Bogaard Endorses Mayor Gordo For Second Term

Marking one of the most sought-after endorsements his re-election campaign has received to date, Mayor Victor Gordo on Monday earned the high-profile support of former Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard.

“I am proud to endorse Victor Gordo in his re-election campaign,” Bogarrd said. “As a close friend of Victor, I have witnessed first hand the care and pride he takes in serving as Mayor of Pasadena. Throughout his time as Mayor, he has worked tirelessly to expand infrastructure and community spaces, build more affordable housing, and support working families. I know that in his second term, Victor  will continue to build upon the progress he has made to create a vibrant future for Pasadena.”

Notably, Mayor Bogaard was the longest serving Mayor in Pasadena history.  First elected in 1999, Bogaard was re-elected in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Beyond his service to the City of Pasadena, Bogaard previously also served in the United States Air Force as a Captain.

Since the launch of his re-election bid, Mayor Gordo has secured a series of highly coveted endorsements, including from California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, Los Angeles County Democratic Party Chair Mark Gonzalez and Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang.

Born in Mexico, Gordo immigrated to the United States with his parents as a young child. The oldest of six kids, he grew up in Pasadena, attending Pasadena public schools.  Both of his parents worked two jobs. Gordo’s father was a dishwasher and cook at Ranchero’s Mexican Restaurant for 50 years. His mother, who died when his youngest brother was four years old, was a seamstress.

From age nine until he was 17 years old, Gordo delivered the Pasadena Star-News newspaper every day before school and every weekend. He worked evenings and weekends at Ranchero’s Mexican Restaurant to help contribute to his family.  He played football, baseball and soccer in High School, and became the first person in his family to go to college. First, Pasadena City College, then Azusa Pacific University.

Shortly after his mother passed away, Gordo was forced to give up the college dream to help raise his siblings. As his siblings got older, he was able to continue his formal education and was accepted to law school and drove 35 miles each way to class every night — while working full-time. He graduated with honors one year ahead of his class and passed the California Bar Exam on his first attempt.

Gordo has sat on the Pasadena City Council for almost 20 years.

He was also the longest-serving president of the Rose Bowl Operating Company, leading it through a major renovation. 

Professionally, he is currently the Business Manager / Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 777.

Gordo lives in District 5 with his wife Kelly, an elementary school teacher in the El Monte Unified School District, and their two children Michael and Emma.