Biographical Profile
Ramón 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. |
