Carpinteria says farewell to longtime council member and welcomes new leadership

CARPINTERIA, Calif.-Carpinteria has a new face on the city council and newly chosen mayor.

Voters had their say in new districts on election day.

Monica Solórzano is the newest city council member in the new District 1.

One public speaker joked that her Ivy league education would add to the brain power of the council.

She is a Princeton grad.

She was sworn in alongside Roy Lee who won reelection in District 3 and Al Clark who won reelection in District 5.

Clark ran against longtime council member Gregg Carty in District 5.

Carty had been on the council for 16-years and served as mayor twice.

He said he would be spending more time with three grandchildren ages 4 months to 4 years.

He will also continue his work as a general contractor and have more time for gardening.

He is known for growing plumeria.

People applauded his service after he thanked Carpinteria City Manager Dave Durflinger.

Then the council got right back to business and voted for mayor and vice mayor.

Al Clark was named mayor by a four to one vote. Roy Lee voted to re-elect Wade Nomura as Mayor of Carpinteria but even the outgoing Mayor voted for Clark.

Natalia Alarcon was named Carpinteria Vice Mayor.

Outside the council chambers Carpinteria resident Lorraine McIntire said the changes don't bode well for The Surfliner Inn proposal at the site of the old train depot parking lot.

The proposal and a parcel rezoning initiative, that lost in a close race, sparked controversy during the election.

A large sheet cake from Reynoldo's Mexican Bakery was served up in honor of Carty and Solórzano after the votes were counted.