Racquel Vasquez (1969/1970)[1] is the mayor of the city of Lemon Grove, the first African-American woman elected mayor in San Diego County.[2]
Racquel Vasquez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mayor of Lemon Grove, California | |
| Assumed office December 20, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Mary Sessom |
| City Council of Lemon Grove, California | |
| In office 2012–2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1969 or 1970 (age 53–54)[1] Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jose Vasquez |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | California State University, Northridge |
| Website | racquel-vasquez |
Biography edit
Vasquez was born in Los Angeles[3] and raised in Gardena, California.[4] In 1994, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Management of Radio, TV&Film from California State University, Northridge.[5] After school, she worked as a promotion specialist for the city of Newport News, Virginia and in 2000, she accepted a position as a public information officer for the city of San Diego.[1][5] In 2007, she was appointed as Planning Commissioner in Lemon Grove.[1] On November 6, 2012,[6] she was elected to the Lemon Grove City Council.[1] After 20-year incumbent mayor Mary Sessom retired, she entered the 2016 mayoral race.[7] In November 2016, she was elected mayor, defeating fellow City Councilman George Gastil and medical credentialing specialist Teresa Rosiak.[1] She was sworn in on December 20, 2016.[8] Running on a platform of fiscal responsibility, she was able to balance the budget in 2019, the first time in many years.[9] On November 3, 2020, she was re-elected as mayor[10] with 38% of the vote defeating Jerry Jones (32.50%), Kamaal Martin (20.25%), and Christopher Williams (9.22%).[11]
She is the recipient of the President's Volunteer Service Award.
In 2023, she announced that she will be running to succeed Akilah Weber in the 79th district of the California State Assembly; her opponents are Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins and Colin Parent.[12] Weber is running in the 39th district in the California State Senate currently held by President pro Tempore Toni Atkins who is term limited.[12]
Personal life edit
Vasquez is married to a 24 year Navy veteran Jose Vasquez;[13] they have two daughters.[2]
Work edit
Main roles have included:[5]
- 1997-99: Promotion Specialist at City of Newport News
- from April 2000: Senior Public Information Officer at City of San Diego
- from December 2016: Mayor of Lemon Grove, California.
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f Pearlman, Karen (December 25, 2016). "Q&A with new Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Vasquez, 47, is San Diego County's first female African-American mayor.
- ^ a b Vasquez, Racquel (July 23, 2020). "Commentary: Black and Brown Americans continue to experience systemic racism. It's in our history even here in Lemon Grove". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Vasquez is the first Black woman mayor in Lemon Grove and in San Diego County (footnote by The San Diego Union-Tribune
- ^ ""Home Is....Love" with Lemon Grove Mayor Vasquez". housingsandiego.org. June 2, 2020.
- ^ "Charter-Cox Local Edition with Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez interview by Brad Pomerance". Local Edition News. July 12, 2017.
- ^ a b c Huard, Christine (August 24, 2012). "Racquel Vasquez, Candidate for Lemon Grove City Council". The Lemon Grove Patch.
- ^ "Full Biography for Racquel Vasquez". www.smartvoter.org.
- ^ "How To Run For City Office And Win". candidchronicle.com. December 23, 2016.
- ^ Fields, JoAnn (December 22, 2016). "1st African American Woman to Lead as Mayor in the County of San Diego". The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint.
- ^ Pearlman, Karen (August 16, 2019). "Lemon Grove Mayor shares "State of the City'". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
- ^ Cook, Morgan; Peterson, Karla; Schroeder, Lauryn; Smolens, Michael (December 13, 2020). "Phenomenal San Diego women in elected office". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
- ^ Williamson, Rebecca Jefferis (December 15, 2020). "Newly Re-elected Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez Delivers Covi19-delayed State of the City Address". East County Magazine.
- ^ a b Dawson, Danielle (December 28, 2023). "San Diegans will be voting in dozens of local races next year. Here's who is running". KUSI.
- ^ "A note from Lemon Grove's new Mayor Racquel Vasquez". The East County Californian. January 5, 2017.
External links edit
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