WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the first time in West Sacramento history, all members of the City Council are now women: four councilmembers and the mayor.
It became official at a special session on Wednesday, when newly elected and re-elected members were sworn in.
Verna Sulpizio Hull won District 4 over Alex Hirsch, replacing Councilmember Chris Ledesma, who opted not to seek re-election after serving 12 years on the Council and 9 years on the city's Planning Commission. Dr. Dawnté Early won the District 3 race against Leanne Linares and Mayor Martha Guerrero was re-elected without opposition. They join Mayor Pro Tem Quirina Orozco and Councilmember Norma Alcala on the Council.
This is the only all-female council in the Sacramento region and one of six women-only councils in the state, according to the League of California Cities.
"I've worked with many women on many committees before, and we get a lot of things done," Councilmember Alcala said. "So if that's any indication, I know that it's going to be a very eventful term."
The swearing in happened in a special session Wednesday, ahead of the regular West Sacramento City Council meeting.
In comments commemorating her dad Chris Ledesma’s service on the council, Elena Ledesma started by quoting the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once famously said, ‘I’m sometimes asked when there will be enough women on the Supreme Court, and I say, “When there are nine. People are shocked, but there’d be nine men and no one would ever raise a question about that.” When my dad started on City Council, there were five men in those chairs. By the end of the night, for the first time in our city’s history, those seats will be occupied by five women," she said. "I’m incredibly proud that our small city was the first in the region to do it.”
Councilmember Sulpizio Hull - the Council's now-newest member, is a West Sacramento native.
"I'm so proud to be a part of our first all-female city council in West Sacramento. It is meaningful for our region, and the fact that it's in my hometown of West Sacramento just - it's very, very special," she said.
This is Councilmember Early's first full, 4-year term on the council. However, she became the city’s first Black councilmember last year, winning a special election after Guerrero’s seat opened up following then-Councilmember Guerrero's successful bid for Mayor.
"I'm feeling a lot of excitement and also honored to be a part of this moment for the city that I love so much," Early said.
Councilmembers can pick who reads them the oath during their swearing-in ceremony. Early picked her son and nine-year-old daughter.
Later that night, she tweeted:
My daughter insisted that she get to sit on the dais today. She walked up and sat in my chair, no hesitation. I got the distinct impression that I was just keeping the seat warm for HER. Another glass ceiling broken #HERstory made today in @cityofwestsac! #RepresentationMatters
Orozco’s colleagues unanimously agreed she should continue in her role as Mayor Pro Tem—like a Deputy Mayor, who can service in the mayor’s absence.
“I’m just really proud to be a woman sitting amongst other women, serving a beautiful city,” Orozco said.
Orozco shared that she received a diagnosis this fall: stage 4 kidney cancer. Despite having major surgery just last week, Orozco said she couldn’t miss Wednesday night’s historic swearing-in and will keep working for West Sacramento.
“My mind is made up. I don’t care what prognosis I’m given, what statistics. I believe that I’m different, and I don’t envision an opportunity for me to have to step down," she said. "I’m going to fight until the very, very end.”
Mayor Guerrero teared up during comments at the special session, when referencing Orozco's cancer diagnosis.
“It really hurts me to see what she’s going through so young," Guerrero told ABC10 after the special session. "You know, we’re all here to cheer her on, rally her on so that she continues her treatment and that she overcomes what’s going on in her life.”
It’s this kind of strength that these women hope send a message to other women – and girls.
"When I ran, some of the things that the moms would say when the girls would see my signs up around the city-- the girls started saying, 'I want to run for President, too,'" Early said.
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