City Council
The Duarte City Council is comprised of five members who are directly elected by the voters. The Council serves as a legislative body for both the City and the Redevelopment Agency. It is responsible for the establishment of City policies, the adoption of ordinances and resolutions, the holding of public hearings, the adoption of the budget, the authorization of expenditures, and the appointment of the City Manager, City Attorney, and the members of City commissions and committees.
Member Biographies
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Mayor: John Fasana |
Mayor Pro Tem: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Tzeitel Paras-Caracci This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Councilmember: |
Councilmember: |
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John was elected to the Duarte City Council in November 1987 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He has promoted Duarte's interests in transportation, community services, and environmental protection.
Experience
- Served as Mayor in 1990, 1997, 2003, and 2009.
- Chairs the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Transportation Committee.
- John has represented 30 San Gabriel Valley cities as a Director to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) since its inception. John served as MTA Board Chair during the 2001-2002 fiscal year and currently is a member of the Finance Committee and the Operations Committee.
- John Represents MTA on the Foothills Extension Construction Authority Board. The Foothills Extension Construction Authority will build the Gold Line through Duarte to Azusa with an opening date projected for 2014.
- Represented the League of California Cities in the development of ballot language and support by cities of the 1992 Los Angeles County Park and Recreation Act, which passed with over 60% of the vote and included funding for the Duarte Teen Center.
- John has worked 30 years with Southern California Edison.
A graduate of Whittier College, John and his wife, Kris, have lived in Duarte since 1985. Their three children are graduates of Duarte High School.
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Mayor Pro Tem Liz Reilly This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
Liz Reilly was raised and educated in Utica, New York where her parents had emigrated from Poland after World War II.
Liz graduated from the State University of New York with a degree in Management and the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Nutrition. Shortly after, she moved to Hollywood, California where she began her career as Chief Dietitian for the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage. From there, Liz held various positions including regional dietitian for Mannings, a food service company, food service director for Alhambra Community Hospital, and manager of the Tearoom for Bullock’s Pasadena before leaving the workforce to raise her family.
Liz moved to Duarte in 1987 with her husband to raise their two daughters. After her husband, the late Edward Reilly, passed away, Liz started the position she holds today as an RSP Instructional Aide for Valley View Elementary School.
As a Duarte resident and mom, Liz was highly involved with local community and school groups including the Valley View PTA, President, Lifetime Achievement Award recipient,
- Northview PTSA, President, Honorary Service Award recipient,
- DUSD Volunteer of the Year,
- Duarte High PTSA, President, Honorary Service Award recipient,
- Monrovia-Duarte Council of PTAs, President, Continuing Service Award recipient,
- First District PTA, Treasurer,
- DUSD Community Education Council, Chairman,
- MALDEF, Parent School Partnership trainer at Duarte High
- Duarte Council of PTAs, current Parliamentarian,
- the Duarte Falcon Booster Club, current Treasurer.
Liz’s two daughters Beth and Kate attended Valley View, Northview, and Duarte High before graduating from Northwestern University and USC, respectively.
She considers it an honor to have been elected to the Duarte City Council and to have the opportunity to serve the Duarte community. Liz wants to create an economic environment that attracts new businesses, supports existing businesses, and brings tax revenue, sales, and jobs to Duarte.
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Councilmember Tzeitel Paras Caracci
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Tzeitel Russel M. Paras was born in 1972. She was named after the eldest daughter in "Fiddler on the Roof", a Broadway musical. On November 6, 2001, Tzeitel became the first Duarte High School (DHS) alumni and the youngest woman elected to the Duarte City Council. Her family moved to Duarte in 1985. Tzeitel (DHS '89) has two younger brothers: Bertrand Russell (DHS '92) and John Paul George (DHS '96).
In 1989, Tzeitel was named the Los Angeles Times and Pasadena Star News DHS 'Student of the Year'. She served as Mayor Pro Tem during Duarte Student Government Day and was also a DHS representative to Girl State. She attended Woodbury University majoring in Marketing and has worked for CIGNA HealthCare, Pasadena Unified School District and the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. She is currently working part-time as an Outreach Consultant.
As a public servant, Tzeitel Paras-Caracci has served as Chair for the Redevelopment Agency in 2004 and Mayor in 2006. She continues to participate in many facets of government and civic engagement. She has continued to be an active member various organizations and committees. To name a few, she has served as President for APAMO (Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials) 2004-2006, Chair of the CityFutures Panel of Democratic Governance, member of Duarte Education Council and Duarte Community Service Council, Director of Sanitation District in 2006 and was appointed to serve a two-year term on the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities and the League of California Cities.
Tzeitel is thankful for many things, but most of all the difference she can make every day serving the City of Duarte. This has been her hometown for over 24 years and she loves it. She welcomes constructive input on the progress of the city.
FUN FACTS: In August 2003, Tzeitel married K.C. Caracci (Route 66 Parade Chair) at Royal Oaks Park in Duarte. In addition to English, Tzeitel also speaks Tagalog (konti) and Spanish (un poquito). Aside from loving Duarte, Tzeitel also loves Hello Kitty, watching HGTV and the Food Network, and whenever she has a spare moment enjoys baking and crafts.
| Councilmember Margaret E. Finlay
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Accomplishments
- Four-term mayor
- Married to Brad for 34 years, with 5 children all having graduated from Duarte High School. One son, James, has returned to do his residency in Lab Animal Medicine and PhD at the City of Hope.
