Cerritos City Council · March 2, 2027
Cerritos in Progress
Invest in our kids. Protect our seniors. Build it right.
Lifelong Cerritos resident · Running for City Council
What I'm focused on
Three priorities for Cerritos
Cerritos is our home. I want our city to invest in the people who live here and to be as vibrant as it once was.
Invest in our kids
Family programming, arts, and activities that give young people somewhere to grow. Cuts to these programs should be the last thing we reach for, not the first.
Protect our seniors
Keep the Senior Center and the services our older residents rely on open and accessible, and make sure their voices shape city decisions.
Build it right
Responsible budgeting, long-term planning for aging infrastructure, and revitalization that makes Cerritos a destination again.
About Tony
A Cerritos neighbor, ready to serve
I've lived in Cerritos my whole life. I'm proud to be raising my family here, alongside my parents, who still call Cerritos home. I want the city my daughters grow up in to be one that takes care of its children, its seniors, and its future.
I've spent my career in IT and cybersecurity project management, where the job is to plan carefully, communicate clearly, and deliver on commitments. I've also owned and operated small businesses, handling day-to-day operations. I know what it takes to balance a budget and keep people informed.
This is my first run for public office, and I'm running because I want to give back to the community that raised me.
- Lifelong Cerritos resident
- Career in IT and cybersecurity project management
- Small business owner and operator
- Education: M.S. in Project Management and MBA, DeVry University
- Certifications: PMP; Certified AI Governance Professional (IAPP); Certified AI Transformation Leader (USAII); ITIL v3
Issues
Where the city stands
Information below comes from city documents and local news reporting. I'll keep this page updated as the facts change.
The city budget
The city's FY 2026-27 budget projects a $10.6 million gap between revenue and spending. Per city budget reporting, it is being covered with reserves rather than new revenue, and reserves are forecast to run out within six years without changes.
Cuts that affect families and seniors include:
- Reduced hours at the Senior Center
- Suspended Tuesday Family Showcase and Thursday Concerts in the Park
- Nearly $700,000 cut from non-Arts Education programming at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
- Library closed one day each week
Sources: city budget documents and Los Cerritos Community News reporting.
Water and sewer rates
The council approved a five-year water and sewer rate schedule in January 2026, citing aging infrastructure, including $23 million in critical repairs. The water increase has been delayed to July 1, 2027, and the next sewer increase is set for January 2028. Residents deserve clear, easy-to-read information about what these changes mean for their household, and a low-income discount is available.
Source: cerritos.gov water rates page.
Infrastructure and facilities
A city facility condition assessment identifies more than $225 million in needs over the next decade, roughly $140 million for facilities and parks and $70 million for streets. Planning for these needs now is far cheaper than repairing failures later.
Source: city facility condition assessment as reported locally.
Get involved
Let's build Cerritos together
Whether you want to volunteer, share an idea, or ask a question, I want to hear from you.
Email: centeno4cerritos@gmail.com
Text or call: (562) 263-4773