Mayoral Representative (Amezcua) - Commissioner Dr. Susie López-Guerra
Commissioner López-Guerra, an esteemed educator and change-maker with a wealth of experience in public school administration and educational research. As a first-generation, bi-cultrate, and bilingual female, who was born and raised in Santa Ana, Dr. Lòpez-Guerra has dedicated her life to making, “privileged knowledge, common knowledge.” Her academic achievements are equally impressive, with a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Southern California, earned in 2013. Prior to that, she obtained a Master of Science in Education and an Administrative Credential from California State University in 2008, as well as a Multiple Subject Credential in 2003. Her educational journey began at the University of California, Riverside, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with a Minor in Spanish in 1998.
Throughout her career, she has held various influential roles, demonstrating her passion for fostering culturally responsive, respectful, and reflective community engagement.
First Appointed: February 2023
Term Expires: December 2024
Ward 1 (Phan) - Commissioner Indigo Vu, Chair
Commissioner Vu is a high school English educator and community advocate who was born and raised in Little Saigon in Santa Ana. After graduating from high school, they earned an AA in English Literature from Irvine Valley College and went on to earn their BA in English Education and Single Subject Teaching Credential in English from California State University, Long Beach. Commissioner Vu wants to honor the rich and long history of Santa Ana through the arts and is committed to centering the diverse voices in their communities: those of refugees, of the working class, of queer and LGBT+ folks, of disabled people, of the people who make this community thrive.
First Appointed: March 2021
Term Expires: December 2024
Ward 2 (Vazquez) - Commissioner Joese Hernandez, Vice-Chair
Commissioner Hernandez is a local artist, MC, community organizer, human rights advocate, political consultant and district and police aide for OC Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento. Originally from Mexico City, he migrated with his family at the age of 6 and was undocumented until he fixed his status at the age of 20. Though he first arrived in Santa Ana, his family raised him in Anaheim. After hosting and promoting events in the OC/IE ska scene, he was drawn to the vibrant creative scene in Downtown Santa Ana. Joese attended many open mics at The Den where he shared his poetry and songs with patrons and other artists. It was in Santa Ana that he was inspired to start his own open mics. He first began in Fullerton and created the first open mic at Max Bloom's Cafe which inspired others to start comedy open mics and events and then became a local creative hub. In 2011, after experiencing the passion and artistry of Santa Ana activists at marches and events, he chose to do open mics in Santa Ana. Joese began hosting a monthly ITZ Happenin! Full Moon Open Mic, started a podcast "The ITZ Happenin! show, and organized multiple arts and culture festivals through El Centro Cultural de Mexico. He is proud to serve on the arts and culture commission since 2021.
First Appointed: February 2021
Term Expires: December 2024
Ward 3 (Lopez) - Commissioner Debra Russell
Commissioner Russell is a fourth-generation Santa Ana resident and proud to be raising and educating her two children here in her beloved hometown. She grew up in the Fisher Park neighborhood of Ward 3, spending much of her childhood exploring the creek running along the side of the park with her siblings and enjoying art classes at the Bowers Museum. She attended Santiago Elementary, Willard Intermediate, Century High, and Santa Ana College before earning her bachelor’s degree in English at UC Berkeley and master’s degrees in education at Chapman University and in English rhetoric at UC Irvine. After college, she taught at both Century and Santa Ana High Schools as a coordinator for SAUSD's Puente Project, and works currently as an instructor with the Upward Bound outreach program based at Santa Ana College.
First Appointed: March 2021
Term Expires: December 2024
Ward 4 (Bacerra) - Commissioner Robyn MacNair
Commissioner MacNair is currently the Art Administrator for the Santa Ana Unified School District. Previously, she was a design consultant and a classroom arts teacher. In 2020, she was recognized as a Woman of Distinction in Education by Senator Tom Umberg. In 2018, she was named Outstanding Arts Administrator of the Year by Orange County Music and Arts Administrators (OCMAA). As the current Pacific Region VP-elect for the National Art Education Association and past-President of The California Art Education Association, she is heavily involved in local and state initiatives including Arts Education Policy Council and the 4 Arts-Ed Org Coalition. A lifelong learner, she is currently engaged in studies through the National Institute of School Leadership. She has undergraduate degrees in Public Relations and Art from BYU, and a Masters Degree in Curriculum & Instruction in Arts Integration from Lesley University. She has contributed to Santa Ana’s Arts & Culture Master Plan and provided a crosswalk analysis between the city’s plan and the school district’s strategic arts plan.
First Appointed: November 2020
Term Expires: December 2024
Ward 5 (Hernandez) - Vacant
Ward 6 (Penaloza) - Vacant