Hernandez Named Mayor, Plans Improvements

Cal State Northridge Chicano studies professor Jose Hernandez is the new mayor of San Fernando.

The City Council selected Hernandez at a meeting Tuesday night.

In an interview Wednesday, Hernandez said his plans for the city include expanded economic development, image enhancement and improvements to recreational facilities.

“We have a young, energetic City Council with a beautiful vision,” he said. “They’re going to energize me to make San Fernando much better.”

The mayor expressed particular concern for providing affordable day-care and after-school programs. Hernandez said he wants the council to be known as the “family and children’s council.”

“We have a large young population, half or more under 18 years old. We have to provide expanded services to this population,” he said.

Hernandez, 69, first elected to the council in 1990, has served as interim mayor since Raul Godinez II left to run for Richard Alarcon’s vacated 7th District seat on the Los Angeles City Council.

Councilman Silverio Robledo will serve as mayor pro tem.

After the 1997 election, Hernandez, Godinez and Robledo formed a majority that streamlined City Hall by firing the city attorney, merging the personnel and finance departments, and reshuffling the Police Department.