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Rosemead City Council

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City of Rosemead

Rosemead City Council

This person would hold one of three seats up this cycle. The seats are at-large on Rosemead's City Council. The council has five members total. They vote on the city budget, zoning, land use, and city laws. The term is four years. The council does not elect its mayor directly. Members choose one of their own to lead each year. An appointed city manager runs daily operations.

Four candidates are running for three of Rosemead's five at-large council seats. Incumbent Mayor Sandra Armenta and incumbent Councilmember Steven Ly are seeking new terms. They face challengers Diana Lam and John Tran, and the top three finishers win.

Whoever wins serves a 4-year term on a 5-member council that sets Rosemead's budget, zoning and land-use rules, and city ordinances for a San Gabriel Valley city of roughly 51,000 people. The council doesn't elect its own mayor directly -- members choose one of their own to preside for a year, and day-to-day operations run through an appointed city manager, so the job is one vote among five, not an executive post.

With three of five seats up and no districts, this is close to a citywide referendum on the sitting council. The third incumbent whose term expires this cycle, Margaret Clark -- on the council since 1991 and seven times its Mayor -- did not file for another term, so at least one seat changes hands no matter how anyone votes. Weigh whether you want both returning incumbents back, a mix with the open seat, or a clean break to the two challengers.

Sandra Armenta

Sandra Armenta is Rosemead's sitting Mayor, first elected to the council in March 2009. She now works as a district representative for state Senator Susan Rubio. She ran in 2024 for the 25th State Senate District, finishing fourth with 9.5%.

Diana Lam

Diana Lam is a career education manager challenging for one of three council seats. Their campaign, "Renew Rosemead," focuses on City Hall services and outreach in many languages. They also want investment along Garvey Avenue and Valley Boulevard, and have not held office.

Steven Ly

Steven Ly is a sitting Rosemead councilmember, first elected in March 2009. He was Rosemead's youngest-ever Mayor at age 26, in 2011. He is also a U.S. Army Reserve captain who deployed to the Middle East.

John Tran

John Tran is a Rosemead Traffic Commissioner and business owner, first elected in 2005. In 2012 he pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge. In 2013 he pleaded guilty to witness tampering and lying to the FBI.

Your picks · choose up to 3

A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.

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