velasquez Bean is a tenured professor of English at Río Hondo College, bringing over 25 years of teaching experience in California’s community colleges and K-12 education system. Councilmember Bean served on the Historical Preservation Advisory Committee from August 2023 to November 2024, where she held the position of vice chair in 2024. She also volunteers with La Mirada’s Meals on Wheels program. As an executive leader, she has served on the boards of various nonprofit organizations, including the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, Delta Kappa Gamma for women educators, and Trojan Youth Football and Cheer. Councilmember Bean holds a master’s degree in English from California State University, Fullerton, a single-subject teaching credential in English from California State University, Long Beach, and a bachelor’s degree in English from the Whittier Scholars Program at Whittier College. A long-time resident of La Mirada, she and her husband, James, have been married for over 30 years. They are proud parents of three adult sons and two dogs.

First elected in 2024, La Mirada Councilmember Michelle Velasquez Bean is a tenured professor of English at Río Hondo College, bringing over 25 years of teaching experience in California’s community colleges and K-12 education system. Councilmember Bean served on the Historical Preservation Advisory Committee from August 2023 to November 2024, where she held the position of vice chair in 2024. She also volunteers with La Mirada’s Meals on Wheels program. As an executive leader, she has served on the boards of various nonprofit organizations, including the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, Delta Kappa Gamma for women educators, and Trojan Youth Football and Cheer. Councilmember Bean holds a master’s degree in English from California State University, Fullerton, a single-subject teaching credential in English from California State University, Long Beach, and a bachelor’s degree in English from the Whittier Scholars Program at Whittier College. A long-time resident of La Mirada, she and her husband, James, have been married for over 30 years. They are proud parents of three adult sons and two dogs.

About the La Mirada City Council

The City Council is the legislative and policy making body for the City of La Mirada. Five members of the City Council are elected by district in March of odd-numbered years for four-year, overlapping terms. Each year the Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and one member to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. The Mayor presides over all Council meetings and is the ceremonial head of the City for official functions.

As La Mirada’s elected representatives, the City Council expresses the values of the electorate in keeping pace with community needs and establishing the quality of municipal services in the urban environment. The Council determines service levels and revenue obligations through the adoption of an annual budget, authorizes City contracts and expenditures, establishes City service and operating policies, and adopts such regulatory measures as may be necessary for the mutual protection of the community.

Regular meetings of the City Council are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at La Mirada City Hall.  Study Session meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

About City Council Meetings

The agenda for all City Council meetings are prepared by the City Clerk’s office and posted pursuant to State law at least 72 hours before any meeting. The purpose of the agenda is to inform the public in advance of the items under consideration.

Order of Business

The City Council follows a regular order of business as provided in the agenda for each meeting. The order of business is as follows:

Appearances, Proclamations & Presentations

At various times throughout the year, the City Council recognizes individuals, groups or organizations for their many contributions to the community by special presentations or proclamations of upcoming events. Also, from time-to-time, individuals or groups who wish to recognize the City Council may appear.

Public Comment

Citizen participation is invited at all Council meetings. To ensure that all La Mirada residents have a fair opportunity to appear before the City Council, a Public Comment Period is included on each regular City Council Agenda. Council policy is that individual presentations not exceed five minutes. The Council will hear public comments regarding regular agenda items at the time the particular matter is presented for Council consideration.

The Council will make no decisions nor take action on those matters presented during the Public Comment period. However, those matters may be placed on a future Council Study Session or Regular Meeting agenda for consideration and action.

Any information or materials provided during Public Comments are recorded in the minutes and are subject to public disclosure under the Public Records Act. The speaker is requested, but is not required, to orally state or register his or her name and/or address on the sheet located at the podium, for purposes of recording the information accurately in the minutes. If the speaker declines to provide his or her name, address, and other relevant information, the records will so indicate. This will preclude the City staff from communicating the results of any investigation of the issues presented with the speaker or enabling the City from following up to obtain further details and information for the investigation of the issue.

Consent Calendar

Items under the Consent Calendar are considered routine and may be enacted by one motion and roll call vote. Should any Councilmember desire to consider any item separately, he will so indicate to the Mayor. If the item is desired to be discussed separately, it will be considered as the first item under New Business.

Public Hearings

The advertised public hearing procedures, established by the City Council, provide for a staff presentation followed by presentations of proponents of the matter under consideration, then presentations by the opponents, followed by any questions the City Council/Agency may have. The applicant then has the opportunity for rebuttal prior to closing hearings.

Any person desiring to address the Council on a hearing matter should rise and be recognized by the chair following the staff report, step up to the microphone, state his/her name and address for the record, and sign the register.

Once the public hearing is closed, no further testimony from the public may be taken.

Ordinances and Resolutions

An Ordinance is a city law. When an ordinance is drafted, it must be approved twice – at two separate Council meetings. It becomes a law thirty days after passage (second reading). An ordinance remains a city law until and unless it is amended or repealed by a subsequent Ordinance.

A Resolution is an official statement of Council policy. It requires only one reading. Once adopted, it remains Council policy until and unless changed by a subsequent resolution.

In adopting Ordinances and Resolutions, a roll call vote is required and each Councilmember votes when their name is called by the City Clerk.

New Business

Items that are presented for City Council action and not considered routine will normally be heard under New Business.

Warrants and Demands

All bills and charges to the City are paid by warrants (checks). The Warrant Register is approved by the City Council prior to payment.

Americans with Disabilities Act

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing special assistance to participate in a City meeting or other services offered by the City should contact the City Clerk’s office at (562) 943-0131, extension 2309, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.


FPPC FORM 806 – Report of Public Official Appointments

Click here to view Campaign Statements