Meet Paloma

Paloma Aguirre is a San Diego County Supervisor representing District 1 and a longtime champion for environmental justice, immigrant rights, and working families. A first-generation college graduate and daughter of Mexican immigrants, she was born in San Francisco and spent much of her childhood in Puerto Vallarta before returning to California for college. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of San Diego and went on to complete a master's in marine biodiversity and conservation at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Her binational upbringing and education have deeply informed her career and activism.

Before entering public office, Aguirre spent years working in community organizing and environmental conservation. She supported immigrant and low-income families in South San Diego through foreclosure assistance and legal navigation, and later became a leading voice on cross-border pollution issues. At organizations like Wildcoast and the International Community Foundation, she helped build binational coalitions to clean up the Tijuana River Valley and advocated for policies to protect coastal ecosystems. Her work earned her statewide recognition, including being named Woman of the Year by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez in 2014.

In 2018, Aguirre became the first Latina elected to the Imperial Beach City Council and was later elected Mayor in 2022. As mayor, she prioritized addressing the South Bay’s ongoing sewage crisis, pressing federal and state agencies to invest in long-overdue wastewater infrastructure. Her leadership helped secure over $150 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, a major win for the health and safety of border-area communities.

Following her tenure as mayor, Aguirre ran for the County Board of Supervisors after the resignation of Nora Vargas. She won the special election in July 2025 and was sworn in later that month. In her inaugural remarks, she promised to serve working families and push for clean water, accessible housing, immigrant protections, and economic equity across the South Bay. She now serves as Chair Pro Tempore of the Board of Supervisors, joining a women-led leadership team focused on progressive governance.

Aguirre’s tenure continues to reflect her deep commitment to frontline communities, combining a strong environmental lens with grassroots organizing values. She remains a prominent advocate for climate resilience, binational collaboration, and inclusive public policy, working to ensure that every neighborhood in District 1—particularly those historically underserved—has access to clean air, open beaches, affordable housing, and safe, thriving communities.