The Long Beach City Council accepted the sudden resignation of Long Beach City Clerk Maria de la Luz Garcia yesterday during a regularly-scheduled city council meeting.

Garcia was appointed to the post in August 2015, just after her acceptance into the University of Southern California’s Masters in Public Administration program and after serving as a senior project coordinator in the Elections Division of the Los Angeles City Clerk’s Office.

City spokesperson Kerry Gerot said that outgoing Deputy City Manager Arturo Sanchez will provide oversight to the City Clerk’s office until an interim is appointed. The city council will consider an interim city clerk at their next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, December 6. 

Garcia’s appointment followed the retirement of former City Clerk Larry Herrera-Cabrera, who served the City of Long Beach for 14 years.

Garcia was selected from more than 30 candidates for the position in 2015, after her sister, Bell Gardens Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, encouraged her to apply. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Vassar College.

Left: photo courtesy of Garcia’s LinkedIn page.