Ontario’s Mayor and City Council on Tuesday night unanimously appointed Debra Porada to serve as Mayor pro Tem, for a two-year term, through 2024.
Porada was first elected to the Ontario City Council in December 2008. Prior to her election to the Ontario City Council, Porada served as an elected member of the Ontario-Montclair School Board, an appointed member of the Ontario Planning Commission, a member of the Ontario Community Block Grant Committee, a San Bernardino County Museum Commissioner, and a member of the Ontario-Montclair School District Measure T Oversight Committee.
She is committed to creating and maintaining jobs in Ontario and ensuring that residents, businesses and visitors are provided the best police and fire/paramedic services the region has to offer.
Porada has been a champion for Downtown revitalization. Her engagement is reflected in the development of Ontario Town Square and the Arts and Culture District which is home to both the Ontario Museum of History and Art and the Chaffey Community Museum of Art.
As a registered nurse, she promotes CPR, CERT and disaster/earthquake preparedness training. Residents and employees should have a 3-week supply of food and water in their homes.
“The years ahead offer tremendous promise for our residents, businesses and stakeholders, and I look forward to working with my colleagues as we build on Ontario’s role as the innovation, economic, entertainment and cultural hub of the Inland Empire,” Porada said.
Porada is actively involved in a number of authorities and organizations. She is the Immediate Past President of the League of California Cities, Inland Empire Division, is a Regional Policy Committee Member for the Inland Empire Utilities Agency and serves on the Board of the Water Facilities Authority, Ontario Housing Authority, the Ontario Industrial Development Authority and the Ontario Redevelopment Financing Authority.
She has been an active member of several local nonprofit organizations. Porada is the proud mother of one son and two grandchildren.