Pasadena Mayor Gordo declares victory in bid for 2nd term

Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo has declared victory in his reelection campaign against challenger Allen Shay.

As the residents of Pasadena turned in for the night on Tuesday, Mayor Victor Gordo was on the cusp of securing another term in office. Gordo, showcasing a dominant lead over Shay from the moment preliminary results were revealed shortly before 8:30 p.m., has solidified his position with 11,458 votes, accounting for 83.73% of the total. His contender Shay had garnered only 16% with 2,227 votes.

Historically, Gordo’s victory margin mirrors that of previous mayoral races in Pasadena where the contest involved only two candidates. Bill Bogaard, for instance, clinched approximately 85% of the ballots against Philip Koebel in 2003 and an even more striking 89% opposite Aaron Proctor in 2007.

Since the initial count, Gordo’s nearly 85% lead has remained unchallenged.

Besides being Pasadena’s third citywide elected mayor, first assuming office on Nov. 3, 2020, Gordo has navigated the community through the turbulent times of the COVID-19 pandemic, social disparities, a wave of city staff retirements and the recruitment of a new city manager. His tenure has been marked by his goals of uplifting living standards and championing community safety.

Gordo began his political odyssey in 1997 when he was appointed as City Council District 5’s field representative by then Vice Mayor Bill Crowfoot, in the wake of redistricting efforts mandated by the Voting Rights Act to improve Latino representation.

After Crowfoot’s departure, he took over the District 5 seat and served with distinction as the longest-tenured President/Chair of the Rose Bowl Operating Co. Board, overseeing the iconic stadium’s renovation.

As reported by Pasadena Now

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