Mayor and Council

Mayor Cecelia (Cece) Gallegos

Elected November 2024
Council Term Ends December 2028

Cece Gallegos was elected Mayor on November 5, 2024, after serving three terms as a Madera City Councilmember. First elected in June 2016, she was re-elected in 2018 and 2022. Cece will serve a four-year term as Mayor through 2028.

In addition to their regular duties, City Council Members are appointed to represent the Council on various boards. They also serve as Board Members of the Successor Agency to the Former Madera Redevelopment Agency and as Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Madera.

Cece is a native Maderan. She attended Madera schools and graduated from Madera High School. After high school she attended California State University of Fresno where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Cece has been a teacher with Madera Unified School District for over 25 years. Her prior employment included serving as a Program Director for Madera County Migrant Head Start and as a Program Coordinator for the City of Madera Parks and Recreation Department.

Cece has three children: son Donovan Foley, and daughters Samantha Foley and Kelli Foley.

Professional Affiliations / Other Public Service

In addition to their regular duties as members of the City Council, Members of the City Council are appointed to serve on other boards as representatives of the City Council.  They are also active in community organizations. Council Member Gallegos is currently serving on or has served in the past:

• 4-H Leader
• Bobby-Sox Coach
• Business & Education Committee
• Campfire Leader
• Community Action Partnership of Madera County (CAPMC)
• FAN – Foundation for MHS/MSHS Athletic Needs
• Graffiti Abatement Member
• Harvest Christian Pre-School Board Member
• Madera County Economic Development Commission (alternate)
• Madera Evening Lions
• Madera High School Booster
• Madera High School Site Council
• NAACP
• SJVAPCD (Air District)

Awards & Special Achievements

• Teacher of the Year
• Friend of Education
• EISS Collaboration Award
• Anti-Graffiti Program Award

Contact Mayor Cece Gallegos

City of Madera
Attention: Mayor Gallegos
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637

1 (559) 706-5451 (cell)
1 (559) 661-5405 (City Hall – message only)
1 (559) 674-2972 (City Hall fax)
Email: cgallegos@madera.gov

Councilmember Rohi Zacharia
District 1

Appointed January 2025
Council Term Ends December 2026

Rohi Zacharia is currently serving his first term in office as a Madera City Councilmember. Rohi was appointed to the City Council in January 2025 and will serve through December 2026.

Members of the City Council also serve as Board Members of the Successor Agency to the Former Madera Redevelopment Agency and as Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Madera.

In addition to their regular duties as members of the City Council, Members of the City Council are appointed to serve on other boards as representatives of the City Council. They are also active in community organizations.

Professional Affiliations / Other Public Service

Currently serving or has served in the past:

(coming soon)

Contact Councilmember Zacharia

City of Madera
Attention: Councilmember Rohi Zacharia
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637

1 (559) 706-1100 (cell)
1 (559) 661-5405 (City Hall – message only)
1 (559) 674-2972 (City Hall fax)
Email: rzacharia@madera.gov

District 1 Map

Mayor Pro Tem Jose Rodriguez
District 2

Elected November 2024
Council Term Ends December 2028

Jose Rodriguez is currently serving his third term in office as a Madera City Council Member through 2028. Jose was first elected to the City Council in November of 2016 to serve a four year term through 2020. Jose successfully ran for reelection in 2020 for a four year term through 2024.

Jose is currently serving as Mayor Pro Tem. The Mayor Pro Tem position is rotated annually amongst the Council Members serving.

Members of the City Council also serve as Board Members of the Successor Agency to the Former Madera Redevelopment Agency and as Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Madera.

Jose was born and raised in Planada, California, a small farming community in Merced County.  He is one of five children raised by hard-working parents looking to make a better living in California.  Jose and his wife Carmina have two children, and they have been residents of Madera since 2005.

Jose graduated from high school in 1994.  He then attended CSU Sacramento and continued his education at Merced Junior College.  He pursued a career in mortgage lending and began his new career in the City of Madera in 2001.  During this time, he acquired his real estate broker’s license and started his own mortgage lending business.  His business has grown over time and currently operates with a staff of seven.

Jose’s involvement in the community stems from his belief that his children deserve a quality of life in a city that can provide them with great opportunities.  With that in mind, Jose made a decision to run for a seat on the Madera Unified School District Board of Trustees.  He was successfully elected and served from 2010-2014.  During his time as a trustee, Jose credits the collaborative efforts of the school board in advocating for improved after-school programs, an improved child nutrition program, and the lowering of school district impact fees to stimulate growth within the city.

As a City of Madera Council Member, Jose is committed to working collaboratively with his colleagues on the Council, city staff and other agencies and organizations in their continued efforts to improve the quality of life for all Maderans.

Professional Affiliations / Other Public Service

In addition to their regular duties as members of the City Council, Members of the City Council are appointed to serve on other boards as representatives of the City Council.  They are also active in community organizations.  Councilmember Rodriguez is currently serving on or has served in the past on the following boards and organizations:

Madera County Local Child Care and Development Planning Council Steering Committee (LPC)
Community Action Partnership of Madera County (CAPMC) – Alternate board member.
Madera Kiwanis – Served as president.

