I have been a Carson resident since 1964. As a single mother of one son and grandmother to one granddaughter, my commitment to our community has been a life long endeavor. My family has been the driving force behind a strong desire to be a change agent so that they could enjoy a safe, diverse, resourceful environment in which to thrive. As a minority woman business owner in the City of Carson for over 45 years, I served on the City Council for 10 years, serving as the first Latina elected official and Mayor. In 2012, I was a finalist to be appointed as City Clerk after Helen Kawagoe retired. Currently, I serve on the Board of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, Division 5.