Hon. Ramón O. Valadez
Pima County Board of Supervisors
130 West Congress, 11th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701
(520) 740-8126

Biographical Profile


Ram
ón Valadez is a lifelong resident of Tucson, Arizona. He attended and graduated from Wakefield Middle School and Pueblo High School. In 1989, he graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE).

At the end of September 2003, Ramón was appointed to serve as a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors representing District Two. Earlier that year in January, after having been reelected to the Arizona State Senate from Legislative District 29, he chose to serve as a Senior Staff Member in Southern Arizona for Governor Janet Napolitano. In 2000, Ramón was elected to the Arizona State Senate from Legislative District 10 after having served in the Arizona State House of Representatives since he was first elected in 1996. In the Senate, he served as Vice-Chair of the Finance Committee, Vice-Chair of Banking and Insurance Committee as well as serving on the Commerce Committee. While in the House, he served on the Ways and Means, Commerce, Government Operations, Human Services and Rules Committees. Ramón was recognized as one of the youngest members of the Arizona Legislature and its biggest University of Arizona Wildcat Fan.

After serving his freshman session, Ramón was honored by being named a Flemming Fellow for 1997-98 by the Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA) in Washington, D.C. He also serves on the CPA Southwest Community Policy and Leadership Forum. Following his second session, he was asked to participate in the Program for Emerging Political Leaders at Darden College, University of Virginia at Charlottesville. After his first session in the Senate, Ramón was honored as the recipient of the Trailblazer Award given by the National Network of Sector Partners for his legislative work. At the end of the 2002 legislative session, the Arizona County Supervisors Association recognized him as a Legislator of the Year. Recently, the University of Arizona Alumni Association also honored Ramón as a recipient of the Public Service Award.

While a student, Ramón began his career in community service as an Executive Management Intern for Pima County Supervisor Dan Eckstrom. In 1989, he was hired to serve as an Assistant to U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini. In 1991, he was chosen to serve as the Southern Arizona Campaign Coordinator for the Pastor for Congress Campaign. After directing a successful campaign, he was named as an Assistant to U.S. Representative Ed Pastor. In 1994, Ramón was invited to join the Eddie Basha for Governor Campaign and served as the Southern Arizona Campaign Coordinator. Immediately after the campaign, Ramón accepted a position as a Special Assistant to Supervisor Eckstrom. In each of these positions Ramón has gained considerable knowledge and experience in the workings of local, state and federal government.
Ramón has been actively involved in his community since high school. He has focused much of his time and energies on issues affecting children and youth in such important areas as education, youth employment, homelessness, crime prevention, health care and recreation. In 1990, Ramón was appointed by Governor Rose Mofford to serve on the State Advisory Task Force for Runaway and Homeless Youth. He has served on the Board of Directors for Open Inn, Project YES and the University of Arizona Hispanic Alumni, where he was also elected Vice President. He also served as the Hispanic Task Force Co-Chair of the United Way Tucson/Pima County Community Profile. Much of his service has been with a variety of grassroots organizations including the Arizona Hispanic Community Forum, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA).

As a result of his community service, Ramón has received numerous awards from organizations including the League of Mexican American Women, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Pima County, Pueblo Gardens Neighborhood Association, Federal Bureau of Investigation, League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Tucson Juneteenth Committee.