“My proudest role is raising 3 beautiful children in Downey”.- Mayor Mario Trujillo.
Mario Trujillo, the current mayor of Downey, learned from the best mentor, his mother Ofelia Rodríguez.
“She should have been the lawyer, the politician, the organizer. She always wanted to study, but her parents took her out of school in the third grade to help support the household,” says Trujillo.
His mother learned to make a living and help support her family, but she never forgot her love for learning and her unfulfilled desire to study. Yet she didn’t become depressed or discouraged. For her, it was clear that if she couldn’t achieve those goals, her children would.
Ofelia emigrated to the U.S., leaving her children at their grandparents’ house. She traveled to California for a better life; the word progress had great meaning for her. Mario Trujillo was then born in La Jolla, but at nine months old, his mother decided to take him to live in their hometown of San Buenaventura, Jalisco.
“It seemed nice, we were with my grandparents, there was a lot of security, and we were very happy. We played a lot of soccer and hide-and-seek. I liked it,” says Trujillo.
But those were not his mother’s plans. When Mario was six and a half years old, she came to get her children and moved to San Francisco, where some of her sisters lived.
“My grandfather didn’t want us to go; he disagreed, and told her not to take us. For her, only one word had meaning: progress,” adds the mayor.
For him, it is necessary to continue working on improving municipal services, infrastructure, and economic investment and safety. There is a simple plan: return to basics.
When they arrived in San Francisco, the little six year olf boy found everything to be ugly; he preferred his ranch. They lived in the Mission District, a place similar to East L.A.
“I’ve always liked reading. As a child, I was fascinated by Encyclopedia Brown books; I read others, but that was my favorite. I never liked science or math. I preferred history, books about the structure of government. That’s where I realized that learning could be an adventure,” he shares.
He was fascinated by his first day in Elementary School.
“Ha, ha, ha. The food was delicious. I was thrilled. We got hamburgers, hot dogs, cartons of milk. I was hooked,” he says, he also started learning English.
Ofelia had already envisioned what her son would become. He was going to be a lawyer.
“And that stayed with me all my life. People would ask me, ‘What are you going to study?’ I would automatically say, ‘I’m going to be a lawyer,’” he laughs.
His mother was always very grateful to the United States. A single, poor mother with four children wouldn’t have been able to sustain herself in Mexico; but in this other country, she could.
“She sold ‘cemitas’ in Mexico; how could she support us and provide us an education?” says Trujillo.
‘With his mother’s support, he had the opportunity to attend the best schools. After graduating from the highly regarded Lowell High School in San Francisco, he went on to earn bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Chicano Studies from UC Berkeley. While there (1986-1990), Mario was active in MEChA, the Raza Recruitment and Retention Center, and was elected to student government. It was at Berkeley that Trujillo learned about the political and social justice movements that opened up opportunities for him. He learned to appreciate that whatever he achieved would come not just from his ability and hard work but also from the indelible impact made by all those who had fought for future generations before him,’ he shares on his website.
“I applied to every aid program that existed, and they all accepted me. My mom received the notifications, ‘Mrs., your son is going to receive this award and then another and another.’ That’s why it doesn’t hurt me to pay my taxes; for me, it’s a way of giving back everything I received from this country,” he says.
It was at UC Berkeley that he solidified his social consciousness. There he learned about the history of racism, and homophobia.
“Being at Lowell HS changed my life. Attending UC Berkeley changed my life again. I learned the history of Chicanos; I identify as such, though when asked if I am Mexican or Chicano, I respond, ‘I’m a mix.’
After graduating, he worked as a teacher in South Central schools, where he realized he needed to contribute to improving the quality of education.
“It was very difficult; I had 32 students in the classroom. But seeing those Latino kids, their little eyes wide open and not having the resources was frustrating,” he adds.
Trujillo studied law at night. His mother’s prophecy was taking shape. Upon graduating, he went on to work in the government.
“I realized that change can be achieved there, although it’s difficult due to the system. I believe there are many problems in the judicial system; the word ‘criminal’ is easily used for crimes that aren’t such. Racism is not only in people but also in the system,” he says.
“I’m a father, husband, orphan, brother, uncle, friend, cousin, lawyer, businessman, and politician,” he says proudly. “It’s not easy to define oneself. I learned that in therapy. You know? I will always be Ofelia’s son.”
On his website, he details his career: “On August 1, 1996, Mario became a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney. He served as a prosecutor, primarily in the South East region of Los Angeles County, with assignments in the Whittier, Compton, Bellflower, and Norwalk courthouses. His last trial assignment was with the Hard-Core Gang Division, prosecuting many of the most difficult gang-related murder cases in the county.”
“I always tried to be fair,” he says emphatically.
His last assignment was as a direct report to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon. Mario served as DA Gascon’s Government and Community Affairs Liaison.
He entered politics naturally. He always supported campaigns, joined community causes, and sought the benefit of the community.
“I know who I am. I don’t do it for money. My investment is my family,” he says.
Downey has become his political goal and his desire to improve the city and its community.
“After I complete one more term as mayor, I will retire. I don’t plan to continue in politics. I will focus on my investments and developing them,” he adds.
For him, it is necessary to continue working on improving municipal services, infrastructure, and economic investment and safety. There is a simple plan: return to basics.
“Downey has become an expensive city, but it’s worth it. We don’t allow the homeless to set up tents; we give them vouchers for a hotel or refer them to agencies we have agreements with. I’m running for re-election because I haven’t completed my mission. I need another term to fulfill my promises,” he adds.
When asked how Mario Trujillo defines himself, he says he does it in ten words:
“I’m a father, husband, orphan, brother, uncle, friend, cousin, lawyer, businessman, and politician,” he says proudly. “It’s not easy to define oneself. I learned that in therapy. You know? I will always be Ofelia’s son.”
