Redlands Sends Aguilar off to Washington

The Redlands City Council at its Dec. 16 meeting recognized Congressman-elect Pete Aguilar as he prepared to head to Washington. Former Mayor Aguilar tendered his resignation to the City Council, effective Dec. 15. Aguilar will be sworn in to represent California’s 31st Congressional District on Jan. 6. Aguilar said, “I want to thank everybody for the support and the friendship throughout this process. It has been an amazing ride, and there is no finer title that I can or will be given than that of colleague to these people sitting up here serving on this council. Serving this city was such an amazing experience and gift, and I’ve been honored to share that.” Aguilar first joined the council in 2006 after he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the council at that time. Councilwoman Pat Gilbreath was the council member who nominated him for the seat, after having worked with Aguilar on a transportation measure, she recalled. “Pete was one of the nominees that... came in and was applying for the position. I nominated him the first time and he was not chosen, and we could not get to an agreement, so I nominated him a second time, and he was chosen... It was a pleasure working with you, Pete,” Gilbreath said Tuesday. Mayor Pro Tem Jon Harrison said the city had seen great progress with Aguilar on the council, especially in the last four years as Aguilar served as the city’s mayor. “I think your ability to seek input and share ideas, whether it was at the dais (or) speaking with individuals in the community about issues...is something I think distinguishes your abilities as a leader,” Harrison said. Councilmember Paul Barich called Aguilar a “friend of business.” Barich added, “If any man was bred to be a congressman, this gentleman has been and I know we can expect some good things out of him.” Mayor Paul Foster also echoed Harrison’s sentiment that Aguilar and the council have contributed to the city Redlands is today. “Pete’s legacy to all of us,” Foster said, is “reflected in the stability of our city’s finances and infrastructure that we now are rehabilitating throughout the community...I’m convinced that Pete will bring that spirit to Washington, D.C. and to our district.” Mark Kaenel, chairman of Inland Action, an organization of business and civic leaders who promote economic development in the Inland Empire, presented Aguilar with a photograph composed of several photographs taken by Redlands-based photographer Stephen Wormser of portions of the 31st Congressional District combined to create one panoramic photograph showing the area from Yucaipa through Highland. Aguilar was also presented with a plaque of recognition for his time served on the council, as well as a framed art piece depicting Redlands’s Lincoln Shrine and incorporating the city’s 125th anniversary logo, designed by Redlands-based artist Janet Edwards. Aguilar closed, “This is a fine collection of city staff members and department directors who help the council out... and I’m just honored to have played a role in the past few years. My colleagues, I miss them a ton already and I look forward to what’s ahead, but thank you so much for the opportunity.” [END] Pete Aguilar is a Redlands City Council Member serving as Mayor. Since 2006, Pete has been a member of the Redlands City Council having first been appointed to serve in a vacated seat before running and winning citywide election in 2007. He is currently President of the League of California Cities, Inland Empire Division and also services the City on regional boards and commissions. Professionally, Pete is a small business owner of his own government affairs consulting firm. Previously Pete served as Director of Governmental Relations for a financial institution working with federal, state and local elected officials. Prior to that, Pete was appointed by Governor Gray Davis as Deputy Director and later Interim Director for the Inland Empire Regional Office of the Governor in July 2001. Pete is currently on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of the East Valley and serves as an Advisory Board Member to Redlands Community Hospital and the THINK Together Inland Empire Leadership Council. He served the San Bernardino Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity as President of the Board of Directors for two years, earning Volunteer of the Year honors for his work with the organization. He was also appointed in 2009 by the Speaker of the State Assembly to serve as one of 5 statewide directors to the Consumer Motor Vehicle Recovery Corporation. He has received Professional Awards as the top "Political Professional" from the California Credit Union League statewide trade association, the University of Redlands HOPE Centennial Award, and was honored as one of Assemblymember Amina Carter's top "30 under 30" within the Inland Empire. Pete earned degrees in Government and Business Administration from the University of Redlands. Pete and his wife Alisha have lived in Redlands since 1997 and have two sons, Palmer and Evan. +++++ Pat Gilbreath: I had the privilege of working with Pete way before he was ever on the Council, when we were working on the...Transportation Measure, and so I'd work with Pete. We'd go out and tag-team and we covered, getting information about that... It was great fun at that time... *Nominated Pete for the seat when it was vacant on the council in 2006. "Pete was one of the nominees that actually came in and was applying for the position. I nominated him the first time and he was not chosen, and we could not get to an agreement, so I nominated him a second time, and he was chosen. So Pete, you owe me...." It was a pleasure working with you, Pete. Jon Harrison: I had the great pleasure of serving with Pete here for, I guess, 8 years, and during that time, and particularly in the last four years that you were mayor, we've really seen a lot of progress and we owe that not only to your efforts, but to the efforts of this council. I think your ability to seek input and share ideas, whether it was at the dais, speaking with individuals in the community about issues, your ability to go out there and put your neck out there to really talk and understand what the issues are