Gil Rebollar Appointed Mayor of Brawley; New City Council Members Sworn In

On December 4, 2024, the City of Brawley held a special meeting at the historic Hidalgo Hall to recognize community leaders and swear in new city council members. The highlight of the evening was the appointment of Gil Rebollar as the new Mayor of Brawley, accompanied by the induction of three new city council members: Joseph “JJ” Galvan, John Grass, and Timothy E. Kelly.

The appointment was confirmed by a unanimous 5-0 vote. “I make a motion in support of Gil Rebollar as mayor and chairperson from 2024 to 2025,” said Councilmember George Nava. Former Mayor Ramon Castro facilitated the vote, stating, “We have a motion and a second. All in favor, say ‘I.’” The motion carried unanimously, officially appointing Rebollar as mayor

In a statement on Instagram, Rebollar expressed his gratitude and vision:

“Please allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Gil Rebollar, and I am the Mayor of Brawley. It was an honor and privilege to be surrounded by family and friends at the historic Hidalgo Hall as I was appointed Mayor of our city. I look forward to working with this new council and administration to build a better and stronger Brawley.”

During the event, former Mayor Ramon Castro was also honored for his dedication and contributions to the city. As Mayor Rebollar begins his term, he remains focused on fostering collaboration between the city, schools, and community organizations to create a stronger, more connected Brawley.

Rebollar’s Vision for Brawley

In an exclusive interview with 760 News, Rebollar shared insights into his political journey and goals for the city. “Two years ago when I first got elected, I started with a podcast seven years ago just to know what was happening. That led to my involvement with the school board and eventually my transition to city council. I’ve always aimed to build a bridge between the city and schools,” he said.

One of Rebollar’s top priorities is paving B Street in front of Oakley Elementary School. “We are already in the process of it, but I want to speed it up and get it done sooner rather than later. It impacts our schools, families, teachers, and the city as a whole,” he explained.

Another key focus for Rebollar is enhancing community engagement. He outlined plans to create opportunities for residents to connect with city leaders outside traditional council meetings. “I have ideas for offsite meetings and joint meetings, making it easier for the community to be heard. We need to go to the people,” he said.

Community Support and Turnout

The meeting drew a large crowd, including members of La Gente Boxing and Jeff Gonzalez, the newly elected Assemblymember for District 32, who attended to show his support for the city’s leadership transition.