- Source: Zak Schwank
Zak Schwank is an American politician who has served as the Mayor of Temecula, California, in 2022, and Councilmember representing District 5 on the Temecula City Council. A political independent, he previously served as Mayor Pro Tempore from 2020 to 2022 and as a Community Services Commissioner from 2013 to 2018, where he served as chairperson from 2015 to 2018.
Political career
Zak Schwank first ventured into local politics when he partnered with various local bicycle shops and city agencies to coordinate the launch of the Temecula Bike Train, a community organization focused on expanding community access to cycling as a reliable, environmentally friendly, and physically healthy form of transportation, in 2011. Originally held at Paloma Elementary School, the organization soon grew to include programs at Barnett Elementary and Temecula Elementary. Schwank was appointed to the City of Temecula Community Services Commission for his community involvement in 2013 and served as chairperson from 2015 to 2018.
= City Council & Mayoralty
=In 2018, he was elected to the Temecula City Council, representing District 5. He served as Mayor Pro Tempore under Mayors James "Stew" Steward and Matt Rahn from 2020 to 2022. He was re-elected in 2022 by the voters of District 5, and was chosen to serve as the Mayor of Temecula in 2022 in a unanimous City Council vote.
During his tenure as Mayor, Schwank has lobbied for and overseen the expansion of hiking trails, bike lanes, and pump tracks across the city. He has criticized anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric made by fellow city council member Jessica Alexander, who made a series of homophobic remarks before walking out of a city council meeting ahead of the city's Pride proclamation by Mayor Schwank.
Schwank launched a YouTube series called "Just the Facts, Zak," in which he promoted tourism and various other activities in the city of Temecula. In February 2023, the City of Temecula received significant publicity after a Saturday Night Live sketch featuring a character named "Lisa from Temecula," played by Ego Nwodim, went viral. Shortly thereafter, Mayor Schwank extended an invitation to attend Temecula's State of the city to Nwodim during an interview on NBC news, to which Nwodim laughingly accepted.
Personal life
Schwank and his wife moved to Temecula in 2001, where they have raised 3 children together. Schwank enjoys biking, hiking, and spending time with his family.
