The City of West Hollywood has sworn-in John J. Duran as its new Mayor and John D’Amico as its new Mayor Pro Tempore. An Oath of Office ceremony was administered during the City of West Hollywood’s annual City Council Reorganization and Installation meeting, which took place this year on Monday, May 21, 2018 at 1OAK, located in West Hollywood on the Sunset Strip.

Mayor Duran’s Oath of Office was administered by Singer/Songwriter Eddie Money; Mayor Pro Tempore D’Amico’s Oath of Office was administered by West Hollywood City Clerk Yvonne Quarker. A brief City Council meeting took place, followed by a community reception at Rainbow Bar & Grill. Mayor Duran and Mayor Pro Tempore D’Amico are openly gay and they serve as two of three openly gay members on the five-member City Council.

Embracing a #RESIST theme, the ceremony and community reception included a limited number of giveaway lawn/window signs by Shepard Fairey, who is a street artist, graphic designer, activist, and illustrator who has created art installations in the City of West Hollywood. The signs read: “In the City of West Hollywood Love is Love, Everyone is Welcome, We Respect and Support People — #Resist” with a link to information on the City’s website at www.weho.org/resist. The West Hollywood City Council has reaffirmed the City’s commitment as a Sanctuary City and its commitment to its core values, which includes Respect and Support for People. The City of West Hollywood, in 2017 joined cities across the nation, including the California cities of Los Angeles, Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, and Richmond, in calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to initiate proceedings for the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump.

Mayor John J. Duran is a native Angeleno and has been a resident of West Hollywood since 1990. He has been an elected member of the West Hollywood City Council since 2001 and this is his fourth term as Mayor. He is a recognized national leader on HIV/AIDS issues and on LGBT equality. He is a strong defender of nightlife entertainment districts in West Hollywood and he resides near the Sunset Strip. He is a proponent for physical and mental health issues; addiction and recovery services; the promotion of fine arts and cultural events; tenant protections and affordable housing; strong economic development policies; historic preservation efforts; transportation programs; public safety; and is champion for the protection of animals. Mayor Duran has a Juris Doctorate degree from Western State University College of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University Long Beach (CSULB). He has been a lawyer in private practice since 1987 and he is National Chairman of NALEO (the National Association of Latino Elected Officials).

Mayor Pro Tempore John D’Amico has been a resident of West Hollywood for more than 25 years. First elected in 2011, he served one term as Mayor from 2014 to 2015. Cities are never finished and West Hollywood is no exception: expanding culture making opportunities, creating elevated design and resiliency standards, and participating in long-term, city-wide planning efforts that improve and protect housing options for everyone at every level are at the center of Mayor Pro Tempore D’Amico’s work. He holds two Master’s Degrees, one in Architecture and Urban Planning from the University of Houston, and the other in Aesthetics and Politics from the California Institute of the Arts. He has more than 20 years of experience in large-scale project planning and management at UCLA, ABC, the Walt Disney Studios, and the affordable housing developer, Los Angeles Housing Partnership.

The City of West Hollywood is like no other city in the world. Located in the heart of metropolitan Los Angeles, the city was incorporated in 1984 by a unique collaboration of people including LGBT activists, seniors, and advocates for affordable housing. At only 1.9 square miles, West Hollywood is a robust economic and cultural center instilled with idealism, creativity, and innovation. A spirit of community activism and civic pride thrives in West Hollywood for many of its approximately 35,000 residents and the city has a strong progressive political voice.

West Hollywood works diligently to defend the fundamental rights of its community members including LGBT people, people with disabilities, seniors, people of color, immigrants, women, and others. The city is one of the most outspoken advocates anywhere for the legal rights of LGBT people; more than 40 percent of residents in West Hollywood identify as LGBT. The city also prides itself on being a safe space. Regardless of nationality or immigration status, the City of West Hollywood has a commitment to promoting social justice and equal rights.

For additional information about the West Hollywood City Council, please call (323) 848-6460. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496. For up-to-date news and events, follow the City of West Hollywood on social media @WeHoCity and sign up for news updates at www.weho.org/email.

Attached Photo: West Hollywood City Councilmembers with a specially commissioned Shepard Fairey #RESIST sign (l-r) John Heilman, Mayor John J. Duran, Mayor Pro Tempore John D’Amico, Lindsey P. Horvath, Lauren Meister.

Photos by Jon Viscott | Courtesy of the City of West Hollywood. Full photo set:

www.flickr.com/photos/weho/albums/72157693970934412