Pasadena Council Transfers Mayor Pro Tempore Role to Estrada

Pasadena City Council transferred the mayor pro tempore designation from Councilwoman Patricia Van Houte to Councilman Jonathan Estrada during its July 7, 2026, meeting.

Estrada represents District E, while Van Houte represents District D. The transition follows the city charter’s requirement that the council designate a mayor pro tempore after each general city election. Van Houte held the designation during the first year of Mayor Thomas Schoenbein’s term, and Estrada was selected to assume it beginning in July 2026.

What the role does

The mayor pro tempore presides over council meetings when the mayor is absent. The officeholder also serves as acting mayor when the mayor cannot perform the duties of the office under specified circumstances.

The change is a council leadership designation, not a change in the mayor’s office. Estrada did not become mayor, and the city’s announcement does not state that Van Houte left the council.

The City of Pasadena’s official records identify the July 7 meeting as the action date. The city’s agenda and minutes repository includes council materials for the July 7 and July 21 meetings. The approved record does not identify a separate follow-up action beyond Estrada beginning service in the role during July 2026.