- Executive Committee of the California Contract Cities 14 years
- Economic Development in the past year - Best Buy, generating sales tax dollars for citizen services
- New Fresh and Easy Store for added shopping convenience.
- New soundwall on the south side of the freeway, protecting DHS and Northview and Westminster Gardens from aggravating freeway noise
- Chairperson for the successful 1998 Measure B School Bond Campaign that is improving aging Duarte Schools
- Over the past 5 years, sales tax revenues increased by $1.5 million or 65%
- Expanded Senior Citizen transportation and more warm meals delivered to household Seniors
- Duarte was named as a Finalist in the Duarte All-America City Competition
- A partnership with the Feds for an enlarged post office parking lot
- A new city website that provides a comprehensive list of city information and services
- Cablecasting the City Council meetings for better communication
- Crime statistics that have dropped 38%
Education
- B.B.A. in Marketing, 1975, St. Mary’s College , Notre Dame, Indiana
- Master’s in Public Administration, 2000, Cal State Long Beach
- Doctoral work at Claremont Graduate University
- Harvard University - Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program- 2004
Professorships/Speaker
- Adjunct Professor - Policy Analysis Courses in MPA program at CSU, Long Beach
- International Speaker on Municipal Government in Melbourne, Australia, June 2005
- Speaker at different colleges at Azusa Pacific and Fullerton College
Experience
- Los Angeles County LAFCO Commissioner, Elected 2005
- Community Redevelopment Agency (a housing and community development agency) 15 yrs, Chairperson for 4 yrs.
- Three-term Mayor of Duarte
- League of California Cities, State Board of Directors, 4yrs.
- National League of Cities, Board of Directors, 2 yrs.
- National League of Cities, Small Cities Council Steering Committee, Chairperson (2000-2001)
- National League of Cities Program Chair, Congress of Cities, December 2005
- Institute for Local Government (research in government), League of California Cities Board Liaison
- California Contract Cities Association, President (2004-2005)
- California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, Executive Committee, 9yrs.
- San Gabriel Valley Vector Control District, 14yrs, President (2yrs)
- Los Angeles County Sanitation District, Board of Directors & Personnel Committee, 10 yrs.
- L.A. County Library Commission, Legislative Chair, 8 yrs.
- L.A. County Sheriff’s Liability Trust Fund Board
- State Committee on Ethics in Government
- Planning Commissioner
- Traffic and Safety Commissioner
- Duarte Education Foundation (serving the community education needs for low-to-moderate income students) President, 8 yrs.
- Royal Oaks PTA (President)
- Volunteer Guide for Tournament of Roses Floats
- Church Youth Leader
Associations/Awards
- Pi Alpha Alpha (National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Aminstration)
- Phi Kappa Phi (National Honor Socitety)
- 4.0 GPA Graduation Award in the MPA Program at CSULB-2000
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Phil Reyes This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Personal/Professional:
Resident of Duarte 30 years. Married to Angie for 32 years. Three Children: Phillip, Gabriel, and Alexis. Two Granddaughters: Emily & Gia.
Real estate licensed broker and realtor since 1978. Partner in Phil Reyes Real Estate Brokerage Co with Angie Reyes. Past President of the Monrovia/ Duarte Association of Realtors.
California Association of Realtors State Director.
Past and Present Community Involvement
- Elected in1989-1993 to the Duarte Board of Education. Served as President in 1992. Elected to Duarte City Council in 1993. Mayor 1996, 2002 and 2008.
- Past Chairman of Redevelopment Agency. Former Economic Development Commissioner.
- 1992-1993 President of Duarte Chamber of Commerce. Member since 1981.
- 1996 Member of the California State Dept. of Education, Diversity Committee.
- 1997-Present Co-Chair of the Los Angeles –Taiwan Taipei County Friendship Committee. Organized visit to China for Duarte High School Chamber Ensemble and City Delegation 2001, 2005 and 2007.
- San Gabriel Valley Boy Scouts District Chair.
- League of California Cities, National League of Cities (NLC), National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), Hispanic Elected Local Officials (HELO), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Elks, and Kiwanis.
- Organized and sponsored citizenship development through educational workshops with NALEO.
- Immaculate Conception Church and Fiesta, Santa Teresita Hospital / St. Josephs Chapel, and Knights of Columbus.
- Past Vice-President of Duarte Hawks Junior All American Football.
- LULAC Fireworks Chair for last 16 years, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and distributed to various youth organizations, programs, food for those less fortunate, scouting, church youth groups, sports programs, cultural dance, and our local schools.
- Organized the City of Duarte Cinco De Mayo Celebration 1992-1995.
- Neighborhood Watch Block Captain.
- Youth mentor, Duarte High School La Vida Nueva advisor, empowered youth through leadership development.
- Promoted citizenship participation through various voter registration campaigns in partnership with Southwest Voter Education Registration Project.
- Created collaboration with Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), in order to provide parent leadership development.
Accomplishments
- Spearheaded development of Duarte Teen Center. Advocated for the City of Duarte student internship program, and expansion of teen and senior citizen services.
- Duarte Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year 1992.
- Helped initiate DAMAGE program (gang prevention), and explorer program at Duarte High School. Worked to create deterrents, which resulted in the reduction of crime citywide.
- Advocated and introduced study for the development of freeway sound walls.
- Started citywide diversity program.
- In various capacities has worked with youth, distributed over $230,000 in scholarships, transportation cost for field trips, promoting education, cultural awareness, and diversity.
- Created rebate/grant program for local businesses.
- Initiated and assisted in the creation of Duarte Youth Boxing Program.
