Ricardo Ortega is a Peer Advocate with Children’s Law Center of California. He is currently the inaugural Los Angeles County Youth Commissioner, representing over 2.2 million young people, and a board member of California Youth Connection.
Ricardo has also served as a member of the Mental Health Board for Transitional Age Youth in the State of California. He holds the distinction of being the youngest commissioner to serve on both the Civil Service Commission in the city of Huntington Park and the Immigration Commission under Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson in the 65th District of the State of California.
On December 2nd, 2017, he was recognized as a Young Senator by State Senator Ricardo Lara for completing the 33rd Senate District Young Senators Program.
As a former foster youth, Ricardo worked on AB 2247-Place to Call Home at the age of 17, creating stability for foster youth placements across California. At 20, he worked on AB 46-California Youth Empowerment Commission, promoting civic engagement for California’s youth.
Ricardo served as President for the Los Angeles chapter of California Youth Connection, joined their Legislative and Policy Committee, and gained work experience with the Chamber of Commerce in Florence-Firestone, Walnut Park, and Lynwood.
The High Desert’s economic growth, public safety, and quality of life are hindered by limited critical infrastructure investment. If elected, my priority will be to address this issue by focusing on our roads, bridges, utilities like water supply and sewage systems, expanded highways, improved broadband, and enhanced transportation opportunities.
The High Desert is a hidden jewel, offering numerous opportunities for sustainable economic growth, affordable land, and the chance to re-establish our middle class. We can improve the overall well-being of our community by creating solutions to lower working families’ grocery, housing, and fuel costs. My vision is for the High Desert to become the renewable energy capital, providing manufacturing jobs and transportation opportunities.
I am a firm believer that every member of our community should have access to quality and affordable healthcare. It is crucial that we have well-equipped facilities in the High Desert that can effectively treat trauma, pediatrics, and other emergency issues. It is simply unfair for anyone to have to be flown to another hospital for critical care. If elected, I am committed to tirelessly working towards the allocation of our tax-paying dollars into our community to improve the quality of healthcare. This includes advocating for funding to expand community clinics and enhance our existing healthcare facilities.
Having experienced the foster care system myself, I recognize the importance of improving our child welfare system and community resources for various groups in our community, including veterans, foster care, seniors, crime victims, and individuals with special needs. My commitment lies in advocating for resources and implementing comprehensive reforms to ensure that we offer support to these community members when they need it the most. It is crucial that we invest in our community members to empower them to become self-reliant and achieve success.
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California Democratic Party
National Union of Healthcare Workers
Lynwood Teachers Association
International Longshore and Warehouse Union State Council
California Latino Legislative Caucus
SEIU CA
Equality California
California Faculty Association
Teamsters Local 1932
California Teachers Association
Plan Parenthood of San Bernardino & Orange County
Reproductive Freedom For All CA
Latino Victory Fund
United Farm Workers
LIUNA Local 300
LIUNA Local 220
LIUNA District Council
Steam-Refrigeration-Air Conditional-Pipefitters Local Union 250
Steam-Refrigeration-Air Conditional-Pipefitters District Council 16
International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 30
International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 94
Communications Workers of America Local 9003
Plumbers, Pipefitters, Refrigeration Local 364
Plumbers, Pipefitters, Refrigeration DC 16
Dolores Huerta Foundation
San Bernardino Young Democrats
Los Angeles Young Democrats
Run for Something
High Desert Progressive Democrats
Six PAC
Democrats for Israel Los Angeles
Los Angeles County Democratic Party
San Bernardino County Democratic Party
Kern County Democratic Party
California Young Democrats
California Democratic Council
Democrats of the Morongo Basin
Asian Democrats of Los Angeles County
Democratic Club of Big Bear Valley
Southern California Armenian Democrats
Latinos Democratas Unidos Club
Acton/Agua Dulce Democratic Club
Antelope Valley Democrats for Change
Democratic Women of the High Desert
Congresswoman Norma Torres
CA Attorney General Rob Bonta
CA State Treasurer Fiona Ma
CA Board of Equalization Antonio Vasquez
CA Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara
CA State Superintendent Tony Thurmond
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas
Assembly Speaker Pro Tem. Jim Wood
Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair Rick Chavez Zbur
Assemblymember Luz Rivas
Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson
Assemblymember Chris Holden
Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon
Assemblymember Mike Gipson
Assemblymember Eloise Reyes
Assemblymember Lisa Calderon
Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva
Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo
Assemblymember Laura Friedman
Assemblymember Avelino Valencia
Assemblymember Mia Bonta
Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia
Assemblymember Dawn Addis
Assemblymember Miguel Santiago
Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains
Assemblymember Steve Bennett
State Senator & Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez
State Senator & Democratic Caucus Chair Monique Limon
State Senator Steve Padilla
State Senator Melissa Hurtado
State Senator Bob Archuleta
State Senator Maria Elena Durazo
State Senator Henry Stern
State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath
Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom
Mayor of Long Beach Rex Richardson
Riverside City Council Clarissa Cervantes
Palmdale City Council Andrea Alarcon
Vice President Morongo Basin Healthcare Board of Directors Misty Evans
Burbank Unified School District Board Member Dr. Armond Aghakhanian
Lynwood Mayor Jose Luis Solache
Lynwood Unified School District Board President Alfonso Morales
Lynwood Unified School District Board Member Maria G. Lopez
Lynwood Unified School District Board Clerk Dr. Alma Carina Castro
Lynwood Unified School District Vice President Gary Hardie Jr.
Former LA County Democratic Party Chair Mark Gonzalez
San Bernardino Democratic Party Chair Kristin Washington
Former Senate Majority Leader Richard Polanco
Community Leader Charity Chandler-Cole
Community Leader Christian Green
Community Leader & AD 34th Delegate Denise Latanzi