James Becerra
Candidate for Mayor of Whittier
Biography
James Becerra is a lifelong public servant, educator, and community advocate running for Mayor because he believes Whittier works best when residents are heard early, neighborhoods are respected, and City Hall is open and accountable.
For more than two decades, James has served on Whittier’s boards and commissions, helping guide decisions that shape daily life in the city. His service includes the Historic Resources Commission (Chair, 2019–Present), Parking and Transportation Commission (2010–2018), Design Review Board (2002–2010), and Art in Public Places Commission (1999–2002). Across these roles, his focus has been practical and consistent: balancing thoughtful growth with neighborhood character, improving traffic and pedestrian safety, and making city decision-making more transparent and accessible to the public.
Professionally, James recently retired as Faculty Emeritus from Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Environmental Design, where he taught urban planning, landscape architecture, and community-based design from 2005 to 2022. His career has been dedicated to understanding how cities function—and how poor planning decisions can lead to congestion, displacement, environmental harm, and resident frustration. He has studied urban approaches across the United States, Asia, Europe, and Africa. He believes Whittier can benefit from people-centered solutions that are both modern and grounded in local values.
James is running for Mayor with a clear belief: Whittier belongs to the people who live here. Residents deserve clear information, real opportunities to weigh in before decisions are made, and leadership that listens first rather than reacts later. His priorities focus on safer, more predictable streets; growth that strengthens neighborhoods instead of erasing them; reliable city services; and a culture of transparency that rebuilds trust in City Hall.
In addition to his civic and academic work, James has long been involved with nonprofit and cultural organizations that reflect his commitment to education, the arts, and community well-being. He has served on the boards of the Whittier Library Foundation, Alma Backyard Farms, and the S&A Maloof Foundation, and has taught writing with Inside-Out Writers, supporting formerly incarcerated youth. He is also a docent and serves on the Docent Advisory Council at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
James believes Whittier is at an important moment. After many years under the same leadership, residents are asking for a city government that communicates clearly, responds consistently, and respects the voices of its neighborhoods. He is stepping forward to offer steady, thoughtful leadership—focused on listening, long-term planning, and ensuring Whittier’s future is shaped by the people who call it home.
James lives in Whittier and remains deeply committed to the city’s neighborhoods, history,
and future.