For John Echevarria, the journey toward becoming mayor of Colton began long before he entered politics. It began in a childhood shaped by financial hardship, family tragedy and the generosity of people who helped his family through difficult times.
Growing up in the housing projects of San Bernardino, Echevarria was raised by a single mother who emphasized the importance of education and perseverance. His family's circumstances exposed him early to the struggles of households trying to make ends meet.
In a February 26, 2026, interview with Tim Ney on the Community in Focus podcast, Echevarria discussed how childhood adversity, personal loss and assistance his family received from Catholic Charities helped influence his commitment to public service.
He credits those experiences with teaching him the importance of helping others, particularly people who may lack the financial resources, connections or guidance necessary to overcome difficult circumstances.
That philosophy eventually led him into law enforcement and later municipal government.
Today, Echevarria serves as a lieutenant with the San Bernardino Police Department and represents District 4 on the Colton City Council. He is challenging incumbent Mayor Frank Navarro in the November 3, 2026, election.
His campaign emphasizes three priorities: public safety, customer service and community success.
But during an extensive interview with City News Group, one message repeatedly emerged: Echevarria wants the opportunity to serve more residents, expand his relationships beyond district boundaries and increase Colton's visibility throughout the region.
Echevarria was first elected to the Colton City Council in 2020, representing what was then District 5. Following redistricting, he was reelected to represent District 4.
According to the City of Colton's official biography, he previously served as a planning commissioner and mayor pro tempore. He earned an associate degree from San Bernardino Valley College, a bachelor's degree from California State University, San Bernardino, and a master's degree in public administration from California Baptist University.
During his interview with City News Group, Echevarria said the greatest opportunity associated with becoming mayor would be expanding his ability to work directly with residents throughout Colton.
"I think they're going to have more outreach with me. They're going to have more access to me," Echevarria said.
He explained that his council responsibilities have primarily focused on his district, while the mayor serves the entire city.
He described the relationships he has developed with residents, businesses and community organizations during his council tenure and expressed his desire to bring that same accessibility to all four districts.
"I want to put Colton on the map," he said.
Echevarria said his approach would include residents from all backgrounds, whether they own homes, rent, operate businesses or are experiencing homelessness.
He emphasized that everyone deserves dignity and respect and should have an opportunity to communicate with city leadership.
His vision also includes strengthening relationships with elected officials and government representatives at the county, state and federal levels.
The City of Colton's official website lists his participation in numerous regional and community organizations, including the San Bernardino International Airport Authority as an alternate, the Colton Business Development and Retention Committee, the Colton Reche Canyon Traffic Ad-Hoc Committee and the Colton Chamber of Commerce.
Echevarria believes these relationships, combined with additional outreach to other elected officials, could help the city pursue grants, infrastructure improvements, economic development and public safety resources.
Such partnerships would require collaboration with fellow councilmembers and outside agencies. Becoming mayor would provide a broader platform for advocacy but would not give him unilateral authority to implement projects or obtain funding.
Echevarria considers social media an important component of his public outreach.
In responses published by Inland Empire Community News on October 20, 2026, he reported building an audience of more than 36,000 followers across his social media platforms.
He described using Social Media as the best way to Expand Sphere of Influence and intends to use that audience to promote small businesses, recognize community accomplishments and share information with residents.
His social media presence also provides an avenue for people to contact him directly about neighborhood concerns and city services.
During his City News Group interview, Echevarria emphasized his willingness to respond to messages, emails, telephone calls and text messages.
For business owners, he believes greater visibility can help attract customers and build community relationships.
While his reported social media following demonstrates an established communication platform, the number of followers does not necessarily reflect the number of Colton residents following him or the level of electoral support he enjoys.
Nevertheless, Echevarria views digital communication as another means of making local government more accessible.
During his interview, Echevarria discussed a number of initiatives and accomplishments he associates with his nearly six years on the Colton City Council.
He identified the following among the efforts he believes have benefited residents:
- A 10% employee wage and salary increase. Echevarria said he supported the increase because he believes competitive compensation helps Colton retain experienced employees and maintain essential city services.
- A traffic signal on Hunts Lane. He described advocating for a signal near an elementary school and residential neighborhood, where he said traffic congestion created safety concerns.
