Deputy Mayor Steve Padilla

City of Chula Vista

Councilmember Steve Padilla was elected to the Chula Vista City Council on November 8, 2016 to represent District 3 in the City’s first district-only elections. He currently serves as Deputy Mayor of the City of Chula Vista, as Vice Chair of the California Coastal Commission, and represents the City on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the Metro Wastewater JPA, and other agencies in the region. A native of San Diego, CA and lifelong Chula Vista resident, he is a graduate of Bonita Vista High School, a former police officer and police Detective. He is currently Principal of Aquarius Group, Inc., a public affairs consulting practice he began in 2007. In his professional capacity, Steve works with a variety of private entities, non-profits and public interest groups where he advocates on issues ranging from economic development, transportation, housing, and social and environmental justice. In 2008, he was invited to be a member of the Independent Task Force on U.S. Immigration Policy for the Council on Foreign Relations. Councilmember Padilla is noted for being the first person of color ever elected to City office in Chula Vista history, the first Latino Mayor, and the first openly LGBT person to serve or be elected to city office. He holds undergraduate degrees in Liberal Arts and Public Administration from Southwestern College and National University, and studied law at Western State University, College of Law. He has been a published columnist writing on local, state, and national policy issues.