Recognizing Mayor Grace Vargas

Floor Speech

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Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent the late Honorable Grace Vargas for her countless years of dedication to the Inland Empire as the former Mayor of Rialto.

Grace served her community for nearly 35 years and shined as a trailblazer for women of color throughout the Inland Empire. As a single mother of seven children, Grace moved from Yuma, Arizona, to Fontana, California, in 1959. She joined the California Employment Training Act (CETA) program, gaining new skills and turning towards a life of public service for the City of Rialto.

She began her career in 1979 with the City Clerk's office, later transferring to clerk for the Rialto Police Department and the City Treasurer's Office. She was elected to the City Council in 1998, where she served for two years.

In 2000, Grace Vargas was elected Mayor, becoming the first woman and first Latina to hold that position. She served as Mayor for 12 years, retiring in 2012. During her tenure, she accomplished several crucial economic development projects, such as Renaissance Rialto and a new senior center. Her legacy would later be memorialized as the city established the center as the Grace Vargas Senior Center in 2016.

Her work in Rialto and the Inland Empire uplifted residents and businesses, leaving an impact that will be felt for decades to come. Grace's coworkers and friends gave her the nickname ``Amazing Grace,'' exemplifying her dedication and influence on the community. Grace Vargas will be missed in the Inland Empire, but she will remain in our memory through her contributions to the community.

Today, Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the Honorable Grace Vargas on the House floor for the contributions she has made to the greater community of the Inland Empire. May she rest in peace and her family find comfort during this time.

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