Contact Council Member Rodriguez

City of Madera
Attention:  Council Member Jose Rodriguez
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, California 93637

1 (559) 718-9197 (Cell)
1 (559) 661-5405 (City Hall – message only)
1 (559) 674-2972 (City Hall fax)
Email:  jrodriguez@madera.gov

District 2 Map

Council Member Steve Montes
District 3

Elected November 2022
Term Ends December 2026

Steve Montes is currently serving his second term in office as a Madera City Council Member. He was elected to the City Council in November of 2018 for a four-year term.

Members of the City Council also serve as Board Members of the Successor Agency to the Former Madera Redevelopment Agency and as Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Madera.

Steve has been a resident of Madera since 1983. After graduating from Madera High School, Steve went on to obtain his B.A. in Business Management from U.C. Santa Cruz.

Steve has been employed with the City of Fresno for just over a year. Prior to that he worked for the City of Madera for a period of 10 years.

Steve and his wife Rosy have two children: son Estevan and daughter Delilah.

Professional Affiliations / Other Public Service

In addition to their regular duties as elected officials, Members of the City Council are appointed to serve on other boards as representatives of the City Council. They are also active in community organizations. Council Member Montes is currently serving on or has served in the past:

• Love Madera Volunteer
• Madera Affiliated City Employees Association (MACEA) – Former President
• Madera County Arts Authority – 2nd Alternate Board Member
• Madera County Food Bank Volunteer
• Madera Votes
• San Joaquin River Conservancy - Alternate Board Member

Contact Council Member Montes

City of Madera
Attention: Council Member Montes
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637

1 (559) 871-5255 (cell)
1 (559) 661-5405 (City Hall – message only)
1 (559) 674-2972 (City Hall fax)
Email: smontes@madera.gov

District 3 Map

Council Member Anita Evans
District 4

Elected November 2024
Term Ends December 2028

Anita Evans is currently serving her second term in office as a Madera City Council Member. She was elected to the City Council in 2020 for a four-year term.

Members of the City Council also serve as Board Members of the Successor Agency to the Former Madera Redevelopment Agency and as Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Madera.

After graduating from Bakersfield City High School, Anita went on to study Early Childhood Education at Bakersfield College.

In addition to their regular duties as members of the City Council, Council Members are appointed to serve on other boards as representatives of the City Council. They are also active in community organizations.

Professional Affiliations / Other Public Service

Currently serving on or served in the past:

• Imerman Angels
• Madera Community Hospital, VP - League of Volunteers and Sunshine Girl
• Madera Fellowship SDA Church, Worship Leader / Social Ministry Director
• The F.A.M.I.L.Y., C.E.O / President
• American Cancer Association
• Andrew Brown Charities/ABC

Awards and Special Achievements

• Ordained Minister, Universal Life Church
• Certified Phlebotomist

Contact Council Member Evans

City of Madera
Attention: Council Member Evans
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, California 93637

(903) 305-1965 (Cell)
1 (559) 661-5405 (City Hall – message only)
1 (559) 674-2972 (fax)
Email: aevans@madera.gov

District 4 Map

Council Member Elsa Mejia
District 5

Elected November 2022
Term Ends December 2026

Elsa was first elected to the City Council (District 5) in 2021 for the term expiring December 2022. In 2022, Elsa was appointed to office to serve a four-year term through 2026.

Members of the City Council also serve as Board Members of the Successor Agency to the Former Madera Redevelopment Agency and as Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Madera.

Elsa Mejia is a lifelong Madera resident who became the first woman of indigenous descent elected to the Madera City Council in 2021. Born and raised in California’s Central Valley to immigrant farmworkers, the granddaughter of a Bracero, and now a proud union member —she has been involved in social justice causes locally, statewide and internationally all of her life. Council Member Mejia earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science, Mass Communication and Journalism, as well as a Certificate in Legal Studies, from Fresno State. She proudly calls Madera home, where she resides with her husband.

Professional Affiliations / Other Public Service

In addition to their regular duties as members of the City Council, Members of the City Council are appointed to serve on other boards as representatives of the City Council.  They are also active in community organizations. Council Member Mejia is currently serving on or has served in the past:

• Chairperson of the Housing Authority of the City of Madera
• American Association of University Women Member
• Water Education for Latino Leaders UnTapped Fellow – 2023

Awards & Special Achievements

• Completion of the Water Education for Latino Leaders UnTapped Fellowship Program
• Domingo Velasco Soccer League Award for Recreational Support

Contact Council Member Mejia

City of Madera
Attention: Council Member Mejia
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, California 93637

1 (559) 385-6857 (Cell)
1 (559) 661-5405 (City Hall - message only)
Email: emejia@madera.gov

District 5 Map

Council Member Artemio Villegas
District 6

Elected November 2024
Term Ends December 2028

Artemio Villegas is currently serving his second term in office as a Madera City Council Member. Artemio was first elected to the City Council in 2020 for a four year term.

Members of the City Council also serve as Board Members of the Successor Agency to the Former Madera Redevelopment Agency and as Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Madera.

In addition to their regular duties as members of the City Council, Members of the City Council are appointed to serve on other boards as representatives of the City Council. They are also active in community organizations.

Professional Affiliations / Other Public Service

Currently serving or has served in the past:

(coming soon)

Contact Council Member Villegas

City of Madera
Attention: Council Member Villegas
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, California 93637
1 (559) 330-4232 (Cell)
1 (559) 661-5405 (City Hall – leave message)
1 (559) 674-2972 (fax)
Email: avillegas@madera.gov

District 6 Map