- A 10% senior waste collection discount. Echevarria said he supported the reduction to help qualifying seniors manage rising household expenses.
- Public safety resources. He described advocating for adequate staffing, equipment and funding for police, fire and public works services.
- Neighborhood maintenance. He pointed to his efforts to address concerns involving potholes, sidewalks, street signs, graffiti, lighting and traffic safety.
- Small business promotion. Echevarria described using community appearances, ribbon cuttings and social media to support businesses and encourage economic activity.
- Community involvement and recreation. He discussed his participation in community activities intended to bring residents together and encourage healthier lifestyles.
- Career development and mentorship. He described voluntarily helping individuals prepare resumes, practice job interviews and pursue employment opportunities.
These are accomplishments and contributions identified by Echevarria during his interview and in his previous public statements. They should not be interpreted as projects completed exclusively through his efforts.
Municipal decisions generally involve the collective participation of councilmembers, city employees, department leaders and other agencies.
In a 2022 candidate statement previously published by City News Group, Echevarria also described his involvement in neighborhood cleanups, grant funding for road improvements, constituent services and efforts to strengthen public safety staffing.
Of the accomplishments he discussed, Echevarria expressed particular pride in supporting a 10% increase in compensation for city employees.
He explained that municipalities compete for qualified workers, and losing experienced employees can create additional costs and service challenges.
"I think the most important one that has helped me was when we gave our employees a cost-of-living, or a 10% raise, because we want to keep their skills here," Echevarria said during his interview.
He believes the increase helped Colton remain competitive and demonstrated appreciation for the employees who provide essential services.
The employee compensation decision was also discussed during a separate debate over increasing pay for elected officials.
Reporting in the San Bernardino County Sentinel on November 7, 2025, described the council's earlier employee compensation action as a 10% increase intended to bring wages closer to those offered by competing agencies.
Echevarria's position is that retaining experienced employees benefits residents through continuity, institutional knowledge and dependable services.
One of the more noteworthy decisions involving Echevarria concerns compensation for Colton's mayor and councilmembers.
In November 2025, the Colton City Council approved an ordinance increasing monthly compensation for the mayor and councilmembers to $1,600, effective following the November 3, 2026, municipal election.
The previous compensation structure provided $440 in monthly salary and a $242 automobile allowance, totaling $682 per month. The new amount represents an increase of $918 per month, approximately 135% over the previous combined compensation.
The measure passed on a divided council vote, with Mayor Frank Navarro and Councilmember Dr. G opposing the increase. They argued for a smaller adjustment, particularly in light of the 10% raise previously provided to city employees.
The measure was subsequently approved by a divided council.
Echevarria supported the larger increase but subsequently publicly announced that he would decline the additional compensation.
His reasoning centered on future generations of elected officials.
He believes public office should be financially accessible to younger residents, working parents and individuals who might otherwise struggle to serve because of the time and financial commitments involved.
Although Echevarria supported increasing compensation for elected officials, he later publicly announced that he intended to decline the additional money himself.
In a public statement circulated through his campaign's social media account, Echevarria explained that his position was based on the importance of making public service financially accessible to future generations.
His concern was that younger residents, working parents and individuals with limited financial resources might be discouraged from seeking elected office if compensation failed to reflect the responsibilities and time commitments involved.
He believes public office should not be reserved for people who can afford to serve with relatively little compensation.
Echevarria also emphasized that his decision to decline the increase was personal, reflecting his family's financial circumstances rather than criticism of colleagues who might accept the additional compensation.
He stated that the funds could instead support other city services.
The distinction is important. Echevarria supported higher compensation as a policy that he believes could encourage future community leaders to seek office, while determining that he personally did not need the increase.
For residents, the original council decision remains a legitimate subject of discussion. Some may agree that reasonable compensation broadens opportunities for public service. Others may question whether the amount approved was appropriate given the city's financial responsibilities.
His decision to decline the additional compensation does not eliminate those questions, but it does provide voters with an explanation of his reasoning.
As a longtime law enforcement professional, Echevarria places public safety at the center of his campaign.
However, he told City News Group that public safety involves considerably more than police officers and firefighters.
"When I say public safety, it's not just police, it's fire, but it's also public works," he explained.
