Vannia De La Cuba LinkedIn pages (Photos – Screengrabs)
In a December 31, 2022, press release Lisa Derderian, the Pasadena Public Information Officer, listed the guests in Mayor Victor Gordo’s Rose Parade “1907 autocar bus.”
By News Desk
There was one odd title for field representative Vannia De La Cuba. She was referred to as “…Vannia De La Cuba who is the deputy to the Mayor …”
It is strange because Vannia De La Cuba is listed on the official City of Pasadena website as Field Representative to the Mayor, although she does list herself as Deputy Mayor on one of her Linkedin pages.
Confusion reigns because the City of Pasadena has no position for Deputy Mayor.
The role of a deputy mayor is to act as Mayor in the event of a Mayor’s absence. That’s a large role, but in the city of Pasadena that role falls to the Vice Mayor. It’s in the city charter.
A deputy mayor is defined by Wikipedia: “The deputy mayor (also known as vice mayor, assistant mayor, or mayor pro tem) is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official that is present in many, but not all, local governments.”
The baffling title of deputy assigned to De La Cuba in the press release is not the first time.
On April 2, 2021, on the web page for the Consulate General of Armenia, De La Cuba is again mentioned as a deputy: “Deputy to the Mayor Vannia De La Cuba also participated in the meeting.”
If Field Representative Vannia De La Cuba really is the Deputy Mayor, the city charter needs amending and the role of Vice Mayor needs to be changed.
Rena Kurlander contributed to this article.
I can imagine some saying “Deputy to the Mayor” is not the same as “Deputy Mayor,” but the question still remains whether this title was invented, and by who?
Did she invent the title? Did the mayor? Does the mayor have the power to create new positions in City government independent of the City Council? If not, does this mean the mayor is violating the Charter?
If this is a new position, what are the duties and responsibilities of this position?
If it’s just some unofficial title created by the mayor, does it mean anything? And if it is unofficial, is it legal to present her as officially operating in this capacity, whatever it is?
If the vice mayor is acting mayor because the mayor is unavailable does she no longer act as “deputy to the mayor” or whatever?
All of this is so bizarre.
I’m a resident to the mayor so that also makes me Resident Mayor!