| Michelle Rodriguez, a member of the Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST), is a working-class mom and grandparent - and a lifelong resident of the 53rd Assembly District with deep roots in the community. Born and raised in Ontario, Michelle is the proud mother of four grown children - a deputy sheriff, a store manager, an EMT/firefighter, and a respiratory therapist - whom she raised in Pomona. All of her children and grandchildren were raised or are being raised in the district.
Michelle and her husband - Assemblymember and former EMT Freddie Rodriguez - set a public service example for their children. Michelle built a career working in local public schools and healthcare while raising her family, leading the local Girl Scout Troop, and serving as Athletic Director for local sports leagues. After graduating from Northwest College with a Medical Assistant Certification, Michelle worked for Inter Valley Health Plan, a not-for-profit Medicare Advantage Organization, and ProMed Healthcare Administrators, administering managed care services. She earned a Certificate as Campus Security Officer from Pomona Unified School District, and worked as a security professional for Chaffey Unified School District and Bonita Unified School District. Michelle also worked with the young mothers' program at Valley View High School. Michelle served as Athletic Director for the Junior All-American Football League Team, the Pomona Steelers.
As a Commissioner on POST, Michelle Rodriguez and her fellow Commissioners set training standards for California law enforcement officers, and foster professionalism in agencies and officers.
Michelle sees her neighbors and fellow residents of the district struggling to make ends meet and fight for safer neighborhoods - and she knows firsthand what that is like. As the survivor of gun violence, mother of a Deputy, POST Commissioner, and Neighborhood Watch organizer, she understands what it takes, and how her neighbors feel. She is uniquely prepared to be a voice for public safety and working-class families. |