Council elects Elena Baca Santa Cruz as Moreno Valley mayor pro tem

Moreno Valley — Council member Elena Baca Santa Cruz was elected Jan. 7 to serve a one‑year term as Moreno Valley mayor pro tem and was sworn into the office during the meeting.

Nut graf: The mayor pro tem post is an annually rotated council role that serves in the mayor’s absence and works closely with the mayor and city executives on agenda development and city business. Council members said they favored giving seats to colleagues who have not previously served in the role while emphasizing the need for productive working relationships.

Vote and remarks: Mayor Cabrera solicited comments from council members before nominations. Council member Bernard nominated Elena Baca Santa Cruz; the nomination was seconded and carried unanimously. Baca Santa Cruz took the oath and said she intends to work collaboratively to advance projects and services the council has prioritized.

Why it matters: The mayor pro tem frequently presides over meetings when the mayor is unavailable and participates with the mayor and senior staff on scheduling and high‑level policy matters. Council members noted the role requires frequent contact with staff and a readiness to represent the city at events.

The vote: Unanimous (Council member Baca Santa Cruz: yes; Council member Delgado: yes; Council member Gonzales: yes; Council member Bernard: yes; Mayor Cabrera: yes).