The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Monday announced that Whittier Councilman Fernando Dutra was sworn in to replace Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia on the board that oversees the agency.
Dutra, who was sworn in last Wednesday, will represent the “gateway cities” in Southeast Los Angeles County after Garcia chose not to seek reelection on the Metro Board after serving his four-year term, officials said. The region’s leadership elected Dutra to the position.
Dutra has served on the Whittier City Council since 2012 and chaired the Metro Light Rail Extension Project Washington Boulevard Coalition, which advocates for the Gold Line to be extended along Washington Boulevard to serve Commerce, Montebello, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, South Whittier and unincorporated areas in that region.
The Board of Directors includes Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin, Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Inglewood Mayor James Butts, Los Angeles Mayoral-appointee Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian and Caltrans District 7 Director Tony Tavares.
The Board of Directors oversees the agency’s annual budget of about $7 billion. The board’s next meeting is Thursday at 10 a.m. and can be accessed at boardagendas.metro.net/.