By Jorge Casuso

December 9, 2025 -- In Santa Monica, the swearing in of a new mayor has typically been an unceremonious affair with the incoming mayor repeating the words recited by the City Clerk before briefly addressing the audience from the dais.

In a break with tradition, the swearing in Tuesday evening of incoming mayor Caroline Torosis will be administered by a top State official following "a small reception at a modest cost," said City Manager Oliver Chi.

The "shift in practice," Chi said, includes "a ceremonial swearing in program" in "what is a typical annual process in most cities."

The shift comes after the City Council voted 6 to 1 in January 2023 to select the longest continuously serving Councilmember as Mayor for a one-year term, instead of holding an often dramatic electoral battle on the dais.

Last year, the post went to Lana Negrete, who was appointed by the Council in June 2021 to fill a vacancy after Councilmember Kevin McKeown abruptly departed.

This year, it is Torosis' turn to assume the post after finishing first in the 2022 race, followed by Jesse Zwick, who will be sworn in as Mayor Pro Tem.

Zwick's oath will be administered by City Clerk Nikima Newsome, who City officials announced Friday will leave the post in January ("City Clerk Latest Top Official to Leave Post," December 8, 2025).

Meanwhile, Torosis will become the first mayor who will not be sworn in by the City Clerk. Instead, the oath will be administered by State Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, who chairs the Democratic Caucus in the California Assembly.

In a blog post last week, City officials noted that a reception open to the public will be held in the City Hall lobby on Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. with light snacks and refreshments "to celebrate the mayoral transition."

Phil Brock, who in December 2023 became the first mayor seated under the new rules, supports the move, saying "there should be more pomp and circumstance in general" when a mayor is sworn in.

"It would be a good change if it's going to be a tradition that's going to continue," Brock said.

While the Mayor's post is mostly ceremonial in Santa Monica's strong City Manager form of government, the mayor chairs Council meetings and has a hand in setting the agenda.

The mayor is also local government's face in the community, attending ribbon cuttings and community events and, as was the case with Brock and Negrete, weighing in on local issues in media outlets that can reach a national audience.