The Chula Vista City Council announced Thursday night its temporary appointment for the vacant District 4 seat.
After interviewing eight applicants and multiple rounds of public comment, the council has sworn in Rachel Morineau to fill the seat in a unanimous 4-0 vote.
"This is an amazing opportunity for me," Morineau said after being sworn in. "I am what you get. This is all you get from me is a hard worker, committed and an open-door policy, so please, you know, depend on me."
The seat was vacated by former Councilwoman Andrea Cardenas, who resigned earlier this year after facing felony charges related to her political consulting business.
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According to documents submitted as part of her application, Morineau has lived in Chula Vista for 27 years. She is the community engagement director with the nonprofit SBCS Corps and has been a member of the San Diego County Social Services Advisory Board since 2021.
"Morineau believes in prioritizing the community's needs, working towards bringing in more business and creating more employment opportunities for our residents to work towards self-sufficiency," her application reads. "She is passionate about enhancing the Southwest area along 3rd Ave., decreasing the number of vacant buildings and homeless issues."
She joins Councilmember Alonso Gonzalez, who was temporarily appointed to the District 3 seat in 2023 after then-Councilmember Steve Padilla was elected to the California State Senate.
They will hold their seats until the November General Election when voters will elect two new council members.
Cesar Fernandez and Rudy Ramirez will be going head to head for the District 4 seat in November.
