Norma Torres is the current mayor of Pomona and also works as a bilingual 9-1-1 dispatcher and instructor for the Los Angeles Police Department. She previously served as a member of Pomona’s city council.

Working to protect the public safety and making Pomona a better place to live have been Norma’s lifelong work. In 1994, Norma led the effort to require the hiring of bi-lingual 9-1-1 operators at the LAPD. Despite overwhelming odds and the pressure of the department, she organized a grassroots coalition that resulted in bilingual operators on every shift.

Fighting to keep Pomona safe for families, Norma passed the state’s first ordinance regulating where convicted sex offenders were allowed to live. The ordinance prevented sex offenders from living near Pomona’s schools and businesses or together in large group homes.

Ending the cycle of gang violence is a top priority for Norma. As mayor, she imposed gang injunctions limiting gang member activities. She is also working with the community to break the code of silence in crime-ridden neighborhoods.

Reversing budget cuts throughout the city, Norma helped to restore firefighting positions in Pomona ensuring that fire shifts are fully staffed and firefighters are properly equipped to respond to fire and emergency calls.

Strengthening Pomona’s neighborhoods has been a hallmark of Norma’s time both as mayor and as a member of the city council. She created a public-private partnership that focuses on clean-up efforts throughout the community and led home repair and improvement programs to make Pomona’s neighborhoods stronger.

Norma is a member of AFSCME Local 3090 and stands squarely on the side of working families. Over the years, she has volunteered for community service with the Suicide Prevention Center, Big Sisters Program, AYSO, Boy Scouts and many school-related activities. She lives in Pomona with her husband Louis and their three sons.