The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) will be welcoming a new member to its Board of Directors at the upcoming meeting on Feb. 24. Palmdale City Councilmember Fred Thompson was appointed to the AVTA Board by a unanimous vote of the Palmdale City Council at its Feb. 4 meeting. Thompson, who has been serving as an alternate director on the AVTA Board for the last ten months, was selected to fill the seat left vacant by newly elected State Assemblyman Tom Lackey. Thompson will be one of six on the AVTA Board, which is comprised of representatives from the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster along with Los Angeles County. The Palmdale City Council also voted unanimously to appoint new Councilmember Roxana Martinez as the new Alternate AVTA Board Director.
“AVTA’s commitment to excellent customer service, its innovations in energy efficiency, and its dedication to a vision and core values, makes me proud to be a board member,” stated City Councilmember Fred Thompson. “I am looking forward to serving on the board in a more permanent capacity and am honored to have been selected by the council.”
Thompson was appointed to the Palmdale City Council in April 2014. A retired Antelope Valley College Dean, Thompson holds degrees from Antelope Valley College and California State University, Northridge. Prior to his appointment to the Palmdale City Council, Thompson was elected to the Palmdale School Board and subsequently appointed to the Palmdale Planning Commission. Thompson is active in a number of civic and community organizations including The Kiwanis Club of Palmdale West, Antelope Valley College Foundation Board of Directors, and Fresh Air Antelope Valley Coalition. He is also a big supporter of the Special Olympics.
“Public transportation is a vital service that our citizens depend on in their daily lives, and oversight of the transit system by the board is an important responsibility,” said Board Chairman Norm Hickling. “Both Fred Thompson and Roxana Martinez bring a fresh energy to our board that will keep us moving in the right direction, in the best interest of the residents we serve.”
Martinez, recently appointed to the Palmdale City Council to fill a vacant seat, is a long-time resident of the Antelope Valley. She had been serving as the Vice-Chair of the Palmdale Planning Commission, and has served on the Commission since 2012. Martinez holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy, and is currently working towards a master’s degree in philosophy. Martinez is the owner and manager of Lucky Roxy’s Café in Palmdale.
