Elena Baca-Santa Cruz is a community activist, union leader, mother, and (yes!) a grandmother. She is continuing the Baca tradition of public service, and is now a candidate for Moreno Valley City Council.
Elena came to Moreno Valley in 1990 when her mother, Victoria Baca, wanted a better quality of life for her family. Elena attended Canyon Springs High School and is a graduate of Moreno Valley College where she earned an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration and Chapman University, Moreno Valley Campus with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology.
For more than a decade, Elena Baca-Santa Cruz has worked in public education, providing administrative support and utilizing her knowledge of community college programs, procedures, and grant fiscal reporting. Her additional professional skills include working with marginalized populations, budgeting, and grants administration. As a bilingual advocate, Baca-Santa Cruz was raised to have a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion.
While working at Riverside Community College District, Baca-Santa Cruz has served as California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 535 President, presiding over the multi-college district with over 500 members. As the Employees Association President, she served as lead negotiator, and on various committees representing her members, including the benefits, classified professional development, catastrophic leave, district budget advisory, district strategic planning, board of trustee, and various hiring committees. While serving as the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees CSEA representative, Baca-Santa Cruz has prepared and presented presentations for the Board of Trustees on current events and issues related to classified professionals. Prior to becoming CSEA President, she served as Chapter Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Chapter Delegate.
Elena inherited her passion for community activism from her mother, who taught her to never hesitate to stand up and fight for what she believed in. She was also taught to speak out again injustice and advocate for those who are impacted by unfair treatment. Elena campaigned and assisted her mother, both when she was a member of the school board and then most recently as a member of the City Council, and she became deeply aware of the concerns and needs of the people of Moreno Valley. The “Baca team” is known for their personal campaign style and constituent service – something that Elena continues to be committed to.
A fervent advocate for local jobs, Baca-Santa Cruz was a member of a team of residents that collected over 10,000 signatures citywide to bring Sketchers to Moreno Valley. She has personally spoken to thousands of residents of the City about issues in her door-to-door campaign work.
Elena Baca-Santa Cruz is also a dedicated volunteer, having been involved in the United Democrats of Moreno Valley, the Moreno Valley Public Library Commission, Palm Middle School PTA, Vista Heights PTA, Canyon Springs Little League, Moreno Valley Parents’ Association, and the recipient of the Community Service Award by the Moreno Valley Unified School District Board of Education (2008).
A huge Los Angeles Dodgers fan, Baca-Santa Cruz loves traveling with her family to see away games as well as cheering on her team at Dodger’s Stadium. She has three adult children and one grandchild. She resides in District One, where she is seeking the Council seat that her late mother, Mayor Pro Tem Victoria Baca, held for many years.