Linda Manis is the current commission chair. Linda has lived in Lakewood for 52 years. She is a retired aerospace bellow setup operator. She is active in a number of Lakewood community groups including Neighborhood Watch, Pan American Association, Project Shepherd and Pathways Volunteer Hospice, and she volunteers with Lakewood Regional Medical Center, the Friends of the Lakewood Libraries and Volunteer Day. “It’s an honor to be a Planning and Environment Commissioner,” says Linda, “and to be involved in the decision making process for our community.”
Jan McKinnon is the commission’s vice chair. She has lived in Lakewood for 34 years. Jan works part-time as an office manager at a private elementary school in Lakewood. “I enjoy the ability to have a voice in the quality of life for Lakewood's citizens through the Planning Commission's decision-making process,” says Jan.
Pete Samaniego has lived in Lakewood for 22 years, and is a familiar face to many households because he’s a longtime letter carrier for the Postal Service in Lakewood. “I enjoy being on the Planning Commission,” says Pete, “because we try very hard to help the community come to reasonable decisions that affect our neighbors and neighborhoods. I love Lakewood as a community for many reasons, including the commitment that parents make when coaching and leading children in sports, the arts, etc. The parents who are able to do that are helping the entire community, including those children whose parents aren’t able to help.”
Joe Ung has been a Lakewood resident for 28 years. He is well-known to many residents as the owner of Cassidy’s Corner Café (on Del Amo Blvd. just west of the 605) and the Juice Lab. Joe is active in the community as a member of the Rotary Club of Lakewood and as a board member of the Lakewood Family YMCA. “I love being able to promote the economy of Lakewood and get a look at some of the exciting developments coming to our city,” says Joe. “I also want to give a big thanks to my fellow commissioners for helping guide me in my initial months on the panel.”
Bill Baca was born and raised in Lakewood. His parents were original homeowners in the 1950s, and he’s been here ever since. When he and his wife were ready to start a family, they bought their own home in Lakewood and raised their children here. Bill works for a commercial and industrial supply company in Cerritos. His community activities in Lakewood include being a sports coach for 10 years, and a sports official for another 20 years. He’s also a longtime volunteer with the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station and you may see him around town in a white uniform assisting at traffic collision sites and community events. “I love Lakewood and wanted to raise our kids here so they could have the same big-city, small-town environment. When you drive by our city parks there are always people there enjoying them. Cruise down our streets and you’ll see folks mowing their lawns, washing their cars, or walking their dogs. It’s a great community.”