about Debra

Debra's Mission

I am a proud Pomona resident of 35 years, it has been an honor to serve our district as your former council-member and current city commissioner.

With your support, I will continue the momentum of change by promoting good jobs, safety and health initiatives, creating more recreation programs, working with civic leaders, community non-profits, and city partners to promote a vision for a positive city culture.

I will keep pushing for a safer, more beautiful Pomona by revitalizing our parks, improving our infrastructure, ensuring sustainability, and working on homeless solutions.

I will protect and preserve the culture, arts, and history of Pomona. 

It is my priority to ensure that your voice is heard, and that the decisions I make are in the best interest for our community.

"It is my priority to ensure that your voice is heard, and the decisions I make are in the best interest for our community."

2016-Present

  • LA County Oversite Commission
  • Historic Preservation Commissioner (City of Pomona)
  • Elected L.A. County Democratic Party Central Committee
  • Delegate California Democratic Party
  • 2019 President of Pomona Valley Democratic Club
  • Historic Tree Policy ad-hoc Committee
  • Pomona beautiful (cleaning up areas of Pomona every week)
  • Pomona Together – Uniting neighborhoods
  • Optimist club member: Tea for the Soul Optimist Club
  • (Chair) Community Hero Committee 
  • (Chair) L.A. County Fair Art Competition for PUSD students 
  • Kiwanis Club Member

Projects as a Council member 2012-2016

  • Helped bring in grants to revitalize Garey Ave, Foothill Blvd, McKinnely Ave, & Park Ave
  • Created the Pedestrian Pilot program for safety in front of schools                          
  • Raised $50,000 of private donations to fund 14 wood carvings & memorial planter in Ganesha Park , to dedicate the lives of our indigenous people that once live in Ganesha Hills
  • Supported the grant funding for The Phil and Neil Soto Park
  • Cross guard at Orange Grove Ave                                       
  • Signal at Falcon and Foothill Blvd            
  • Paved San Antonio Ave & Safety Pedestrian Island                        
  • Signal at Foothill Blvd and Sumner Dr              
  • Paved Bonita Ave                                                  
  • Paved Willow St Alley – paved Foothill Blvd.     
  • Paved La Verne Avenue                                       
  • Helped bring in over $500 million dollars of new business (Starbucks, Superior Market & Target Shopping Centers, Housing)                    
  • Spearheaded the Homeless Summit with regional partners that lead to the Homeless Shelter we have today on Mission Blvd.                                                
  • Planted trees and plants in Palomares Park and Ganesha Park
  • Served on the public Works Environmental /Water Committee for the City of Pomona Budget committee
  • Gold line expansion Committee
  • Pomona promise  
  • Community Hero Program Committee for LACF 
  • County committee for Safer Music Festivals on County Properties
  • State mobile home trailer park committee with Senator Leyva

Accomplishments

  • 1985 Resident of Pomona
  • 1987 Pomona Heritage Member
  • 1995- Present business owner in the city of Pomona, Precious Times Photography
  • 1990-1997 Volunteer photographer for Pomona Heritage for Lincoln Park and Wilton Heights Historic Districts
  • 1999 Partners in Preservation Exceptional Merit Award
  • 1999 Cultural Arts Commissioner for the city of Pomona served 9 years
  • 2000 Subcommittee in collaboration with Cal Poly Pomona University, Western
  • University and Fairplex successfully bringing the LA Philharmonic to our community
  • 2000 Created the First Annual Mural/Art Competition for PUSD high school students through the Cultural Arts Commission
  • Subcommittee for Cal Poly Pomona University fundraising for the Judy Chicago Project
  • Organized and created a multicultural concert series for our community in conjunction with Cultural Arts Commission and the Kiwanis Club: Poncho Sanchez, The Heat, LA Opera and Tierra
  • 2003 Metro Gold Line Committee
  • 2005 Created the first Public Art Policy Handbook with the Cultural Art Commission
  • 2006 Merit award supporting Juneteenth of America
  • 2006 Help create the first annual Chalk Art Festival for PUSD students through the Cultural Art Commission and collaborated with the city of Pomona Library to make it part of the Big Read Program
  • 2007 Created the first Public Art Inventory website in California through the Cultural Art Commission in collaboration with the Pomona library and Cal Poly Urban Planning Department students
  • 2008 Received “Goddess of Pomona” in honor of dedicated service in our community
  • 2009 Received the Grace Napolitano Congressional Woman of the Year Award
  • 2009 Received the Key to the city of Pomona Award
  • 2009/2010 “Women of Excellence” National Association of Professional and Executive Women registry
  • 2011 The City of Pomona Charter Review Commissioner. Helped revise the City Charter, only happens every 10 years
  • 2008-Present, Vehicle Parking District Commissioner for the City of Pomona
  • Created a landscape subcommittee for the VPD parking lots. Completed two lots in the past three years
  • Created a subcommittee to do a study on sign pollution in Pomona Downtown
  • Collaborated with Cal Poly Pomona Urban Planning Dept. Master Students
  • Created a sign subcommittee that has completed and redesigned the downtown parking signs
  • Member of the Democratic Club