Vicente Sarmiento has proudly represented Ward 1 on the Santa Ana City Council since 2007. Councilmember Sarmiento is currently the President of the OC Water District Board of Directors. He also served as the City Council’s Mayor Pro Tem, and was Chairman of the Oversight Board of the Successor Agency to the former Redevelopment Agency for the City of Santa Ana. Councilmember Sarmiento’s priorities are increasing park space, reducing homelessness, providing more affordable housing for our working families, investing in youth programs, and supporting efforts to make our neighborhoods safer. He helped draft the Housing Opportunity Ordinance, ensured that a fiscal reserve fund was created in the aftermath of the 2008 Economic Recession, and led the City Council’s adoption of public policies to protect the rights of all immigrants in Santa Ana.

Jessie Lopez was born in Santa Ana, CA, to working-class parents. As a lifelong resident of Santa Ana and an active member of her community, Jessie both understands and has advocated around issues like the retention of green space, affordable housing, voter engagement, and local government accountability. She brings her personal lived experiences to the table and is committed to seeing her hometown of Santa Ana become a city where the residents of Santa Ana are empowered to build a prosperous city with housing options that meet the needs of residents, neighborhoods that are healthy and resourced, and just, equitable budgets for our communities as well as emerging needs.

Dr. Alfonso Alvarez is the current Clerk of the Santa Ana Unified School Board and he is running for re-election. He believes that every child deserves a high quality education. He has dedicated his life to working with the children of our Santa Ana community. Dr. Alvarez has advocated for our children for over twenty years as a child counselor for abused children, social worker and volunteer for gang prevention/intervention programs and other community organizations. He has mentored high school and university students over the years to help them achieve their dreams. “Every child can succeed if they have a caring person in their life” is the philosophy of Dr. Alvarez.

Carolyn is currently a member of the Santa Ana Unified School District School Board and she is running for re-election. She has worked in schools for over 15 years beginning in afterschool programs, as a mentor, as a tutor, and as a classroom teacher. As a current 7th grade teacher, she knows first hand what students, teachers, staff, and parents experience. As a long time community activist, she has advocated for youth and parents in understanding their rights and have helped them navigate schooling and government systems. As an educator, she has coordinated and ran professional development institutes about how to develop curriculum and teaching strategies that create a welcoming, safe and affirming class environment where teachers can teach and students can learn.