Talamantes to Serve Second Term as Mayor of Burbank

Burbank City Council selected Jess Talamantes as the new mayor of Burbank Monday morning, May 2, 2016, during the Council’s annual reorganization meeting.

Mayor Talamantes, who is serving as mayor for the second time, replaces Bob Frutos who served as mayor for the past twelve months.

(Photo by © Ross A. Benson)

The Council took up the subject of the rotating Mayor’s position earlier in the year. Several years ago, Council Member Dr. David Gordon was passed over for the Mayor position because the Council felt it would not be fair for a council member to run for re-election as the current Mayor.

While Talamantes will be up for re-election during his current term as Mayor, the council’s previous discussion seemed to make this stance a non point this time around.

The Council also selected Council Member Will Rogers to serve as vice mayor after what appeared to be an awkward silence when Talamantes opened the floor for nominations. After waiting for close to a minute for someone to speak, the new Mayor nominated Council Member Emily Gabel-Luddy but the silence continued when the nomination failed to receive a second.

After a few more seconds of silence, Gordon then nominated Rogers who than passed the vote 5-0, the same as Talamantes received.

(Photo by © Ross A. Benson)

Mayor Talamantes, who is a graduate of John Burroughs High School, spent more than 32-years as a Burbank City firefighter. He was elected to the Council in 2009, served as Burbank mayor (2011-2012) during the City’s centennial celebration, and was re-elected to the Council in 2013.

Mayor Talamantes is a member of the League of California Cities – L.A. County Division, where he currently serves as vice president. In addition, he serves as chair of the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments and sits on several committees as a regional council member (Dist. 42) with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).

(Photo by © Ross A. Benson)

Vice Mayor Rogers has just completed his first year on the Council after being elected in 2015. Although born and raised in the Midwest, Vice Mayor Rogers has been a Southern California resident for more than 36-years. He covered Burbank politics extensively as a newspaper columnist and investigative reporter.

Burbank mayor and vice mayor serve for one year and are chosen from among the five Burbank city council members who include Council Member Dr. David Gordon, Council Member Emily Gabel-Luddy, and Council Member Bob Frutos.