W e e k l y RIALTO RECORD
Vol 23, NO. 17
December 19, 2024
Rialto City Council Votes to Interview Candidates to Fill Vacant Council Seat Amid Community Pushback By Christopher Salazar, contributing writer
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IECN.com
n Tuesday, Dec. 10, the Rialto City Council voted 3-1 to interview candidates to fill Mayor Joe Baca Sr.’s vacant council seat after the Nov. 5 election results. Mayor Pro Tem Andy Carrizales and Councilmembers Ed Scott and Karla Perez voted yes. Mayor Baca voted no. Baca was elected to the council in 2022, with his term set to run through 2026. However, following his successful 2024 mayoral campaign, the council is required by state law to fill his vacancy within 60 days, either by appointment or special election.
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Ana Gonzalez, a longtime Rialto resident who ran for city council, was favored by community members to fill the vacant seat. She was the runner-up with 7,209 votes.
“I think the voters have already spoken on the third seat, you have a little over 7,000 votes,” said Frank Montes, chairman of the Hispanic Coalition of Small Businesses. “If that seat would have been available when the election was going on, Miss Gonzalez would be sitting there already.” Ulises Mora, a Rialto resident, accused the council of wanting to appoint outgoing Councilmember Rafael Trujillo, who lost the mayoral race. “The proposal of this appointment comes off as shady because it lacks transparency and it is incredibly undemocratic,” Mora said. Mora said that the way the Council is handling the vacancy is reminiscent of a similar situation that occurred in 2020, when the city chose Karla Perez over two candidates with higher votes. He said it’s “rubbing salt on a wound.” “Please do not repeat the same shady behavior,” Mora said. “Pass the ordinance
and appoint the next highest vote earner for the vacated seat.” But, despite community pushback, the council voted to interview candidates instead of appointing Gonzalez. Councilmember Scott explained in an email that it is not the city’s policy to appoint the runner-up, a policy he claims is overwhelmingly supported by Rialto residents. Scott added that it’s more important for him that the appointee works well with the council. “It is not a policy of the city to appoint the next highest vote-getter, we have always done an interview process or, if we’ve had a candidate by majority, we have chosen that individual, that’s been my experience in the last 23 years,” said Councilmember Scott. “For me, it’s more important to make sure that the additional person we appoint to the council can work well with us. They don’t have to agree with us. They don’t City Council, cont. on next pg.
Kolb Teacher Sarah Hernandez Honored Educator of the Year
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PHOTO RUSD
Celebrating excellence! Kolb Middle School teacher Sarah Hernandez (pictured center front row) was honored as a California League of Middle Schools Region 10 Educator of the Year on December 9. Hernandez was joined at the ceremony by RUSD leaders and Kolb staff to celebrate her inspiring dedication to students and education.
Kolb Middle School teacher Sarah Hernandez proudly holds her recognition plaque for the California League of Middle Schools Region 10 Educator of the Year award. Hernandez, an 8th-grade science and Eports teacher, was honored for her passion, dedication, and leadership in inspiring students to excel.
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arah Hernandez, an eighth-grade science and Esports teacher at Ben F. Kolb Middle School, was recently celebrated as one of 12 finalists for the 2024-2025 “Educator of the Year” award by the California League of Middle Schools (CLMS) Region 10. The prestigious recognition honors outstanding educators from Inyo, Mono, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. The ceremony was held on December 9 at the Marriott Riverside and celebrated the dedication and achievements of outstanding educators in the region. Each educator walked the red carpet as they arrived and received a gift basket for their commitment to excellence in education. Throughout the evening their principals shared heartfelt tributes to each honoree, followed by a video highlighting each teacher’s inspiring work in education. Hernandez stated that earning the award
is a meaningful milestone in her career: “This award validates the hard work I’ve invested in becoming a better educator for my students. It also reminds me of the incredible support I have from my colleagues at Kolb Middle School. This motivates me to continue growing as an educator so I can help my students become better versions of themselves.” Hernandez, who has been teaching for six years (four at Kolb Middle School) was accompanied at the ceremony by RUSD Board of Education Clerk Evelyn P. Dominguez, Acting Superintendent Dr. Edward D’Souza, Kolb Middle School Principal Tina Lingenfelter, Assistant Principals Cynthia Latham and Dr. Stephen De Francis, Lead Agent of Personnel Armando Urteaga, a former Kolb principal who hired Hernandez, and various school and district education officials.
Lingenfelter described Hernandez as a dedicated and innovative educator. “Sarah embodies the qualities of an exemplary educator through her dedication, innovation, and leadership style. Her love of science is infectious, and you can see the excitement on her students' faces as they engage in her lessons,” she said on stage at the ceremony. Hernandez grew up in Moreno Valley, where her high school science teachers sparked a lifelong passion for science. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology from UCLA and later pursued her Master’s in Learning and Teaching at the University of Redlands. After gaining experience as an instructional assistant and substitute teacher, Hernandez found her calling in education. “Once I graduated and began teaching, I
Lingenfelter said she was proud to nominate Hernandez.
RUSD cont. on next pg.