About Patricia
Patricia Cortez was first appointed to serve on the Covina City Council in December 2018 and won election to her first term in March 2020. Patricia is the second Latina ever elected to the council and in 2022, served for the first time as Mayor. Today, she proudly serves as the Councilmember for District 4. During her service to the city, Patricia has established herself as an engaged and solutions-based leader who has delivered positive changes for the community.
She has tirelessly worked with her colleagues to find solutions to the issues impacting Covina. Some notable successes are upgrading road and water infrastructure, rebounding our local economy following the pandemic and adopting a fiscally secure budget that maintains a 20% budget reserve and provides for added city services without burdening residents with new taxes.
Patricia has leveraged her network and legislative expertise by assisting the City in securing over $13 million dollars in state and federal grant funds that have been used to upgrade our park amenities, expand police services, and secure funding for generational projects like the Covina Performing Arts building, a new skate park and the new Covina Recreation Village.
Regionally, Patricia serves as a city representative to the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust, the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts and the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. She is active in the community as a member of the Kiwanis Club of Covina-South Hills. She is often a voice of concern and common sense when implementing new city policies and always puts the needs of the community first.
Patricia has notably been recognized for her dedication to her community:
Honored with the 2017 Woman of Achievement Award in Environmental Protection for the 22nd Senate District.
Named as a 2023 Women of the Year honoree for her work in public service by Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio, 48th Assembly District.
Named a 2023 Champion of Change – Public Service by the YWCA-SGV for demonstrating the significance of compassion, resilience and advocacy while consistently prioritizing the safety and well-being of the community.
Professionally, Patricia has focused her 25-year career on the management of public affairs and community outreach in various industries. In her current role as the Assistant General Manager of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, Patty manages the water agency’s legislative advocacy, water resources programs, and public outreach to the San Gabriel Valley.
Patricia is a San Gabriel Valley native who was raised in the City of El Monte by her immigrant parents and moved to Covina in 2010. Patricia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of La Verne.
