At the December 5, 2023, City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark was sworn in as the newly appointed Mayor. Van Der Mark will serve the 2023-2024 term as the 86th Mayor of Huntington Beach and is the first Latina Mayor.
“This is such a historic moment, not only for me but for our City. I was elected last year to the City Council, and today, I am proud to serve as the City’s first Latina Mayor,” said Van Der Mark. “It has been a long road to get to this seat, and I want to thank our Surf City community for your support and for entrusting me to lead this beautiful City.”
Mayor Van Der Mark is the daughter of immigrant parents from Ecuador and Mexico who came to America in search of a better life. Raised with ten brothers and sisters, she is a self-described fighter to give voice to the under-served. She grew up in Los Angeles, where she met her husband Pieter. Gracey and Pieter are small business owners. They moved to Huntington Beach 23 years ago from Los Angeles to seek safety, quality of life, and a family-friendly environment to raise their blended family of seven children. Gracey is also a proud grandmother.
As Gracey’s children grew older, she became committed to serving her community. She was selected to serve on the Measure R Bond Oversight Committee for the Ocean View School District and was asked to serve on the Measure Q Bond Oversight Committee for the Huntington Beach City School District. Mrs. Van Der Mark also served on the City of Huntington Beach Finance Commission for three years. She was elected to the Huntington Beach City Council in 2022.
“Moving to Huntington Beach so many years ago changed three generations of lives for the better,” she said. “I thank my family for their continued support, and I look forward to a great 2024 as your Mayor.”
