Torres Introduces Bill to Rename Montclair Post Office in Honor of Mayor Paul Eaton
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (CA-35) introduced a bill to rename the United States Post Office located at 5186 Benito Street in Montclair after Paul Eaton. The post office would be designated the "Paul Eaton Post Office Building" in honor of the late Mayor's dedicated 48 years of public service to the Inland Empire. Mayor Eaton served Montclair for 23 consecutive years, making him the longest serving mayor in the city's history.
"Mayor Paul Eaton was a fierce advocate for Montclair residents and a pillar of the Inland Empire community. His decades of public service earned him love, respect, and admiration beyond Montclair's city limits," said Torres. "The designation of this post office in Mayor Eaton's honor will stand as a tribute to his exceptional and tireless commitment to uplifting the lives of everyone he encountered. I'm proud to have 52 members of the California congressional delegation as cosponsors of this bill, including the distinguished Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy."
Eaton began his career at Bethany Baptist Church and the Ontario-Montclair School District volunteering with elementary students. In 1970, he became a founding and appointed member of Montclair's Community Action Committee. While there, he earned a reputation for advocating for Montclair residents and went on to be appointed to the Montclair Planning Commission, where he would serve until he eventually became a member of the Montclair City Council in 1988.
Following Mayor Larry Rhinehart's sudden departure, Eaton was unanimously installed into the position of mayor by his fellow city council members. His greatest achievements include constructing a state-of-the-art police facility and youth and senior centers, widening Central Avenue on the I-10 Freeway, making critical improvements to the Mission Boulevard and Holt Corridors, and ensuring future service to the Montclair Transcenter for the Gold Line light rail service.
Mayor Eaton passed away in July 2018, leaving behind his wife Ginger, four children, nine grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
Torres represents California's 35th Congressional District, which includes Montclair.
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