COUNCILMAN MITCH WARD NAMED MANHATTAN BEACH MAYOR

Council Member and current Mayor Pro Tempore Mitch Ward the first African American mayor of Manhattan Beach, was voted by his colleagues to serve his second mayoral term on December 15 at City Hall.

Ward served as Mayor in 2006 during his first city council term from 2003-2007. As part of his first four years in office Mr. Ward oversaw the development of the highly
acclaimed and very successful downtown Manhattan Beach Metlox Plaza, the construction of a new Manhattan Beach Police and Fire Facility and the renaming of
Bruces Beach Park, Manhattan Beach. This park is the site of Los Angeles County’s first beach for people of color (1912). Mr. Ward is serving his second term on city council,
2007-2011.

Since 1912, Manhattan Beach has functioned as an independent city with a rotational mayoral system, meaning the five council members—each elected citywide—serve as mayor for a period of roughly 10 months during their four-year term. Each council member may serve for a total of two terms before being termed out by local limitation rules. Mitch Ward has successfully served the City of Manhattan Beach since 1994 when was appointed as one of the city’s first Cultural Arts Commissioners. Mr. Ward later moved up to the City Planning Commission and served as its Chairman before ultimately beingelected to City Council in 2003.

Cake and punch was served during a brief recess following Ward’s mayoral ceremony. Entertainment was provided by opera singer NAREK and local musicians The Hyperion Outfall Serenaders, Manhattan Beach’s official band.