Candidate for
Council Member; City of Santa Ana; Ward 1

Jose Solorio Biography

The son of migrant farm workers, Jose Solorio has gone from laboring in the fields as a teenager alongside his parents, to earning a masters degree in public policy from Harvard University, to now being a respected City Councilman.

As a teenager, set on achieving the American Dream and improving his family's standard of living, Jose saw education as the key to his future. After graduating from high school, he entered University of California, Irvine (UCI) with hope, determination, and the will to succeed.

Often sought by his peers to serve in leadership roles, Jose was elected student body president both in high school and at UCI. As student body president in college, he fought passionately + and successfully + for low fees, increased financial aid, campus environmental issues, and a "real-world" curriculum. He was also instrumental in forming various new organizations at UCI, including a Catholic bible study group.

Upon completion of his bachelors degree in Social Ecology at UCI, he moved to Sacramento to work for the state's Senate Budget Committee. There by virtue of being an appointed member of the prestigious Senate Fellow program, he was responsible for staffing key budgetary legislation and overseeing the budgets of three state agencies, totaling more than $2 billion. Having taken an active role in balancing the state's 1993-94 budget and tackling the challenges to cut programs without compromising vital services, he is proud to have served the state.

After his service on the Senate Budget Committee staff, Jose attended Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government to pursue a masters degree in public policy. Taking classes from conservative and liberal professors, as well as learning from the world's premier leaders, he studied business and government policy. His chief aim was to learn how to build positive, productive and long-lasting relationships between the two sectors.

After receiving his masters degree, he returned to Santa Ana to work as Vice President for Newport Beach-based The Market Connection (TMC), a marketing and public relations firm. While at the TMC for three years, he represented a variety of medium-size to Fortune 500 companies, including Kwikset Corporation, Mission Foods, VR Business Brokers, Santa Ana-based Fairhaven Memorial Park, Cacique, and Mother's Cake and Cookie Company.

In early 1997, Jose began his work with the Coalition for Children, Adolescents, and Parents to dedicate more time working with local youth and families. He was the director of a collaborative, consisting of seven community-based organizations, which promoted male responsibility, accountability, and youth leadership.

Now working for the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) as Marketing Program Administrator, Jose has returned to his passion of helping people through government service. At OCTA he plays a pivotal role in promoting transportation choices for local commuters, students and seniors.

Jose was elected to the Santa Ana City Council on November 7, 2000. Prior to being elected to the City Council, Jose served as a member of the city's Planning Commission and Environmental and Transportation Advisory Committee. He is also Governor Gray Davis' appointee to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Region 8.

Jose plans to continue using his education, government, and business experiences to help address local and regional policy challenges. Equally important, he seeks to empower others in the Santa Ana community to realize their hopes and dreams.

Often asked why he dedicates so much time and effort in the community, Jose recites one of Cesar Chavez's famous quotes, "The end of all education should surely be service to others."

Jose, his wife Linn and sons Michael Andrew and Diego Tien reside in Santa Ana. Linn is a Social Studies teacher at Valley High School in Santa Ana.