He described street lighting, functioning traffic signals, repaired potholes, maintained sidewalks and adequate equipment as essential elements of a safe community.
Echevarria said he would evaluate staffing and resources to determine whether city departments have what they need to serve residents effectively.
In responses published by Inland Empire Community News, he also discussed concerns residents have raised about speeding, dangerous driving, illegal truck traffic and neighborhood safety.
He proposed working with the Colton Police Department and neighboring law enforcement agencies to pursue additional resources, including grant-supported traffic enforcement.
His law enforcement experience provides a professional perspective on those issues, although decisions involving citywide public safety priorities would still require consideration of budgets, competing needs and council approval.
Echevarria identifies customer service as another area where he believes improvements are needed.
During his interview, he described conversations with business owners and prospective developers who complained about difficulties navigating city permitting and approval procedures.
He said some businesses have become discouraged by delays or complicated processes and have considered locating elsewhere.
"I want to change that environment, that tradition, or that culture," Echevarria said.
He suggested that customer satisfaction surveys, departmental reviews or audits could help identify areas needing improvement.
In his published responses to Inland Empire Community News, he similarly identified what he characterized as excessive red tape as a concern for entrepreneurs.
However, the experiences he described represent concerns reported to him by business owners and prospective developers, not findings from an independent evaluation of Colton's permitting operations.
Incumbent Mayor Frank Navarro, responding to the same publication, emphasized the city's business-friendly policies, municipal utilities and economic development activity.
Navarro reported that the city had issued 169 new business licenses during the preceding year and said his administration actively works to attract and retain businesses.
These differing assessments illustrate an important question for voters: whether Colton's existing development processes are functioning effectively or whether additional changes are needed to improve the business environment.
Echevarria was also questioned about his support for warehouse development in the Agua Mansa area.
During the City News Group interview, he acknowledged that a large industrial project had generated controversy, including concerns about building height and neighborhood impacts.
Asked how he balanced economic benefits against truck traffic, air quality and nearby residential concerns, he said he believed the anticipated employment opportunities and revenue justified his support, provided applicable planning, zoning and environmental requirements were satisfied.
"I thought it outweighed the comments and concerns that were brought forward by community members," Echevarria said.
His position reflects a willingness to support industrial development when he believes the economic benefits outweigh potential disadvantages.
Residents who oppose additional warehouse construction may evaluate those decisions differently, particularly when concerns involve air quality, traffic congestion and neighborhood conditions.
In his responses published by Inland Empire Community News, Echevarria also emphasized the importance of reviewing industrial projects through the Planning Commission, environmental requirements and the City Council's public decision-making process.
The issue illustrates the challenge of balancing employment opportunities and municipal revenue with the long-term quality of life of residents.
Throughout his interview, Echevarria repeatedly returned to the importance of helping others achieve personal and professional success.
He described volunteering his time to assist people with resumes, mock interviews, recommendation letters and employment preparation.
He said some of those seeking assistance lack professional connections or have family members who cannot easily guide them through the job application process.
His goal, he explained, is to help individuals develop confidence and obtain opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to pursue.
The motivation appears closely connected to his childhood experiences and the support his family received during difficult times.
In the Community in Focus podcast, Echevarria similarly described the lasting influence of people and organizations that helped his family.
He views mentorship as a way to return that assistance to the community.
When City News Group asked Echevarria what voters should expect from him as mayor that they had not already experienced during his council service, his answer focused primarily on accessibility and expanded representation.
He said he would continue advocating for public safety, customer service and community success, but would extend those efforts to residents throughout Colton.
He also wants to strengthen communication with other elected officials and government agencies, increase opportunities for business development and make city government more responsive.
Asked what three things he would change during his first 100 days, Echevarria identified public safety, customer service and community success.
His response described his priorities but did not establish a detailed implementation schedule or specify how he would secure the support of fellow councilmembers for particular changes.
That distinction matters because the mayor serves as part of the City Council, and major municipal decisions require collaboration, public discussion and, frequently, majority approval.
Navarro, meanwhile, has emphasized his administration's infrastructure work, economic development efforts and partnerships with regional agencies.
Both candidates identify public safety, economic vitality and city improvements as important priorities, but they offer different perspectives on the city's current performance and the leadership needed going forward.