1700 West 162nd Street, Gardena, CA 90247
Phone: (310) 217-9507
Email: tcerda@cityofgardena.org
BIOGRAPHY
In March 2017, Tasha Cerda was first elected by the citizens of Gardena as their Mayor. In June 2022, she ran unopposed and was re-elected for a second term. Her current term will end in June 2026. She is the first female Mayor, the first African American Mayor, and the first Native American Mayor in the State of California. Prior to the 2017 Mayoral election, she served over seven years as a City Council Member and served as the City of Gardena City Clerk before her service as a Council Member began.
She is a well-known figure in the Gardena community because of her leadership and active roles in a variety of civic and community organizations.
Because she was brought up with strong family values and encouraged to help those in need, these are integral parts of what Mayor Cerda represents. Believing in community volunteerism enabled her to become well known for her “hands on” leadership know-how beginning with her neighborhood involvement when she joined a local Homeowners Association and discovered her passion for volunteering.
Her Mayoral responsibilities include representing the City on the:
- Gardena Finance Committee
- County of Los Angeles Sanitation District
- California Cities Gaming Authority
- Los Angeles County City Selection Committee
- Los Angeles Metro Mayors Roundtable
- And as the alternate City delegate to the South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority
Growing up in the City of Gardena has allowed Mayor Cerda to see the City during its best and worst times. Mayor Cerda wants to continue developing Gardena into the amazing City that we all love. Her goal is to give our family oriented, multicultural community the quality of life that they desire. A safe City to live, work, raise a family and retire in.
Being so involved in the community has given her the opportunity to learn more about what the community wants in their City. That said, she has been able to attract new housing and business developments, acquire grant money for new projects, increase our revenue, and save our city money, with more to come. As the Chairwoman of Gardena’s Finance Committee, she is determined to do more because she wants the City of Gardena to be the destination City of the South Bay.
Through Mayor Cerda’s careful analysis of the issues at hand and leadership based on integrity, Gardena will experience the positive change that it much deserves and needs – She is truly ‘The People’s Advocate.’