City Council changes as 2024 Election Results certified

Bryan "Bubba" Fish officially claimed his seat on the City Council, and the reelections of councilmembers Yasmine-Imani McMorrin and Albert Vera, Jr. were officially completed as the results of the 2024 Election were formally certified and recognized in Culver City at Monday's meeting.

For McMorrin, Monday night also marked the end of her time as mayor. Dan O'Brien, who served as vice mayor under McMorrin, was named mayor, with councilmember Freddy Puza becoming vice mayor.

With Fish's election also came the end of Goran Eriksson's 8-year-long tenure as a council member. Before officially vacating his seat Monday night, Eriksson reflected on his term and accomplishments.

Eriksson was mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic but relinquished his position early when the city's election date was changed through 2018's Measure D. Despite this, Eriksson's accomplishments were plentiful, helping create on both a large scale with projects like Culver Steps and on a small scale with endeavors like the Wellness Village to improve Culver City for the future.

He spoke of his commitment to serve the "middle road, common sense silent majority" and thanked the residents of Culver City that he had the "honor to serve." Eriksson also acknowledged the members of staff he served with, praising them for their support in their collective work.

"These successes would not have been possible without the hard work, dedication, and passion of our city staff," Eriksson said in his final remarks.

The other council members also thanked Eriksson and applauded him for his successes on the council. O'Brien praised Eriksson's ability to lead while not letting emotion cloud his judgment, and Vera said that he would miss Eriksson's personality on the council.

"I know our friendship will continue," Vera told Eriksson. "You are going to be sorely missed."

McMorrin also acknowledged Eriksson's service on various LA County Boards and Commissions on behalf of Culver City. He has been involved with several respected organizations, including the National League of Cities and the California Independent Cities Association.

The West Basin Municipal Water District, one of two LA County organizations to present Eriksson with official proclamations at Monday's meeting to celebrate his service beyond Culver City, also recognized this service beyond Culver City.

"He represented Culver City well," Scott Houston from the West Basin Municipal Water District said at the meeting.

After Eriksson took his leave from his council seat for the last time, the time came to officially install Fish as the new member of City Council.

All three council members elected in 2024 were sworn in despite Fish being the only new member. They individually took the oath required by California law for elected officials before having a loved one place a pin on their clothes.

Once officially a member of the City Council, Fish thanked the packed Mike Balkman Council Chambers audience, which included some of his campaign volunteers. He spoke of the mailer campaigns and the strong financial backing against him during his run, and how the support of residents overcame that.

"None of us here on the dais got here alone," Fish said. "It truly took a village to get here."

It took nearly every vote for Fish to win. With over 80% of the 28,553 registered voters participating, Fish secured Eriksson's vacated seat by 430 votes after the initial vote count on November 5 had him behind fourth-place candidate Jeannine Wisnosky-Stehlin. Albert Vera was the highest vote-getter with 10,941, and McMorrin was second with 9,468.

With Fish officially instated as a Culver City council member, the nominations of O'Brien as mayor and Puza as vice mayor went as smoothly as one could hope, with unanimous votes to accept the nominations.

Unlike in some jurisdictions where the mayor is elected, Culver City rotates the serving council members as mayor yearly, either when election results are certified or at the second City Council meeting after reaching 12 months following the prior election.

While nothing was on the agenda following the formation of the new council, that didn't stop them from getting prepared to act quickly. Councilmember McMorrin wanted to follow up on an agenda transparency initiative at a future meeting. Vice Mayor Puza proposed revisiting the sanctuary city policy and exploring declaring a climate emergency in Culver City.

The council unanimously approved in an informal nodding vote to agendize all three at future meetings.