Rikke Van Johnson Named Mayor Pro Tem

Rikke Van Johnson, who represents the Sixth Ward on the San Bernardino City Council, was recently elected by his fellow council members as Mayor Pro Tem of San Bernardino. Johnson is the first Mayor Pro Tem under a new city ordinance that allows him to serve until March 2009, and all subsequent mayor pro tems to serve for one year. Previously the job alternated monthly between council members.


(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) - Rikke Van Johnson has been elected by the San Bernardino City Council to serve as Mayor Pro Tem.

“They feel I am fair, and would help to lead the city in the right direction,” Johnson said when asked why he was chosen for this position by the council.

He was named to this position at the council’s first December meeting and said he will hold the office until March 2009. After his term, the Council will select a new Mayor Pro Tem each March.

Previously, council members alternated as Mayor Pro Tem for one month at a time, but a newly revised city ordinance extended the Mayor Pro Tem’s term to one year. The revised ordinance also designates the Mayor Pro Tem as the one responsible for assigning members of the city council to city committees, and naming the chairpersons of those committees, although it gives the rest of the city council the right to reject the Mayor Pro Tem’s choices.

The Mayor Pro Tem’s job is also to perform mayoral duties, when the mayor is out of the city, ill or unable to perform his duties for any other reason. Johnson says his duties may include representing the City of San Bernardino at public events. Occasionally, it will also mean chairing City Council meetings.

Rikke Van Johnson represents the Sixth Ward on the City Council of San Bernardino, where he has lived for most of his life. He is the manager for Greenwood Bail Bonds, and previously worked for 27 years as a clerk for the United States Postal Service.

As a council member, Van Johnson serves on several city committees. These include the Ways & Means Committee, the Redevelopment Committee, Budget Ad Hoc Committee, Educational Bridge Ad Hoc Committee, Police Ad Hoc Committee, Parolee Ad Hoc Committee. He also represents the city on the San Bernardino County Solid Waste Advisory Task Force and serves as an alternate member of the Inland Valley Development Agency, San Bernardino Regional Water Resources Authority Commission (JPA), and the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) Board and the SANBAG Major Projects Committee.

From 1975 to 1986, Van Johnson coached youth softball for San Bernardino Parks and Recreation and Rialto Parks and Recreation departments, and also did so at Eisenhower High School in Rialto from 1981 to 1986, along with girls’ basketball. From 1987 to 1992, he served as a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) referee for high school basketball games.

He currently volunteers with several groups including the Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino and Westside Action Group. He is married to Sharon, and has three children and one grandchild.

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