Juan Banales appointed as Pittsburg’s new mayor, honors outgoing mayor’s leadership

As part of its yearly mayoral rotation, the Pittsburg City Council this week selected Vice Mayor Juan Antonio Banales to fill the seat. 

Banales has served in the role before during his City Council tenure, which began when he was first elected in 2016 and then re-elected in 2020. Much like the Oakley City Council, Pittsburg’s councilmembers select a new mayor from among its existing body each year instead of placing the position on the voter ballot. 

Also with the rotation, outgoing Mayor Shanelle Scales-Preston became a councilmember alongside councilmembers Dionne Adams and Angelica Lopez, and Councilmember Jelani Killings became the city’s new vice mayor. 

During the regular City Council meeting on Tuesday last week, Banales commended Scales-Preston for setting a high standard of excellence and presented her with a plaque in recognition of her leadership. 

“I know I speak for our colleagues when I say we are very proud to call you our mayor,” Banales said to Scales-Preston. 

The son of immigrant parents, Banales grew up in Pittsburg and graduated from Pittsburg High before heading to University of California, Berkeley to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering in 2013. 

According to his re-election website, after graduation he immediately returned home to Pittsburg, where his parents had committed themselves to long commutes to work so he could grow up near family also residing in the city. 

‘A year of impact’ for Scales-Preston

In her outgoing mayor remarks, Scales-Preston called 2023 “a year of impact” and highlighted accomplishments that included the city’s focus on developing youth programs, the revitalization of the Marina Community Center that reopened to the public in October and a well-attended groundbreaking event in August for the future Sprouts grocery store. 

Scales-Preston also talked about the city being certified by the MBK Alliance, part of the My Brother’s Keeper program launched by former President Barack Obama in 2012 in response to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, saying the certification meant the city would “make sure we have positive outcomes for young men and women of color.” 

She further commended the council for its economic development and efforts to cultivate sports tourism by hosting tournaments, which ensures that the city receives the revenue and keeps youth local for activities. 

“It’s been an amazing year to be on council. Never did I think, being a young girl growing up (in Pittsburg), that I would be mayor of my hometown, my city,” Scales-Preston said. “It’s been a great honor to serve.”