Current Term January 29, 2025 - December 2026
Ric was born in Mexico City and raised in Montebello, giving him firsthand insight into the immigrant experience and the structural challenges faced by working families. He understands the complexity of navigating systems that were never designed with equity in mind. Perhaps more importantly, he understands how to improve them. Ric didn't enter public service for ceremony or symbolism, but to make measurable, lasting impact.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Computer Science. His professional career in aerospace demands precision, accountability, and the disciplined application of systems thinking. In that environment, decisions are grounded in data. Failure is analyzed, understood, and used to evolve. Ric brings that same rigor to municipal governance. He prepares thoroughly, interrogates assumptions, and prioritizes effectiveness over optics. Governance, to him, is not performance, it is execution.
His focus as a policymaker centers on four essential pillars: public safety, education, economic development, and infrastructure. These are not abstractions; they are the structural foundations of a functional city. Ric evaluates every proposal against its ability to strengthen these systems. He supports initiatives that are outcomes-oriented and evidence-based, and he rejects those that rely on vague intentions or superficial appeal. If a system fails, it must be fixed. If a process wastes public resources, it must be restructured. If an idea serves the people of Montebello, it must be pursued with discipline and urgency.
Beyond his work in public service, Ric is also a builder and communicator. He produces a podcast that engages with history, mystery, science fiction, and horror. It's an exploration of complex narratives, speculative thinking, and cultural analysis. His approach to storytelling reflects his broader worldview: intellectual curiosity must be matched by clarity, coherence, and critical thinking.
Ric believes leadership is quiet, prepared, and sharp. In rooms where serious decisions are made, the loudest voice is usually the weakest. He listens to people who show up with solutions, not performances. Influence is earned through clarity. Power is built on competence. Everything else is noise.