Former Mayor Fills La Cañada Flintridge Council Vacancy

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA — The City Council has appointed former Mayor Donald R. Voss to fill its vacant seat through March 2028.

The appointment on Oct. 20 followed a public application and interview process that began in September.

Councilman Keith Eich's resignation took effect Oct. 5.

Assistant City Manager Arabo Parseghian said Eich left the council because he moved out of the city.

Voss has lived in La Cañada Flintridge since 1982 and previously served two four-year terms on the City Council after being appointed to fill a vacancy in late 2006. His tenure included service as mayor and work on regional issues such as trail restoration, freeway sound walls and opposition to the proposed 710 Freeway tunnel, officials said.

He also served as the council-appointed city treasurer from 2001 to 2006.

A retired banking professional, Voss has a finance degree from the University of Washington and a degree from the Rutgers University Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

“This person has got to be someone who, I believe, will provide stable and consistent leadership, not only for the council, but certainly for our community and our city staff to execute all the priorities and tasks that we have given them,” Mayor Jeanne Kim Hobson said during the Oct. 20 meeting. “For me, that person is Don Voss.”

Voss has served as a trustee of the La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation’s Endowment Fund, and he has chaired the San Gabriel Chapter of the Red Cross Board of Directors, according to the city. He was named “La Cañadan of the Year” in 2016 in recognition of his leadership and volunteer work.

“I am honored by the council’s decision to allow me the opportunity to be of further service to the city,” Voss said in a statement. “I am eager to begin work with my new colleagues in pursuing the goal of protecting and enhancing our quality of life in La Cañada Flintridge.”

City Clerk Tania Garcia will swear in Voss before the Nov. 4 deadline. The La Cañada Flintridge Municipal Code requires the council to fill the vacancy within 30 days via either an appointment or a special election.

A ceremonial oath of office will take place during the next regular City Council meeting on Tuesday evening, Nov. 17 at City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive.

More information about the council is available here.