Temple City Mayor Pro Tem Ed Chen and Councilwoman Cynthia Sternquist have accepted appointments to regional policy committees of the Southern California Association of Governments, officials announced Thursday.
They will represent the interests of Temple City and the San Gabriel Valley on issues to help shape the future of Southern California, officials said. The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments appointed Sternquist to the SCAG Transportation Committee and Mayor Pro Tem Ed Chen to the Energy and Environment Committee.
SCAG is the nation’s largest urban planning entity, representing more than 19 million residents in Southern California. SCAG committees shape policy that governs spending taxpayer dollars on regional transportation, environmental concerns, sustainability initiatives, housing strategies and long-range planning.
City officials said Sternquist brings decades of regional leadership experience to the Transportation Committee. She has served as president of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments and currently is on the Board of Directors of Foothill Transit and the Executive Board of the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority.
Sternquist has advocated for transportation improvements, regional collaboration, risk management and responsible stewardship of public resources, according to the city.
“Transportation is one of the most important issues affecting our residents’ quality of life and our region’s economic vitality,” Sternquist said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to advocate for investments and policies that improve mobility, safety and connectivity for communities throughout the San Gabriel Valley.”
On the Energy and Environment Committee, Chen will help guide regional discussions on energy reliability, sustainability, climate resilience and environmental policy. He currently serves on the Los Angeles County Integrated Waste Management Task Force, the Board of Directors of Clean Power Alliance and Clean Power Alliance’s Energy Planning and Resources Committee.
“As California continues to navigate complex energy and environmental challenges, it is important that local governments have a strong voice at the regional level,” Chen said in a statement. “I am honored to represent Temple City and the San Gabriel Valley as we work toward practical solutions that support reliability, affordability, sustainability and environmental stewardship.”
SCAG’s website has additional information on the organization including scheduled meetings and current membership.