By a unanimous vote, the General Assembly of the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) has elected Rita Rogers, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Perris, as its Executive Committee Chair. The vote of the 108-member voting body came during the annual WRCOG General Assembly and Leadership Address on June 20. For the first time in its 33-year history, the positions of Chair, Vice Chair, and Second Vice Chair are all held by women. Brenda Dennstedt, Director at Western Water and Jacque Casillas, Councilmember at the City of Corona, were appointed Vice Chair and 2nd Vice Chair, respectively.“I am honored to have been selected by the Assembly to serve in this role,” said Rogers. “Together with Committee members Dennstedt and Casillas, I am excited about the opportunities and challenges the Executive Committee will face together. With innovation and determination, we will build on our successes and continue to make a positive impact on our communities.”
Rogers has served on the WRCOG board for 17 years. Over the years, she has held several positions including Vice Chair and Second Vice Chair and has served on several committees including Health, TUMF Zone, General Assembly, and Guiding Principles. Rogers has also served on the Perris City Council since 1999 and is recognized for her significant community involvement, including as the Chair of the Perris Cops and Clergy Network and a member of the Parkview Hospital African American Advisory Board.
Over the next year, WRCOG will continue to make great strides in local transportation and energy initiatives, including the Inland Regional Energy Network (I-REN), which is bringing clean energy infrastructure, workforce training and practices to the Inland Empire, and TUMF Program (Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee), which has invested $600 million in over 127 projects throughout the Western Riverside County region.