6. COMMUNITY MATTERS
6A.
City Clerk – Appointment to Fill District 4 City Council Vacancy . Expenditure: None.
Name
Judy Emerson
Comment 08/23/2026 10:27 AM : (No Vote)
Mayor and City Council,
As a long time resident and former city employee it has been a bit discouraging to see how divided the city has become. I was personally appalled that you would choose to appoint Christopher Truman an admitted thief of Mayor Chen’s campaign signs. Now you have another opportunity to show some integrity in your choice for the appointment for District 4 in which I reside although I don’t live in Old Torrance or Downtown. There is more to this district than our beloved downtown which has been a focus in the city my entire adult life. I have found Adam Schwartz an arrogant individual who has alienated half of the city with his name calling and opposition against anyone who doesn’t fall in line with his ideology. He also actively has chosen to support many controversial issues that don’t represent all of your constituents including the BLM police case and more recently the Home key plus project on Torrance Blvd. despite intense local opposition. This past campaign has shown many ugly realities that exist in our city and I have found many of these actions shameful. It is difficult for me to watch you continue to tear down Mayor Chen with your constant announcements and “digs” about how much more fun you are having now on the third floor. I can see Adam Schwartz as following that same path. You have a large pool of candidates that we really don’t have a say or a vote in how they are appointed. I am urging you to consider a candidate without an agenda.
Respectfully
Judy Emerson
1 PUBLIC COMMENT REPORT
FOR AGENDA ITEM 6A
6. COMMUNITY MATTERS
6A.
City Clerk – Appointment to Fill District 4 City Council Vacancy . Expenditure: None.
Name
Mario Obejas
Comment 08/24/2026 11:42 AM : (For)
Dear Mayor Kalani and Members of the City Council,
I am writing as a Torrance resident to enthusiastically recommend Arohi Sharma for the appointment to the vacant District 4 City Council seat. I served alongside Arohi on the Torrance Traffic Commission, and I have experienced firsthand her exceptional attention to detail, meticulous preparation, and datadriven approach to complex local issues. She is a self described data nerd, and we need that. She possesses the exact combination of civic experience and pragmatic problemsolving that District 4 needs.
During our time serving together, Arohi consistently demonstrated the ability to parse dense municipal codes, work collaboratively with city staff, and break down complex infrastructure challenges into actionable solutions. She never arrived at a meeting unprepared and always relied on objective data to make decisions. As Arohi has rightly noted, "potholes and policy have a lot in common: Nobody notices until something breaks." Her proactive, analytical mindset is exactly what our city requires to stay ahead of infrastructure maintenance and public safety needs.
Furthermore, Arohi would bring two muchneeded, diverse structural perspectives to the current council dais. As a
younger working professional
and a
renter
, she
represents two vital demographics our active workforce and Torrance's tenant community that are currently underrepresented among existing council members. Her firsthand understanding of the economic realities facing younger residents and renters will be invaluable as the city balances smart growth, housing mandates, and economic modernization. She is keenly aware that you don't need to destroy Single Family Housing to increase housing there are plenty of opportunities for rezoning unused commercial properties.
Torrance is a changing city. To preserve our high quality of life while successfully modernizing our local economy, we need a council member who is practical, data minded, and ready to work on day one. Having worked sidebyside with her, I can guarantee that Arohi Sharma has the institutional knowledge, unique perspective, and local savvy required to hit the ground running.
I strongly urge the City Council to appoint Arohi Sharma to the District 4 seat.
Sincerely,
Mario Obejas
26 years as a Torrance resident
2 6.
COMMUNITY MATTERS
6A.
City Clerk – Appointment to Fill District 4 City Council Vacancy . Expenditure: None.
Name
Fernand
Chouinard
Comment 08/24/2026 01:32 PM : (For)
Adam Schwartz is the absolute best candidate of those available, being a long time community representative who is incredibly civically active and engaged. I have no doubt that he will best represent the District 4 and Torrance broadly moving forward.
He is both steadfast in character and will lead the community with authenticity and compassion.
3 6.
COMMUNITY MATTERS
6A.
City Clerk – Appointment to Fill District 4 City Council Vacancy . Expenditure: None.
Name
Jim
Montgomery
Comment 08/25/2026 09:59 AM : (No Vote)
Greetings City Councilmembers, Mayor and Staff,
I have lived in Torrance for 18 years and in that time served 8 years on the Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation Commission, 2 years as Chairperson. I was one of 20 Torrance residents who served on the 2021 Torrance Strategic Plan Committee. I care deeply about public service and how that can positively or negatively impact our shared quality of life for all who live, work and play in Torrance.
This is why I am asking you to please appoint Adam
Schwartz to fill the District 4 City
Council vacancy. He will have a deeply positive impact on our city based upon what he has already demonstrated to date.
I first met Adam in 2022 when he volunteered with a local nonprofit of which I am on the board. He was very giving of his time and I was struck by how much he cared about building an inclusive community where we all can thrive. Since then, I have been impressed by all that he has accomplished for our city. His record of being of service in our community is exceptional:
He serves as a Torrance Historic Preservation Commissioner, is a member of the Downtown Torrance Association and a Torrance business owner.
He has advocated for policies that will improve the quality of life for us all, including affordable housing, thriving locally owned small businesses, walkability, and better public transit. A concrete example of the last policy was advocating for the Metro C extension to Torrance. This will help reduce traffic congestion and make it easier for visitors to come to Torrance, helping grow local small businesses.
A good public servant represents us all, with no exceptions. As evidence that Adam will do this, he has stood up for marginalized members of Torrance, in particular the LGBTQ+ community, showing he will be a caring, compassionate public servant for all of us.
I am excited and grateful that Adam has decided to give of his time by formally applying to fill the district 4 City Council seat.
Please appoint him, Torrance needs and
deserves someone of his character, integrity and selfless public service.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of my request.
Sincerely,
Jim Montgomery
20142022, Commissioner, Torrance Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation Commission
2021 Torrance Strategic Plan Committee Member
4