Mayor Heilman and Vice Mayor Hang Take Oath of Office

The West Hollywood City Council has selected John Heilman to serve as the City’s next Mayor and Danny Hang as Vice Mayor. The official swearing-in and oath of office ceremony took place during the City Council Reorganization and Installation meeting, on Monday, January 12, 2026. The meeting was followed by a community reception at the adjacent West Hollywood Library with a DJ, refreshments, and a musical number by Drag Laureate Pickle.

Mayor John Heilman is a familiar and historic figure in West Hollywood. A key leader in the City’s incorporation, Heilman was elected to West Hollywood’s very first City Council in 1984 and became the City’s second Mayor in 1985. Re-elected to the Council in 2022, he is also one of the longest serving openly gay elected officials in the United States. This year marks Heilman’s last term on the City Council.

Vice Mayor-elect Danny Hang brings a new generation of leadership to the City Council. Elected to the West Hollywood City Council in 2024, Hang is a Southern California native, the son of Chinese-Vietnamese refugees, and a first-generation college graduate. With advanced degrees in social work and gerontology, he currently works in disability retirement for Los Angeles County and brings a strong background in public service and advocacy.

Incoming Mayor Heilman addressed the crowd of attendees at the City’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room during the meeting. He touched on what’s happening at the federal level and discussed federal funding cuts that are impacting residents. He noted the harmful actions that are attempting to erase LGBTQ people at the federal level, and unrelenting attacks on the transgender community and on immigrants. “This is a direct attack on our residents,” said Heilman. “It’s a direct attack on all of us.”

Invoking John F. Kennedy’s famous “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” phrase from his 1961 inaugural address, Heilman closed his comments with a personal pledge and call to action: “Now is not the time to hide. We need you. I am going to encourage all of you to look at ways you can give back. I am in a position this year that I can pledge my entire City Council salary this year and I am going to donate it back to organizations serving the community. So, each month, I am going to start the Council meeting by giving a personal $1,000 to organizations that are serving our community.” He continued that he will encourage everyone to donate if they can or to volunteer their time. “Thank you for everything you do and continue to do.”

The City Council Reorganization and Installation meeting is viewable by visiting the City’s WeHoTV YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/wehotv.

For more detailed information, please read the City’s news release.