Victor Gordo
Victor Gordo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 56th mayor of Pasadena | |
| Assumed office December 8, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Terry Tornek |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 1969 Zacatecas, Mexico |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Kelly Van Dyke |
| Alma mater | Pasadena City College (A.A.) Azusa Pacific University (B.A.) University of La Verne College of Law (J.D.) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Victor Manuel Gordo (born October 1969) is a Mexican-American politician and the current mayor of Pasadena, California.
Early life and career
[edit]Gordo was born in Zacatecas, Mexico to a family of six.[1] He moved to Pasadena when he was a child and was a paperboy for Pasadena Star-News from age 9–17.[2] His father was a dishwasher and cook at a local Mexican restaurant. His mother was a seamstress. He attended Pasadena High School where he played football, soccer, and baseball. He obtained his Associate degree at Pasadena City College. He matriculated to get his Bachelor's degree in Finance at Azusa Pacific University and Juris Doctor at University of La Verne College of Law. He was admitted to the California Bar in 2001. Prior to being elected mayor, Gordo was on the Pasadena City Council and represented District 5.[2][3] He also was the longest-serving president of the Rose Bowl Operating Company.[1]
Mayoralty
[edit]Gordo is a member of the Democratic Party. In the March 3rd, 2020 Primary nominating election, he received 46.52% of the vote, against the incumbent Terry Tornek who received 41.57% of the vote. He was elected mayor after the runoff on November 3, taking office December 8. He is Pasadena's first Hispanic mayor.[citation needed]
On July 17, 2024, Gordo became the first Democratic mayor in California to publicly call on President Joe Biden to end his campaign for the presidency.[4][5][6]
He was re-elected in 2024 after beating challenger Allen Shay.[7][8][9]
As Mayor of Pasadena, Gordo appears in Pasadena's annual New Year's Rose Parade.[10][11]
Sister Cities
[edit]As Mayor, Gordo has worked to develop sister city relationships between Pasadena and other municipalities. In 2024, he visited[12] and met with Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan to discuss a potential sister city relationship.[13] In 2025, Gordo hosted Samantha Smith Gutiérrez, Presidenta Municipal of Guanajuato, Mexico at Pasadena's city hall in an effort to develop a sister city relationship between the two cities.[14][15]
Personal life
[edit]Gordo is married to Kelly Van Dyke, a school teacher. They live in the Madison Heights section of Pasadena and have two adult children.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Gordo, Victor (2024-02-10). "Victor Gordo: Why I seek reelection as Pasadena's mayor". Pasadena Star News. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ a b "About City Mayor Victor M. Gordo - Office of the Mayor & City Council". Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "Council to Discuss Process to Fill District 5 Seat Vacated by Mayor Gordo – Pasadena Now". pasadenanow.com. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ Gardiner, Dustin (2024-07-17). "First Democratic mayor in California calls for Biden to end campaign, following Schiff". POLITICO. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "Pasadena mayor urges Biden to reconsider re-election bid". Pasadena Star News. 2024-07-18. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "Mayor Gordo Releases Full Text of His Statement Calling on Biden to Bow Out of Presidential Race – Pasadena Now". pasadenanow.com. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ Saval, Malina (2024-07-26). "Meet the Mayor". Pasadena Magazine. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo and challenger Allen Shay on the issues". Pasadena Star News. 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "Election 2024: Pasadena Mayor Gordo claims victory; Cole leads in semi-final returns". Pasadena Star News. 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "Here's who Pasadena's mayor is riding in the Rose parade with". Pasadena Star News. 2024-12-28. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "Mayor Will Travel Rose Parade Route in Vintage Bus with Family, Special Guests – Pasadena Now". pasadenanow.com. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ Grigoryan, Gohar (2024-06-26). "Pasadena Mayor Returns from Landmark State Department Mission to Armenia Mayor Victor Gordo reflects on the U.S.-Armenia Diplomatic Mission, Sister City ties, and the warmth and culture of the Armenian people". The California Courier. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "President Vahagn Khachaturyan received Mayor of Pasadena Victor Gordo". The President of the Republic of Armenia. November 5, 2024.
- ^ "Mayor Victor Gordo Welcomes Mayor of Guanajuato, Mexico to Pasadena – Pasadena Now". pasadenanow.com. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "Pasadena Exploring Sister City Partnership With Guanajuato, Mexico – Pasadena Now". pasadenanow.com. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "About City Mayor Victor M. Gordo - Office of the Mayor & City Council". Retrieved 2025-01-04.
- Mayors of Pasadena, California
- 1969 births
- Living people
- Politicians from Zacatecas
- Pasadena High School (California) alumni
- Pasadena City College alumni
- Azusa Pacific University alumni
- University of La Verne alumni
- Democratic Party mayors in California
- 20th-century American lawyers
- 21st-century American lawyers
- American politicians of Mexican descent
- American lawyers of Mexican descent
- Mexican emigrants to the United States