I am the proud daughter of immigrant parents who taught me the core values of hard work, public service, and the transformative power of education to attain the American Dream. This is why I feeI am the proud daughter of immigrant parents who taught me the core values of hard work, public service, and the transformative power of education to attain the American Dream. This is why I feel called to serve. I’ve dedicated the last 30+ years to our community as a Redwood City resident, parent, neighbor, teacher and community volunteer.
I moved to Redwood City 32 years ago in 1988 for a teaching position at Cañada College. I rented a home in the Mt. Carmel neighborhood. Then my late husband Pete and I moved into our home on Edgewood Road ten years later in 1998, where we raised our kids and both enjoyed flourishing careers in the beautiful, welcoming community of Redwood City.
My sons attended Mt. Carmel, Serra, and Woodside and like most parents, I supported them and the schools as a volunteer mom, school board member, and parent cheerleader on the sidelines of more sporting games than I can count. I became more aware of the need to get involved, which led me to serve as an elected Trustee on the Redwood City Elementary School District Board from 1999 to 2005.
In 2005, I applied and was selected to serve on the City Council in Redwood City to fill the seat which opened up when Ira Ruskin was elected to the State Assembly. Since that appointment, I have been elected to the City Council in Redwood City in 2007, 2011, and 2015.
Aside from raising my sons and enjoying the beautiful grandchildren they have brought into my life, teaching students of all ages from Redwood City at Cañada College and serving on the City Council are my two greatest passions.
I have focused goals and a vision for our beautiful city. Join me as we deal with the impacts of COVID-19 to implement a recovery plan and look to our shared future as a strong community becoming even stronger. It will take experienced leadership to deal with the uncertainty in our future and I bring that to the election for the District 7 seat on the City Council.l called to serve. I’ve dedicated the last 30+ years to our community as a Redwood City resident, parent, neighbor, teacher and community volunteer.
About Alicia Aguirre
A Strong History
Alicia C. Aguirre is a former Mayor of the City Redwood City and a serving member of the City Council. She is the first Latina/o Mayor in the history of Redwood City. She was appointed in January, 2005 and was elected in November, 2005, 2007, 2011, and 2015. She also served as a Trustee and the President of the Redwood City Elementary School Board.
As an active community member, she has served on numerous boards and commissions in Redwood City, San Mateo County, the Bay Area Region, and the State of California and has received many awards. Some of these include:
Alicia is a professor at Cañada College. She has taught there since 1988 in the English Institute and the Spanish Department. She is Coordinator of the English as a Second Language Department, Past Chair of the District Curriculum Committee and the District Academic Senate. She holds an M.A. from Eastern Michigan University and has done Doctoral studies in Social Anthropology at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. She was a Fulbright Exchange Professor in Argentina.
Alicia is the daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico, first generation to graduate from college, proud mother of two young men with three grandchildren.
Accomplishments & Recognition
Woman of the Year 2012 State of California 21st Assembly District‘s by Assemblyman Rich Gordon
Recipient of the OHTLI Award and Medal by the Mexican Government
Madrina Award, One Million NIU (New Internet Users)
Past President of the Statewide Latino Caucus Executive Board of the League of California Cities
Chair, Commission of Silicon Valley Clean Water
Chair, San Mateo County Express Lanes JPA Board
Vice Chair, South Bayside Waste Management Authority
Inducted into the Redwood City San Mateo County Chamber Hall of Fame
Treasurer of the Latino Political Action Committee of San Mateo County
Past Chair, CCAG – City County Association of Governments Board
Past President of the Peninsula Division of the League of CA Cities
Board Member of the Redwood City Chamber-San Mateo County
Board Member of Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
Chair of the Redwood City San Mateo Chamber Leadership Committee
Past Treasurer, Academic Senate, Cañada College
Board Member of Dreamer’s RoadMap
Board Member of Kid’s Vision
Board Member of Stem Stars
Advisory Council, Upward Scholars
Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Former Commissioner, representing the Cities of SMC
President of the Board of the Service League of San Mateo County
Former Trustee, Notre Dame De Namur University
Former Latina Mentor Advisory Council of the San Mateo County Office of Education
Former Board Member, Redwood City Library Foundation
Former Board Member Shelter Network
Former Board Member Hispanos Unidos
Former Board Member of Mt. Carmel School Board and the Garfield Charter School Board
