D
an Faina, the city of Santa Clarita's newest planning commissioner, credits a chance encounter in college with sparking his 18-year career in real estate and property development. Mayor Pro Tem Laurene Weste nominated him for the position on Tuesday after a lengthy search process. Faina studied under local real estate broker Dave Rendall at College of the Canyons, which led to an internship with Lance and Sadie Williams of Williams Homes. This opportunity allowed him to work on various projects in the Santa Clarita Valley.

    Through his experiences, Faina gained a deep respect for the development process, from entitlements to sales. He's become a fan of Santa Clarita and has chosen to raise his family there. "Even if I won the lottery, I wouldn't move anywhere – this is where we want to be," he said. Faina was nominated after Denise Lite was ousted by the City Council in a 3-2 vote. Weste chose him from a field of 11 applicants and the council approved his nomination unanimously.

    Faina acknowledged that taking on this role represents a higher level of political involvement, but his experience in economic development and nonprofit organizations has prepared him for it. He's been involved in local politics for over a decade and understands how things can unfold. As president of Williams and Watt Inc., Faina is currently focused on rebuilding homes in communities devastated by wildfires earlier this year.