For the first time since April 2025, the La Jolla Town Council has a full executive board.
New and returning trustees were sworn in and the executive board was announced at the group’s July 9 meeting at the La Jolla Recreation Center.
Following their election in June, the newly sworn-in trustees are incumbent and former Town Council president Mary Soriano; Sandra Acra, a real estate agent and 13-year La Jolla resident; and Hafsa Ammermann, co-owner of La Jolla Automotive Services. Theodore Hiemstra, a registered nurse at UC San Diego, was also elected in June but was not present for the swearing in and will not serve on the board due to “unforeseen personal circumstances,” Soriano said.
After the board members were sworn in, Soriano was elected to return as the group’s president for 2026-2027, after serving in that role since 2024. Ammermann will serve as vice president. The remainder of the executive board is returning trustees Zak Hidmi as their chief technology officer and Karan Gurung as treasurer. In lieu of a secretary, the group has been using artificial intelligence to fill that role, with verification from the board.
Per Town Council bylaws, the board must consist of seven to 12 members. With the executive board solidified and returning trustees Don Searcy and Art Myo serving ongoing terms, the current roster meets the minimum requirement.
The Town Council was left without a full executive board last April when Soriano dismissed then-vice president Peter Wulff, citing allegations of bylaws violations that he has repeatedly denied and described as “invalid.”
Amidst a recent flurry of executive actions, member dismissals, resignations and public criticism during which several board members departed, the group was also soon left without a secretary and treasurer.
The vice president position has been vacant since Simeon Rosas, a few months into her tenure, departed in October.
Despite public conflict and with an increasingly thin trustee count, the group celebrated its 75th anniversary, hosted its inaugural Multicultural Festival by the Sea and hasn’t missed a scheduled meeting.
Soriano was first elected president in 2024 for a one year term. Now, she’ll serve what is considered a rare three-term presidency.
Town Council bylaws stipulate that trustees may not exceed six consecutive years without taking at least a one-year absence. They also state the tenure of the president is capped at two terms unless an additional term is approved by a two-thirds vote of the trustees.
Soriano told the La Jolla Light that her appointment as president and all executive members was held at a private trustee meeting, and was unanimous.
The immediate past president is supposed to be a member of the executive committee for at least one year. “This term is renewable yearly by vote of the executive committee … if the past president wishes to serve in this capacity beyond their first year,” according to the bylaws.
In other La Jolla Town Council news
Fourth of July lifeguard statistics: Of the more than 1 million people who visited San Diego beaches over Fourth of July weekend, 356,000 spent the weekend in La Jolla between Bird Rock and Black’s Beach, lifeguards reported.
A large crowd of people await the 2026 La Jolla Sky Show in La Jolla Shores. (Noah Lyons)
According to San Diego Lt. John Maher, there were 12,000 preventative acts, 15 enforcement contacts, 41 water rescues and 16 medical aids (some of which he said were “serious”) in La Jolla from July 3-5.
Next meeting: The La Jolla Town Council next meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at the La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. Learn more at lajollatowncouncil.org.