STEPHANIE KLOPFENSTEIN is Garden Grove’s first directly-elected female mayor (Orange County Tribune photo).

By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

Stephanie Klopfenstein is living history as the first directly-elected woman mayor in Garden Grove.

That’s especially noteworthy, because her family embodies the history of the community, having been in the Big Strawberry for well over 100 years.
“My great-grandmother was born here in 1898,” said Klopfenstein in an interview at SteelCraft, the downtown open-air eatery, “so we have five generations of women born in Garden Grove.” As a bridge from the city’s past into its present and future, she has many plans for the community when she takes the oath of office at Tuesday’s meeting of the Garden Grove City Council.

In the Nov. 5 election, she finished first in a field of seven candidates, which included two former councilmembers, a sitting councilmember and a school board trustee.

Klopfenstein, now 44, was elected to the council first in 2016 and again in 2020 representing District 5. She’s married to husband Erik and is mother to daughter Emerson, 13.

“First and foremost, I want to be accessible,” she said. “I want people to know I’m going to be a mayor that will listen to their concerns and needs, and I want them to know that I’m going to roll up my sleeves and get to work.”

She praised the work of the current council and especially outgoing mayor Steve Jones. “He’s definitely turned the city over to me in good hands.”
Klopfenstein has a long list of priorities including having a unified city council, working to help small businesses, “maximizing growth” in the Harbor Corridor, continuing to tackle homelessness, neighborhood integrity and quality of life. “We have to have some fun.”

Her ascension to the position of top-elected official in Garden Grove comes at a time when the council’s makeup looks little like it has in past years.
“This is the most diverse city council ever,” said Klopfenstein, noting that the new lineup will have two Hispanics, two “Caucasians” and three Vietnamese members.

And, of course, history is also made by having a first-ever female majority – four members – on the council.
“I think it’s fantastic,” she said. “I think it’s a new day for Garden Grove. We are multitaskers and I think we will find ways to work together and find that middle ground. I think it’s going to be exciting, actually.”

She sees the city as one with ever-expanding potential, with great things yet to come.

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“Don’t ever underestimate Garden Grove,” she said.