Claremont City Council member Ed Reece took over as president of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments during a June 26 meeting at the DoubleTree Hotel in Monrovia.

Reece will lead a legislative body that represents incorporated cities and areas of Los Angeles County and three municipal water districts from July 1 to June 30, 2026.

“It’s an honor to serve as President at such a pivotal moment for our region,” Reece wrote in a news release. “As we prepare for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest and accelerate regional priorities that will stand the test of time when the Games are over. From transportation and infrastructure, housing and homelessness, to economic development, our 31 cities and fellow members are ready to meet the moment and work together to enhance the quality of life for everyone in the San Gabriel Valley.”

Reece, the first openly LGBTQ+ president of the council of governments’ board, previously served as its first, second and third vice president. He succeeds outgoing president and La Verne Mayor Tim Hepburn, who had been in the position since 2023.

“Over the last two years, it’s been both an honor and a privilege to lead the SGVCOG through our region’s post-pandemic recovery. I am so proud of the progress we’ve made together,”  Hepburn said in a news release. “I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Ed Reece on this well-deserved promotion. His leadership, vision, and passion make him the right person to guide the SGVCOG forward. I look forward to seeing our impact grow under his leadership.”

Reece also serves as chair of the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Board of Directors, and as an alternate on the Foothill Transit Governing Board, the League of California Cities City Selection Committee, and the Pomona Valley Transit Authority.