Cindy Gagliano Warren Appointed To Serve On Murrieta City Council

MURRIETA, CA — Five applicants hoping to fill the District 5 seat of outgoing Murrieta Mayor Scott Vinton sat for public interviews Monday, but it was Cindy Gagliano Warren who got the nod.

The businesswoman and eight-year Murrieta resident was appointed in a 4-1 vote during Monday's special meeting of the Murrieta City Council. Mayor Pro Tem Christi White voted for applicant Jennifer Mejares Pham.

District 5 incorporates the southeast side of the city.

Warren is the owner of Creative Media Solutions, a printing, marketing and graphic design services company, according to her application to the city. She currently serves on the Murrieta Traffic Commission.

She will be sworn into office Dec. 21 during the final City Council meeting of 2021 that also marks Vinton's last day in office. She will serve out his remaining term that expires in December 2022 and will have the opportunity to run for election next year if desired. Vinton announced earlier this year that he was stepping down for personal reasons and was moving out of state with his wife.

During Monday's meeting, Warren said she looks forward to fostering growth in the city with jobs, improved quality of life, infrastructure projects, and fiscal responsibility. A strong supporter of public safety, she said she also wants to make Murrieta an even safer place to live.

Three members of the public spoke up in support of Warren during the meeting.

With Warren's appointment, Murrieta City Council will have four women and one man seated at the dais. No other Southwest Riverside County city currently has more than two sitting female city council members.

Vinton, who cast a vote during Monday's meeting, said he "didn't think it would be this tough" to select his replacement. He echoed sentiments expressed by Council Members Lori Stone and Lisa DeForest who said they "would be honored" to serve with any of the applicants interviewed Monday.

Thomas Beamish, Daniel Brienen, Jimmie Jackson, and Pham were the applicants present Monday. Each had been previously vetted by the city and had to meet specific requirements before moving on to the interview process.

Under state law, the city had a 60-window to appoint Vinton's replacement. In a unanimous vote in September, council members opted to appoint his District 5 replacement rather than hold a special election. The estimated cost of running a special election, outside of city staff time, was approximately $38,000 to $48,000, according to city documents.

The appointment process included inviting District 5 residents to apply for the position.

The 2022 mayor will be appointed by City Council during its Dec. 21 meeting.