Candidate for
Supervisor; County of Monterey; District 5

A lifelong resident of the Monterey Peninsula, Carmelita attended local schools, graduating from Pacific Grove High School. She is a graduate of the California State University at Monterey Bay Paralegal Program and the University of Santa Cruz Extension with an emphasis in counseling.

Carmelita dedicated herself to volunteering for ten years by serving on various city boards, committees and commissions. As a result she established a reputation as a strong leader who gets things done and gained valuable experience on local, county, and regional issues.

In 2008 Carmelita was elected to the Pacific Grove City council and was appointed Mayor in September of 2009. She ran unopposed and was re-elected Mayor in 2010. She is the first Latina ever elected in the City of Pacific Grove and only the fifth woman Mayor in city history.

Carmelita has one daughter, a granddaughter and grandson. She also raised her nephew who is a student at a local university. Carmelita is a widow who lost her husband Dan, a Vietnam Veteran to lung cancer in 2010. An animal lover all her life, Carmelita loves Scruffy her little rescue dog.

Through her participation in local government and on various committees, commissions and community groups, Carmelita has gained valuable experience in Leadership, Local Governance, Budget and Finance, Water Management, Ground Water Replenishment Projects, Air and Water Pollution Control, Regional Transportation, Airport Management, Accessibility, and Disaster and Emergency Communications.

Currently Carmelita serves and/or belongs to the following organizations and boards: Vice Chair Monterey County Mayors Association, 1st Vice President League of California Cities Monterey Bay Division, member of the ACLU, Pajaro Valley Cesar Chavez Democratic Club, Monterey County Women Democratic Club, Democratic Club of the Monterey Peninsula, San Benito County LULAC Council #2890, Monterey County Airport Land Use Commission, Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency, Vice Chair Monterey County Commission on Disabilities, Policy Advisory Committee for the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District Transportation Agency Monterey County Alternate, Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, City of Pacific Grove Budget and Finance Committee, City of Pacific Grove Loan Committee, Chair Emergency Communications Policy Advisory Council, Tri-County Association Latino Elected Officials Vice-President Monterey County (Peninsula), Pacific Grove Kiwanis, is a Mayor for Peace, Lifetime Member of the National Association Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year- Crime Prevention Officers Association of Monterey County 2005, member of Leadership Monterey Peninsula Alumni (Class 1992), served on the Pacific Grove Middle School Site Council, Founding Member Pacific Grove Police Citizens Academy Alumni Association, reinstated the Neighborhood Watch Program, and named one of Monterey County's Outstanding Women of the year in 1995.

A graduate of Leadership Monterey Peninsula class of 1992, Carmelita initiated a partnership with Leadership Monterey Peninsula (LMP) in 2009 to develop a program called Candidate School. This is a four evening (one month long) class that provides insightful information about running for office. The inaugural class held to coincide with the November 2010 election had 50 participants. Three of them ran and were elected to office. The second class was offered in February 2012 in time for the 2012 election cycle.

In 2010 Carmelita offered her expertise to LMP and helped develop a program specifically for the general public called City Skills to educate the public about accessing local government. There were twenty-five participants and the class will once again be offered in 2013.