Bill Brand, mayor of Redondo Beach, died Friday night of lung cancer, according to city officials. He was 65 years old.
Brand had been battling cancer for more than four years, but his health suddenly worsened in recent days, according to a statement from the city. Brand's wife and other family and friends were at his side at the end.
Brand was serving his second term as mayor of Redondo Beach, having previously served two terms on the City Council. He had remained in office despite undergoing intense treatments and being hospitalized several times.
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(City of Redondo Beach)
Brand was born in Texas, but had lived in the South Bay since moving there as a child in 1966. “When he found Seaside Lagoon, he thought he had found heaven,” the city's statement said.
Other officials in the region took to X, formerly Twitter, to mourn Brand's death.
“Bill Brand was my dear friend and although we knew this day would come, it hurts to say goodbye,” wrote Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.
“Elected office can be challenging, but being mayor of Redondo Beach came naturally to Bill. “He embodied South Bay,” Hahn wrote. “He was passionate about his job as mayor, fighting corporate developers to preserve the beach community he loved, but he also made time for surf getaways.”
County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath wrote that Brand had “made a lasting impact on the community.” [and] everyone who knew him.”
County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell wrote that Brand “was a fighter who continued to show up to serve” even as he battled cancer. “We have lost a leader who loved the South Bay and fought with all his heart to protect our environment.”
Mitchell particularly cited Brand's role in the recent closure of the AES Redondo Beach power plant, which she said was “just one example of Bill's lasting impact.”
Brand became involved in politics first “as a concerned resident, then as an open space advocate,” creating the nonprofit South Bay Parkland Conservancy, according to the city statement. Only then did he run for office.
Living to see the closure of the AES plant, for which he had fought so hard, “was an accomplishment of which he was extremely proud,” the city statement said.
In lieu of flowers, Brand's family asked for donations in his memory to the conservation organization or Cancer Support Community South Bay.
Flags at Redondo Beach City Hall were to fly at half-staff in Brand's honor. No information about services was provided.
