Recognized as a long-time collaborative leader and community builder, Valerie Amezcua achieved a historic milestone in 2022 by becoming the first female mayor in the City of Santa Ana's 153-year history. Mayor Amezcua was elected on a commitment to prioritize the quality of life, address the homelessness crisis, foster economic development, and ensure public safety works with the community as cornerstones of her administration. A true champion of our community, Mayor Amezcua believes we can accomplish more when we work together. She has established robust partnerships that support the long-term success of Santa Ana’s neighborhoods, educational institutions, and businesses. Her dedication to responsive, equitable, and transparent governance characterizes her leadership, and she has been lauded for her effectiveness and accessibility as a public official, embodying a proactive “can-do” attitude to restore trust, hope, and unity in local government and civic life.
In addition to her extensive responsibilities within City government, Mayor Amezcua represents Santa Ana on numerous regional bodies, including the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors, Orange County Water District, District 8 (OCWD), Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), Orange County Council of Government (OCCOG), Association of California Cities Orange County (ACCOC), Committee Chair of the ACCOC Housing and Homelessness, Discovery Cube, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and as an alternate on the Transportation Corridor Agencies Board (TCA).
Prior to serving as mayor, Valerie Amezcua served on the Santa Ana Unified School District Board from 2014 to 2022, undertaking leadership positions as President or Vice President of the board for five of the eight years she represented SAUSD. Mayor Amezcua left a lasting legacy by spearheading reforms to improve graduation rates, campus safety, and parental involvement. Her leadership experience and dedication to Santa Ana’s children, youth, and families inspired her to extend her vision and passion for public service to city governance.
Mayor Amezcua’s long record of community involvement includes having served on the Board of Directors for the National Hispanic Business Women’s Association (NHBWA), and on the City of Santa Ana’s Human Relations Commission and Early Prevention & Intervention Commission. She has received numerous accolades, including recognition as one of Orange County’s Top 100 Most Influential People by the Orange County Register, and honors from the National Hispanic Business Women’s Association, LULAC, Congress, and the Women of Distinction award.
Mayor Amezcua graduated from the University of LaVerne and earned a certificate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Family Engagement in Education. Her professional career spans 30 years as a Supervising Probation Officer with the Orange County Probation Department, where she specialized in gang suppression, sex crimes, and domestic violence intervention before retiring in 2017.
Mayor Amezcua continues her family’s legacy of civic engagement and takes pride in their deep roots in Santa Ana. Her grandmother was involved in Santa Ana civic affairs for many years, and her father is a former Community College Board Trustee and a longtime civic leader. As a devoted wife and mother, Mayor Amezcua’s sole focus is securing a strong future for Santa Ana and building upon its numerous strengths, including its embrace of arts and culture, its rich and unique history, and the pride of its people, businesses and community organizations.
