Board of Directors
ICFA President
Gil Hurtado - City of South Gate
First elected in 2005. Councilmember Hurtado served the South Gate community in various capacities, including 12 years as Councilmember/Mayor, 5 years as Planning Commissioner, President/Board-Member Independent Cities Finance Authority, President/Board-Member Gateway Cities Council of Governments, and Co-Chair I-710 Project Committee.
ICFA Vice President/Treasurer
Eddie Martinez - City of Huntington Park
Eddie Martinez was elected to the Huntington Park City Council in March 2020.
City of Compton
Emma Sharif - City of Compton
Councilwoman Emma Sharif was elected Mayor of the City of Compton in June 2021. She has previously served as representative for the 4th District of the City of Compton where she supported many projects, including implementing the Collaborative Court in the Compton Courthouse, addressing concerns of homelessness and human trafficking in local and surrounding areas, and coordinating the redevelopment and renovation of South Park to include updated amenities.
Given her passion for education and public service, Emma has worked in the community for more than 20 years as a public-school teacher and as a member of the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees where she has served as President, Vice President, Clerk, and Legislative Representative.
Emma holds membership with the following organizations: National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC), Martin Luther King Jr. Democratic Club, New Frontier Democratic Club (NFDC), and Progressive Democratic Club. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science/Sociology; and a Masters Degree in Public Administration.
As Mayor of the City of Compton, Emma is committed to serving as a voice for the community. She is dedicated to promoting equality for Compton residents, improving community amenities, and advocating for government transparency and student success.
City of Vernon
Leticia Lopez - City of Vernon
A resident of the City of Vernon for almost two years, Council Member Lopez was born and raised in the neighboring City of Huntington Park. She was elected to the Vernon City Council as a write-in candidate in April of 2016.
As a sitting member of the City Council, Council Member Lopez represents the City of Vernon as an appointed member on various external boards including the Board of Directors of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, the I-710 EIR/EIS Project Committee, the Independent Cities Finance Authority, and the Southeast Community Development Corporation. Council Member Lopez was also appointed by her fellow Council Members to serve as the City Council representative on the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee.
As a Family Advocate with the Head Start Program at Human Services Association, Council Member Lopez works with families in the surrounding cities and provides case management support services to improve living conditions and quality of life for children and their families.
Council Member Lopez feels privileged to serve the City of Vernon and takes great pride in working with her fellow Council Members to keep the City on its path to continued success. She serves a five-year term in office.
Council Member Lopez holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development from California State University Long Beach and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Human Development with a concentration in Leadership in Education at Pacific Oaks College.
Executive Director
Debbie Smith - Executive Director
Debbie Smith began her career working as a secretary for the City Council in the City of Burbank. Since then she has served in an administrative capacity for the Independent Cities Association (ICA), the Independent Cities Risk Management Authority (ICRMA) and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG). In her role as Executive Director for ICFA she formulates policy recommendations, manages all meetings by preparing agendas, analytical staff reports and minutes. She oversees the ICFA’s financing teams, facilitates the bond offerings, and manages all marketing efforts for the organization.
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Happy Clients
ICFA was the driving force behind the execution of Downey Regional Medical Center’s successful bankruptcy exit. There were literally hundreds of moving piece, and ICFA made sure all the appropriate disclosures, filings, and agreements were well drafted, agreed to, and executed in a timely manner.
Rob Fuller, Executive VP and COO of Downey Regional Medical Center
