By Rory O’Sullivan
David Rabb, Perris City Council
With two newly elected council members, the city of Perris now more closely mirrors the diversity of the city as Tonya Burke, 39, and David Rabb, 28 join Rita Rogers on the council. All three are African-American.
They defeated long-term council members Al Landers and Mark Yarbrough by a landslide. Both men have served on the council since the 1990s.
Burke was emotional while being sworn into office by her daughter, Brianna Richardson, during the Dec. 9 City Council meeting.
“I am truly grateful and honored to have been chosen to be one of the newest council [members],” Burke said by email. “Our city is blessed to now have a council that is so diverse.”
Burke and Rabb didn’t run joint campaigns but both say they want to create more opportunities within the city limits. Both want to add retail to the city, adding jobs, much needed services and keeping tax dollars within the city.
“We’re taking our money and going to MoVal and Menifee,” said Rabb. “I’m tired of going (outside of the city).
Both also decried the lack of services the city offers. Perris does not have a university, or community college and has an extremely limited amount of vocational training. The city also doesn’t have enough resources according to Burke and said the city is “resource poor.”
In an effort to change the trajectory of the city, Rabb and Burke decided to run for office.
Rabb a self described “homegrown kid,” was valedictorian at Perris High School before becoming a Navy veteran, and going on to graduate from Stanford Law School.
Burke has a Master’s Degree from Pepperdine University and is pursuing her Doctorate in Organizational Psychology from Walden University.
Both stressed the importance of being leaders in the community and showing that underrepresented groups can achieve great heights.
“Blacks around here don’t know their history,” said Rabb. “I want them to take pride in being Black.”
“It is my goal that as a council we can work together and appreciate the gifts and talents that we each possess,” said Burke. “We now have a council that closely mirrors the demographics of the city of Perris.”