Nelida Nelly Mendoza:
Experienced Leadership for
Santa Ana City Council
Candidate Experience
Santa Ana Needs Nelly to Revitalize the City & Move Our Community Forward
Professional History
United States Army: Nelida is honored to have served our country. She is structured, organized, and disciplined who will serve as the voice of reason on Santa Ana City Council.
Sergeant (E-5)
United States Selective Service System: Lifetime appointment by former U.S. President Barack Obama to oversee and act upon military personnel issues
Local Board Member, Region 3
Orange County Sheriff Department Advisory Council: Support law enforcement of Orange County when necessary funds needed to support their missions are limited and address issues that impact the OC’s Latino communities
Member of the Council
Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) Safety & Security Committee: Provide recommendations to improve the safety for students, staff, and faculty
Committee Member
City of Santa Ana Community Redevelopment & Housing Commission: Solicited citizen participation related to community development initiatives, programs and uses of Housing and Urban Development funds in Santa Ana
Chairwoman (former) & Commissioner
City of Santa Ana Environmental & Transportation Advisory Committee (ETAC): Reviewed, analyzed and made recommendations on issues pertaining to traffic flow and congestion reduction, plants/trees removal, bicyclist and pedestrian accessibility/safety
Commissioner (Former)
Qualifications
Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD)
• Board of Trustees — Current Board Vice President
• Board of Trustees — Former Board President
Santa Ana Unified School District — 2015-Present
• Teacher
County of Orange — February 1997-January 2018
• Child Support Paralegal (retired)
• Superior Court Clerk (former)
Accomplishments
Rancho Santiago Community College District:
Maintained district balanced budget
Successful union contract negotiations
Santa Ana City 85-year lease for the Centennial Education Center
Action Plan for Measurable Guided Pathways
Hired Chancellor (effective 7/1/2019)
Demolition & Renovation of Orange Education Center
Supported Bachelor’s Program (Santa Ana College)
Supported & Approved pursuit of Measure L
Instituted armed security guards at both campuses
Installation of more emergency blue phones on all RSCCD campuses to improve campus safety
Approved RAVE Mobile system for mass emergency alerts for students, faculty, and staff
Work on the City Council
Secured $10 million for affordable and permanent housing in Orange County for the creation of 2000 new housing units
Opened Carnegie homeless shelter
Supported the Police Oversight Commission
Protected renters by extending the rental freeze, supported local businesses by awarding $1.5 million in CARES Act funding, and invested $27 million in food, rent, COVID testing, and internet services throughout the pandemic
Invested $65 million for 4 new parks, road repairs, arterial streets, 10 miles of protected bike lanes, and other City infrastructure.
About Nelida “Nelly” Mendoza
Santa Ana has been Nelida Mendoza’s home since 1965 when her family immigrated to the U.S. for educational opportunities and to work towards a better life. She became a proud U.S. citizen while in the Army stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
Nelida currently owns a home in Santa Ana where she raised her three children, Joseph, Jonathan, and Marisa, all of whom have gone on to earn their Bachelor's degree, respectively in the fields of Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, and a Doctorate in Family Medicine.
Nelida is committed to giving back to the community of Santa Ana that has given her so much. Due to her excellent work-ethic and leadership skills, Nelida will strive to exceed all expectations as a dedicated public servant on the Santa Ana City Council.
Education
She earned an A.A. in liberal arts, an A.A. in paralegal studies, and an A.A. in office technology from Santa Ana College. She holds a B.A. in sociology and a Master's in Public Administration from California State University, Fullerton. Nelida also earned a Career Technical Education Teacher's Credential from the Orange County Department of Education.
Professional Experience
Nelida served as Court Clerk for the Orange County Superior Court. In that role, she reviewed legal documents for accuracy, legal compliance, and filing. In earlier years, she served as a secretary in the City Manager's Office and personnel clerk in the Human Resources Department for the City of Santa Ana
Additionally, Nelida was a paralegal with Orange County Department of Child Support Services from 1997 to 2018. As a former paralegal , she managed a legal caseload of over 300 files. Nelida researched and analyzed legislation affecting education, family support issues, and the paralegal profession.
Community Involvement & Public Service
Nelida is a U.S. Army veteran who served in the capacity of a Telephone Repair Linesperson and Administrative Specialist with the Signal Corps. She was honorably discharged as a Sergeant (E5). Her extensive involvement with veterans includes:
Selective Service Board Member
American Legion Post 132 Member
First President of Toastmasters International Local Chapter Tools2Lead
United Mexican American Veterans Association Public Relations Officer & Former Commander
Member of the City of Santa Ana Environmental & Transportation Advisory Committee
American Veterans United Member
MANA de Orange County Member
Women in Leadership Member
American GI Forum, Rudy Escalante Chapter
West End Community Oriented Policing Board Secretary
Chairperson, Community Redevelopment and Housing Commission
Orange County Paralegal Association Community Outreach Chairwoman
In April 2014 Nelida was celebrated as one of Assemblyman Tom Daly's Women of the Year recipients. The award honors her efforts and inspiration in community involvement in areas such as veterans' issues and higher education.
Nelida was elected to the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) Board of Trustees in November 2012 for Trustee Area 3 (formerly District 1). She currently serves in various other positions at RSCCD, including the following:
RSCCD Policy Board Committee Chairwoman
RSCCD Legislative Board Committee Member
RSCCD Safety & Security Board Committee Member
Nominating Committee on School District Organization Representative
Orange County Legislative Task Force Representative