David Arellano and Jeff Wood sworn in to begin council terms
Published on April 09, 2024
The Lakewood City Council, at their April 9 meeting, adopted a resolution accepting the results of the March 5 municipal election, and the City Clerk swore in the two winning council candidates: newly elected Council Member David Arellano and re-elected Council Member Jeff Wood.
Arellano grew up in Lakewood and attended schools in the area, graduating from Lakewood High School. “After spending my earliest years in the foster care system, being adopted and then moving to Lakewood was life-changing,” says David. “The sense of community, living in a safe neighborhood, friendships and participating in local sports programs all helped to shape my character and aspirations.”
Professionally, David founded and operates Preferred Auto Design, a full-service collision repair center that also specializes in classic car restoration. He has been active in the community in a variety of ways, volunteering as a youth sports coach, and serving on the Bellflower Unified School District Citizens Task Force, Los Cerritos YMCA Board of Directors, and Lakewood Measure L Citizens Oversight Committee. He has also volunteered with the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, including serving as Board Chair recently.
Arellano and his wife Melina, who also grew up in Lakewood, have two school-age daughters. Arellano was elected by the voters of the city’s new District 4.
Jeff Wood was elected by the voters of the city’s new District 3. He has served as a council member since 2011, including serving as mayor twice.
Professionally, Jeff has extensive career experience in risk management, business continuity, occupational safety and health, and emergency management. Jeff currently works in higher education as a university risk manager.
Jeff is a graduate of Lakewood High School and California State University, Long Beach, where he received a degree in Speech Communication. Jeff and his wife Mary Jane chose Lakewood to buy their first home and to raise their two daughters.
More complete bios on Arellano, Wood and all Lakewood City Council Members are available at www.lakewoodcity.org/Council.
You can hear Council Member Arellano's and Wood’s remarks after they were sworn in at www.lakewoodcity.org/April9Council. Their remarks start at the 8:12 mark of the video.