Moreno Valley City Councilwoman Victoria E. Baca died Wednesday after a lengthy illness.
She was 62.
According to the Moreno Valley Office of the City Manager, the three-term councilwoman had been battling medical challenges for an extended period, though no other details were provided.
“Victoria Baca exemplified what it meant to be a true public servant,” Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez said. “She brought knowledge, compassion, enthusiasm and a genuine love for the community to the City Council. As she battled her illness, she continued to connect with and serve the residents of District 1. It was a testament to her unwavering dedication to Moreno Valley.”
“It’s an incredible loss for the city, and I will miss her not only as a colleague, but also as a friend,” he said.
Baca was first elected to the City Council in 2012 after serving on the Moreno Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees. She was the first Hispanic woman to serve on the board and council, officials said.
She was appointed mayor pro tem during her first term, but was one of two council members recalled in November 2014 amid an FBI corruption investigation. No charges were filed, and Baca regained office in 2016. She was re-elected to represent District 1 in 2020.
Baca operated an education consulting firm and served on the boards of multiple public and private organizations, including the Inland Empire Regional Mexican American Political Association, the March Joint Powers Authority and the Moreno Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
“She credited her mother’s strong belief in the power of public education as inspiration to pursue her own career,” according to a city statement.
Baca leaves behind a daughter, three grandchildren and a great grandchild. Her family has asked for privacy and has not yet planned funeral services, according to officials.
She is the second Moreno Valley council member to die this year. Carla Thornton — the first African American woman elected to the council — died Jan. 21 at age 42 after an undisclosed illness.
Thornton’s District 2 seat has been empty since her death, and will be decided in the Nov. 2 election in which six candidates are running. It was not immediately clear what would become of Baca’s seat on the four-member council.