The Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) welcomes two new board members to fill the ranks of its appointed policy board. During its Jan. 20, board meeting, members elected a new VVTA chair and vice-chair to lead the five-member board.
Victorville Mayor Gloria Garcia now represents her city on the VVTA Board of Directors. She previously served as alternate to for former Victorville for Mayor Angela Valles, who was the 2014 VVTA board chair. Valles chose not to run in the recent Victorville council race. Adelanto Mayor Pro Tem Jermaine Wright Sr. is the new representative of his city for the High Desert’s public transit agency. Wright replaces former VVTA Vice Chair and former Adelanto City Council Member Steve Baisden.
The board unanimously elected Hesperia Council Member Mike Leonard VVTA Chair. Apple Valley Mayor Pro Tem was unanimously elected VVTA vice chair.
Wright is the first board member with experience as a VVTA driver. Working through VVTA's major operations contractor, Transdev, in 2009 Wright held that position for six weeks before being promoted to utility supervisor and reassigned Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA). He was elected to the Adelanto City Council in November 2012.
"I am really looking at those people who do not have vehicles," said Wright. "They do not have those opportunities to get the places within our community that offer employment opportunities and basic human services.
"It is important that we are linking all five of our areas together so that we're not just five individual cities but one complete Victor Valley community," Wright said. "The people, especially those on county routes, really do not have the adequate access to get into town and get to those key services and job opportunities. Right now, you're looking at service that is only available once every two hours in some community areas. We need to overcome that barrier…."Though my title and position changed, I am still a servant of the people."
Garcia was elected to the Victorville City Council in November 2012 and appointed mayor in December 2014. She is a lifelong resident of Victorville and a graduate of Victor Valley Sr. High School, Victor Valley College, and Skadron College in San Bernardino, where she studied business management and accounting.
"Being that I was previously the alternate for former Mayor Angela Valles," said Garcia, "I understand how vital transit is to the High Desert community, connecting people who do not have vehicles or are unable to drive to those human services throughout the county. One of my key concerns and the reason I wanted to get involved with VVTA is the lack of restrooms at the key transfer points. I am really concerned about rider accommodations."
VVTA Board members Mike Leonard, Barb Stanton, and alternate Curtis Green, attending on behalf of San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor Robert Lovingood, as well as VVTA staff, welcomed the new board members and look forward to a robust and exciting future for VVTA.
