Diana Rodriguez for State Assembly, District 9
About Diana
Diana Rodriguez represents families in the 9th Assembly District as an elected trustee of the Sacramento City Unified School District. First elected in 2008, and then re-elected to a second term in 2012, she has been a leading voice against harmful school closures, proper spending of the district’s $440 million budget, and increased transparency. Diana has been an advocate for working families and children and has supported policies to improve schools and put the best teachers in our classrooms.
In 2011, after extensive complaints by parents and community groups accusing the district of financial abuse, Diana championed the effort to require the district to disclose how it spends taxpayer dollars. As a result, the district now posts on its website all requests for bids, consulting contracts, purchase orders and other financial information such as expenditure reports and cash flow statements.
In 2009, in response to community outrage over the district’s proposal to close a local elementary school and leave hundreds of children without adequate transportation, Diana succeeded in keeping the school open for an additional three years. She continues to be a leader on the issue, believing that the district should not balance the budget on the backs of the district’s most vulnerable parents and children.
Over the past five years Diana has served the community as president of the school board and in various positions at the state and federal level including:
• Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson's Transition Advisory Team
• Past Board Member and Secretary, for the nation-wide Parent/Teacher Home Visit Program
• Chair, Sacramento 2010 US Census Latino Complete Count Committee
• Delegate Assembly Member, California School Boards Association (CSBA)
Diana has also participated in the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, President Obama's White House Hispanic Policy Summit, and as a guest commentator on National Public Radio.
Diana is a long-time public servant with a combined 15 years of public service work in all branches of local government – school, city, county and state. She currently works as a manager for the State of California.
In her experience, Diana has adopted spending priorities and managed budgets totaling over $300 million and provided oversight and direction for various projects including multi-million dollar health care service contracts and computerized system upgrades. She has analyzed and built state department budgets and has experience identifying potential budget misappropriations. She has also analyzed and researched collective bargaining agreements that ensure public workers are fairly compensated and taxpayers’ money is spent responsibly.
Diana completed the National Economic Policy Institute from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and has a degree in finance from DeVry University.
She lives in Sacramento with her three daughters - Ezra, Taja, and Alana. Her two youngest daughters Taja and Alana currently attend public schools in the Sacramento City Unified School District. Her eldest daughter, Ezra, graduated from St. Francis High School.
Diana enjoys cheering for her two youngest daughters at their weekend swim meets. They compete as members of the Parkway Dolphins swim team.
Diana was actively involved in the classroom and from 2003 through 2007 she worked as a part-time teaching assistant at St. Borromeo Catholic Elementary School.
Endorsements
Elected OfficialsAssemblymember Norma Torres
Assemblymember Roger Hernandez
Assmemblymember Luis Alejo
Former Senator Richard Polanco
Former Assemblymember Tony Mendoza
Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo
Pico Rivera Mayor Gustavo Camacho
Watsonville City Council Member Karina Cervantes
Former Santa Cruz City Council Member Tony Madrigal
Sacramento City Unified School Board Member Gustavo Arroyo
Sacramento City Unified School Board Member Christina Pritchett
Elk Grove Unified School Board Member Tony Perez
Sacramento County Board of Education Member Brian Rivas
Twin Rivers Unified School Board Member Rebecca Sandoval
Natomas Unified School Board Member Susan Heredia
Former Sacramento City Unified School Board Member Roy Grimes
Former Sacramento City Unified School Board Member Manny Hernandez
School Board Member Katherine Ramirez
Assm./Asst. Majority Leader Edward Acevedo, Chicago, IL
Educators
Roberto Haro, Retired University of California Chancellor
Business Leaders
Robert Moreno
Richard Polanco, Jr.
Xochitl Medina
Hector Castillo
Gabriel Vivas
Ken Macias
Ernesto Delgadillo
Rene Flores, Sr.
Roy Perez
Melinda Guzman
Community Members
Carlos and Norma Alcala
Juan Jimenez-MCCNC
George and Josephine Sy- Elk Grove
Nohemi Granillo- Elk Grove
Angelica Rodriguez- Elk Grove
Adriana Romandia- Florin
Alexandria Castillo- Elk Grove
Keely Melendez- Sacramento
Larry Tract - Florin
Beatriz Sanchez-Elk Grove
Oscar Ramirez- Sacramento
Jonathan Tran
Katherine Maestas
Grace Trujillo
Angelica Tellechera
Kari Scow
Natalie Bocanegra
Eireann Flannery
Ida Romandia
