Service Shaped by Experience

First and foremost, I see myself as a public servant, a community-centered leader, and a policy-focused City Councilor. At least, that is the bar I am setting for myself every day.

When I share something personal about my background or history, it is because those experiences shape how I approach public service. They reflect the lessons I have learned, the values I carry, and the perspective I bring into the work. One of the most consistent things in life is change. As people, we spend years growing, learning, making mistakes, developing perspective, and deciding how we want to show up in the world. We do not always get to know that about one another, but I believe it matters. Sharing more of who I am is one way I hope to build trust with the community I serve.

My family immigrated to Oregon from Mexico when I was five years old. Like many immigrant families, my parents worked hard to create opportunity for their children, often with limited resources and support. Those early experiences shaped how I see community, opportunity, and public systems. They also gave me a deep respect for the people and organizations that show up when families need help most.

Hillsboro is now home. I have worked here since 2018 and lived here since 2021, and I am honored to serve as a Hillsboro City Councilor. In this role, I help review and make decisions on local policies, budgets, infrastructure, land use, public investments, and long-term priorities that affect our city. I also see the role as one of listening, learning, asking thoughtful questions, and helping ensure residents are represented in the decisions that shape Hillsboro’s future. I care about infrastructure, transportation, housing, economic development, digital access, and making sure residents can see themselves reflected in the civic life of our community.

Professionally, my experience has spanned across different sectors of the economy, starting in small business, then nonprofits, corporate, and now local government. I have worked in project & program management, public affairs & community engagement, workforce development & leadership development, DEI & change management. I have also facilitated public-private partnerships through roles with Washington County, Intel, Portland General Electric, Community Action, and other nonprofit organizations. That experience has taught me how important it is to connect policy with implementation, and how valuable it is to bring people together across sectors to solve real problems.

My path into public service began in community work. I spent years working with the Spanish speaking families, day laborers, young people, and community-based organizations. Those years taught me that leadership is not just about titles or authority. It is about building trust, listening carefully, using data and lived experience together, and utilizing resources to help people reach their full potential. I believe empowerment is one of the most important impart through service.

I am also a first-generation college graduate. I earned my associate’s degree from Lane Community College, Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, and MBA from Willamette University. Education opened doors for me, but it also reminded me how much representation, encouragement, and support matter, especially for young people who are still learning where they belong.

Why I Serve

I serve because I believe local government is one of the closest and most practical ways to improve community livability.

The decisions made at the local level shape how people move through the city, where and how families can live, how businesses function, how safe and connected neighborhoods feel, and whether residents believe their voices matter. For me, public service is about paying attention to those everyday impacts and doing the work to make systems more understandable, accessible, and functional. Strong communities are built when people feel seen, systems are easier to navigate, and opportunity is not limited by background, language, income, or zip code. Whether I am preparing for a Council meeting, speaking with students, working on policy, or connecting with neighbors, I serve with humility, curiosity, and intention.

My service is guided by a few core values:

Trust and transparency. Residents should understand how decisions are made, how to participate, and how their input is being considered.

Practical problem-solving. Good policy should connect vision with implementation. I strive to make decisions that are thoughtful, realistic, grounded in community needs, and honest about the trade-offs that come with every solution.

Preparedness for the future. The world is constantly changing, and those changes affect us locally. Transportation, housing, broadband, utilities, public safety, and infrastructure decisions should help prepare Hillsboro for the next generation.

Opportunity and belonging. I want more residents, especially those who have historically felt left out of civic spaces, to see themselves reflected in Hillsboro’s future.

Technology that serves people. As broadband, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure become more important, I believe cities need to approach this new era with curiosity, responsibility, and a clear focus on public benefit.

At the heart of it, I serve because I care about where I live, where I am raising my family, and the future of our community. I also understand what it means for people and communities like mine to feel left out of civic spaces. That is why I strive to serve in a way that is thoughtful, inclusive, future-focused, and grounded in the people who call Hillsboro home.

The Perspective I Bring

My journey into public service has been nontraditional.

It has been shaped by immigration, family, community work, education, professional growth, and a series of people who helped me see what was possible before I could fully see it for myself.

Immigrating as a child taught me resilience early.

Growing up bilingual and bicultural helped me understand different perspectives, communicate across differences, and see how systems affect families in real life. I have been on the receiving end of both the strengths and the shortcomings of government and public institutions. That experience gives me a unique perspective. I know how effective systems can be when they are designed and implemented well, and I also know how frustrating and discouraging they can feel when families are left to navigate barriers on their own.

Family also shaped my path.

I grew up surrounded by a large family, where relationships, responsibility, humor, loyalty, and hard work were part of daily life. Like many immigrant families, we were raised with the American dream in mind. That belief creates a powerful sense of responsibility to improve your circumstances, support your family, and contribute to the community around you. The values I learned from my family still carry me today: work hard, stay grounded, help others, and give your best. Al cien.

My public service path began in community work.

Working with immigrant families, day laborers, young people, and communities from different backgrounds and countries of origin gave me an understanding of the world I could not have gained from a textbook alone. I have built real relationships with people who left their home countries for different reasons, but who often shared a common belief: that hard work, opportunity, and community can create a better future.

Education helped me put language and structure around what I had lived and witnessed.

Studying political science opened my eyes to the role of government, political history, racial politics, power, influence, and how decisions are made. It also helped me understand that the public has a powerful voice in shaping the future, even when many people feel disconnected, ambivalent, or disempowered by the process.

My MBA expanded that perspective. It helped me better understand executive leadership, corporate finance, global economics, business strategy, and the role of public-private partnerships. It also reinforced for me that business decisions are never separate from community impact. Corporate social responsibility matters because decisions made by companies, governments, and institutions can shape people’s lives in significant ways, especially when communities have less power or fewer resources.

Professionally, my experience has helped me see how policy decisions and implementation choices affect the broader ecosystem of a community.

It is also why I believe partnerships matter. The challenges facing cities today often require government, community organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and residents to work together with clarity, accountability, and shared purpose.

I did not get here alone.

At different points in my life, people opened doors, pointed me toward opportunities, showed me which rooms to enter, and helped me understand who to talk to once I got there. That is part of why I care so deeply about representation, access, and belonging. When people see someone with a story like theirs in civic spaces, it can change what they believe is possible for themselves and their community.

The perspective I bring is shaped by lived experience, but it is also shaped by study, work, relationships, and service. I carry all of that with me as I continue learning, asking questions, and working to serve Hillsboro with humility, practicality, and care.

Stay Connected

This website is one way for me to stay connected with the community and share updates about the issues I am working on, the questions I am asking, and the priorities I am thinking through.

I welcome thoughtful feedback, ideas, and questions from residents, community partners, and neighbors who care about Hillsboro’s future. Local government works best when people are informed, engaged, and willing to be part of the conversation.

Whether you are new to civic engagement or have been involved for years, your perspective matters. I hope this site helps make my work more accessible, transparent, and connected to the people I serve.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me, my journey, and why I serve.