is something I really think really distinguishes your abilities as a leader, not only here in Redlands, but hopefully will distinguish your career in Washington, D.C. as well. ...We anticipate that with the skills you've shown here, developed here, and with the leadership you've shown here, that we can count on your being able to help not only the City of Redlands, but this entire region become and be represented well in Washington D.C. and make sure our nation moves forward in a positive manner. This last thing, on a personal note, developed a real friendship with Pete that is something I truly value. I didn't know Pete before Pat Gilbreath introduced him to all of us, or Alicia for that matter, but it's really over the 8 years that you've been here, really been a friendship that I truly, truly value. You've always brought a smile, no matter what you were doing. Even in agony of defeat, you were smiling because there was always another day and you've always had that positive attitude. I'm looking forward to seeing that attitude and working with you on into the future, so thank you for your friendship and thank you for your leadership. Paul Barich: I can't say that we had an opportunity to work directly together but I had the privilege of being president of the Chamber of Commerce twice and Pete has always been a friend of business in Redlands, and if any man was bred to be a congressman, this gentleman has been and I know we can expect some good things out of him. Very, very impressive. He was very, very supportive of the business community. ...I wish you the best of luck, and I know you do well, and I hope to see you in Washington soon. Chairman, Inland Action, Senior VP of Security Bank of CA in downtown Redlands Mark Kaenel: Inland Action - premier organization of business and civic leaders who promote economic development in IE. Before Pete became mayor, he was a terrific member of Inland Action for many, many years. He was on the forefront of all the legislative and political issues and kept us abreast of what was going on locally, state-wide and nationally. He was also the point person who put together the re-districting plan at Inland Action and submitted to the state. That was mostly his work and he did a great job with that and we're happy to see some of that actually got put in place when the legislative lines were re-drawn. We've appreciated everything that you've done over the years for Inland Action, Pete. What we have for you here this evening is hopefully something that you will display proudly on your wall... This is a photograph that was put together by Steve Wormser, he's a local photographer here in Redlands. He did a series of pictures and he put them together. What this is, is a panoramic view of about a third of your district, stretching from, roughly, Yucaipa/Calimesa over to Highland and kind of the east end of San Bernardino. We're really looking forward to having a true friend in Washington when we come and see you. Paul Foster: Nothing I thought of really, I thought, met the expectation that I had for myself in terms of what I would say to Pete. My colleagues have addressed much of it. I got to sit next to Pete for the last four years and, other than when he would get mad at Bob Gardner and I for horsing around a little bit, you know, it was a great learning experience. And you know, it was kind of funny to sit in the chair now and to call you a former councilman, but a lot of what Redlands is today is contributed by members of the city council over many years. Former Mayor Bill Cunningham in the audience and former mayor Beswick, I know is part of Inland Action, and many, many others. And Pete's legacy to all of us is much of that same contribution, much of it reflected in the stability of our city's finances and infrastructure that we now are rehabilitating throughout the community. And through that spirit of collaboration that he has exhibited and helped manifest with the rest of the group, one of the reasons why I'm so supportive of Pete going to Washington is because I know he'll take that operation into that hornet's nest and will try to have that come back, because Lord knows we need more of that in Sacramento and in Washington: the spirit of compromise, the spirit of collaboration. I'm convinced that Pete will bring that spirit to Washington D.C. and to our district. *Plaque from the City in recognition of your contributions to the city council for the 8 years plus you've been on the council. * Note from Janet Edwards, an artist in the community. This work that she did is of the Lincoln Shrine with the logo from the 125 anniversary. * Remember where your family is, remember where your friends are.... Thank you so much for everything. Pete Aguilar: I want to thank Mayor Foster for that, that was great. Thank you. In the letter, when I announced my resignation, I talked a little bit about, to some of the things that we've been able to accomplish together, but it seems like only yesterday, eight and a half years ago, we were seated probably in the fourth row back there, when we had that council appointment process, and Alicia was here and Palmer, who was about 10 weeks old at the time... I want to thank everybody for the support and the friendship throughout this process. It has been an amazing ride, and there is no finer title that I can or will be given than that as colleague to these people sitting up here, serving on this council and serving this city is such an amazing experience and gift, and I've been honored to share that with Alicia and the boys, and our family, for those that don't know, play a huge role in this because of the time commitment that it takes, so my mother in law, Val, our parents are always helping out and pitching in and it means a lot to experience this with them. With that, I just wanted to say thanks to City Staff. I see Janis in the back, City Manager Martinez........... Mr. Mcque, the department directors, this is a fine collection of city staff members and department directors who help us out, who help the council out, each and every day and I'm just honored to have played a role in the past few years. My colleagues, I miss them a ton already and I look forward to what's ahead but thank you so much for the opportunity.