PEOPLE OVER PROFIT
About Vanessa
Vanessa Valenzuela is a financial professional and community advocate.
Professional Background
Vanessa currently serves as Director of Finance for a San Diego nonprofit where she oversees financial operations for the environmental organization. She has nearly twenty years of financial management experience for several nonprofit organization as well as private companies.
Local Roots
Vanessa’s family moved to Escondido in the 1970’s and she has been a resident of Escondido for nearly four decades. She attended local public schools, including Rose Elementary, Mission (Grant) Middle School, Escondido High School and Palomar College. She is a mother of three children who were also raised in Escondido.
Vanessa volunteers with local organizing efforts focused on improving the lives of fellow Escondido residents. In her free time she enjoys exploring local parks with her eight year old resuce pup, Annie.
Involvement & Key Issues:
Vanessa’s previous campaigns have focused on restoration of community services like libraries and parks, budget transparency and long-term solutions for the city’s pension debt.
'‘I grew up in Escondido, and much of my family still lives here. I have been active in our community for a very long time and I am deeply invested in the progress and change of our city. Those of you who know me, know I lost my father several years ago and I wasn’t sure I’d ever run for office again. But last year, I adopted a pup who I named Annie. I named her after Annie Lennox who was one of my Dad’s favorite musicians - and also one of the earlierst celebrities to use their platform to advocate against the genocide (still) happening in Palestine.
I mention this because, it’s very easy to forget:
Words matter.
Using your platform matters.
Saying the difficult thing out loud, matters.
We can’t forget that what happens there comes back here, in the form of:
Our very own police department, under the former chief was part of a delegation who visited Israel for training in 2019.
My freedom is tied your freedom and our liberation is intertwined.
ICE out of Escondido must also mean: No war with Iran, End the Siege on Cuba, and, of course, Free Palestine.”
Vanessa Valenzuela
