In a special City Council meeting held on Monday, Nov. 18, the Riverbank City Council voted to appoint John C. Pimentel to fill the vacant District 3 City Council seat.

The vacancy was created following the resignation of Councilmember Leanne Jones Cruz, announced during the Sept. 24, City Council meeting, with her resignation becoming effective Sept. 30. The term for the District 3 seat will expire in December, 2026.

At an Oct. 2 special meeting, the council decided to fill the vacant seat by appointment, following a public recruitment and selection process. That recruitment period opened on Oct. 3 and closed on Nov. 12, with the city receiving a total of seven applications. Two of the seven applicants withdrew their applications, so the council moved forward with five candidates.

The interview process took place during the Nov. 18 special meeting, with each applicant having the opportunity to present their qualifications and vision for the future of Riverbank.

The candidates then answered a series of questions posed by the council members and Mayor Richard D. O’Brien. After careful consideration of all candidates, the City Council selected John Pimentel for the appointment on a 3-1 vote, with council member Rachel Hernandez abstaining.

Pimentel, a long-time resident of Riverbank, expressed his dedication to giving back to the community through years of active involvement in local initiatives.

“I’ve lived in Riverbank for many years, and I believe it’s time for me to give back to the community that has given so much to me,” Pimentel stated. “Over the past three years, I’ve been involved with Love Riverbank, participated in Sister City 2024, and contributed to various charitable efforts, including donations to Sierra House.”

In addition to his volunteer work, Pimentel is employed at Parkview Christian Estates as front office staff, where he is responsible for a range of tasks, including managing rental collections and organizing events.

As the newly appointed Council Member for District 3, Pimentel will serve out the remaining term of Cruz’s seat, which runs through December 2026. He will be sworn in at the Dec. 10 council meeting.

“I’m excited to serve the residents of District 3 and help make Riverbank an even better place to live,” Pimentel said.

News correspondent Ric McGinnis contributed to this story.