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Our Stories
Mario Enriquez
Stockton City Council Member
My roots run deep in San Joaquin County. My journey in public service began at the age of 13 when I served as President of the Lathrop Youth Advisory Commission. One of my proudest early accomplishments was helping lead the effort to build the city's first skate park.
After graduating from the University of the Pacific in 2010, I moved to Washington, DC, where I worked with UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza), the nation’s largest Latino civil rights organization. There, I focused on building a pipeline of Latino youth leadership. In 2013, I was honored to be selected as a National Coro Fellow in Public Affairs in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—an incredible opportunity that exposed me to leadership across the nonprofit, government, and business sectors. During my fellowship, I worked with a member of the Pittsburgh City Council, focusing on public safety and community engagement.​
After completing graduate school in 2016, I returned to Washington, DC, to deepen my legislative experience as a Post-Graduate Fellow with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). I had the privilege of serving in both a congressional office and on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) during my fellowship year on Capitol Hill.Currently, I serve as Director at the Jacoby Center for Public Service & Civic Leadership at the University of the Pacific. Before this role, I worked in Washington, DC, as the Director of Constituent Engagement at the LGBTQ Victory Institute, where I had the incredible opportunity to work with LGBTQ elected and appointed leaders from across the country.
I also led programming for the Annual International LGBTQ Leaders Conference, which brings together over 600 attendees each year and is a cornerstone for LGBTQ political leadership. I’m proud to have restructured and led a variety of leadership programs, including our signature Candidate & Campaign Trainings.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of the Pacific and my master’s in public administration from the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy. Today, I’m focused on bringing fresh, new perspectives to District 4 and addressing some of our most pressing challenges—public safety, homelessness, economic development, affordable housing, and infrastructure.Being in elected office has been both humbling and energizing. Every day, I’m reminded of the deep responsibility I carry representing the people of District 4.
It's one thing to talk about change, but it's another to be in the room where decisions are made—where budgets, policies, and priorities are shaped in real time.The work is challenging, but incredibly rewarding. I hear directly from residents about what matters most to them—whether it’s fixing a streetlight, improving neighborhood safety, or ensuring our unhoused community members are treated with dignity and support. These conversations fuel my passion and push me to show up with intention, empathy, and a strong sense of purpose.What’s been most powerful for me is knowing that I bring a lived experience and perspective that hasn’t always had a seat at the table—especially in a region as complex and diverse as the Central Valley. I’m learning every day, leaning on community, and doing everything I can to lead with integrity and authenticity. This isn’t just a role—it’s a calling, and I’m grateful to do this work.
I'm honored to be serving my first term on the Stockton City Council, representing District 4 since January 2025.​​