Mayor Rios

Contact the Mayor

Mayor Margarita L. Rios has been a Norwalk resident since 1989. She is a proud wife, mother and grandmother. Elected in 2017 with almost 64% of the vote for her seat, Rios is the first Latina to serve on the council since 1992. Margarita was raised by a single mother and grandparents, Norwalk residents of over 50 years. Her early education included Edmondson Elementary and Waite Middle Schools. Margarita attended Cerritos College, earning her Associate’s Degree before transferring to California State University, Long Beach.  She graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and minor in Psychology. Upon graduating from CSULB, Margarita received the Jeannie Eisentraut award for Outstanding Female Graduate of the Criminal Justice Department.  

With her family’s encouragement and support, Margarita accomplished her goal of pursuing a career in law enforcement. Margarita’s training and experience have made her an expert on public safety, at-promise youth, and safe communities. During her two decades of law enforcement experience, her assignments included criminal investigations, background investigator, and school resource officer.

Mayor Rios has an extensive history of community service and accomplishment. For seven years, she served on the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Board of Education. During her tenure as a Board Member, she successfully completed the California School Board Association, Masters in Governance program. She also led the effort in a successful school bond campaign, Measure G, to increase equal access and opportunities for all students and to close the achievement gap, opening the way to greater learning through Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), Project Lead the Way (PLTW), college and career readiness, and brand new stadiums at two Norwalk high schools. During her tenure on the Board, the rates of high school graduation increased.

Margarita also served on the Southeast ROP Board from 2009 to 2013 and 2015 to 2017, representing the interests of career-technical classes for adults and Southeast Academy High School.  During her service, she succeeded in establishing equitable and increased access to career-technical opportunities for NLMUSD students, and helped to establish articulation agreements with Cerritos College for the Norwalk High School Culinary program and John Glenn High School Student in the Law program.

Margarita has also served on the Community Promotion Commission, has been a member of the Norwalk League of United Latin American (LULAC 3148), Norwalk Community Coordinating Council, PTA, and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO). Valuing the opportunity to build positive relationships and improve her community, she volunteers as a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain, working to maintain safe, clean neighborhoods.

In 2019, Mayor Rios served as the Mayor of Norwalk. During her tenure, the city experienced one of the lowest crime rates. She was instrumental in receiving funding for the Holifield Park playground and the Hermosillo Park plan. Rios also initiated a Business Watch program, and increased revenue to the city’s general fund by implementing U.S. Passport services to the public.

Mayor Rios’ top priorities are Public Safety, Community Development, and safe and clean public spaces. Rios aims to close the divide between the community and city hall by working closely with all residents to increase community engagement, build trust, and establish strong collaborative relationships. Mayor Rios’ vision for Norwalk includes becoming a model city, a “community connected”, in which all current and future residents enjoy a safe, healthy, happy and prosperous life.