Quick Facts
Biography
Olga Diaz is a U.S. politician. As of 2010, Diaz is a member of the city council of Escondido, California.
Quotes
"... I may lose an election, but I will not lose my humanity.” referring to her stand on allowing a conditional-use permit for a federally funded shelter for migrant children 10/16/14 Sand Diego Union Tribute
“I’ve got two years left on my term. I’m not sure that I have any political value anymore. I lost pretty badly, right?” 11/25/14 N.C. Times
Successes
Although she has been a California resident her whole life, she is notable as the first Latina and a liberal Democrat elected to the generally conservative council.
Recall Effort
Recall effort reported 1/28/14 by San Diego Union. Residents are upset and are heading up a recall of Olga Diaz. The recall failed when those behind the effort didn’t get enough signatures to put the measure on the November ballot.
Education
Diaz graduated from Santa Clara University where she successfully got a Bachelor of Science and Commerce degree in public accounting. Following her graduation, she was wanted by a global accounting firm called PriceWaterhouseCoopers. She continued to serve her alma mater by doing Institutional Research for it.
Personal Information
She is married to an Escondido police officer and the mother of four children.
Diaz is a founding member of the Route 78 Rotary Club and a former member of the Escondido Sunrise Rotary Club. She owns two coffee shops in Escondido. She no longer owns The Blue Mug.
Political background
Diaz had unsuccessfully run in the 2006 city council election. She won in November 2008 with support not only from urban areas with a liberal voting pattern, but also from affluent areas that normally vote for conservatives.
Diaz's election to the council changed the majority position of the council on immigration issues. The Escondido City Council had become known as the "city without pity" for illegal immigrants. But as a result of Diaz' election, discussions about implementing controversial immigration laws ended.
In 2014 Diaz unsuccessfully ran against GOP incumbent mayor, Sam Abed, in Escondido's mayoral election.