Ana Maria Quintana
Councilmember
City of Bell
Councilmember Ana Maria Quintana is a proud product of the Southeast community. She attended local public schools including Elizabeth Street Elementary School, Nimitz Junior High and Bell Senior High School before going on to pursue a Bachelor's Degree at Yale University, a Master's Degree from the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, and legal studies from Columbia Law School.
As the daughter of Mexican immigrants from Durango, Ana Maria values her parents' lifelong commitment to provide her family with a better life. Although her father has since passed, it is a direct result of both her parents' tireless sacrifice that she has learned to give nothing less than her personal best.
Ana Maria's professional experience working with families has shaped her understanding of her community's needs. As a union organizer with the United Farm Workers (UFW), AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) she understands the importance of providing just wages for their labor. By working in education with LAUSD's Parent Community Services Branchand as a substitute teacher at both Bell High School and Southeast High School, she recognizes the critical role both parents and teachers play in a student's future success.
After graduating from law school, Ana Maria participated in a litigation fellowship with the American Board of Trial Advocates. She then focused on real estate brokerage and development, having served as Legal Counsel and Director of Development for Maya Cinemas North America, Inc. Her specialization in development and acquisition has helped in reviewing and negotiating cost-effective contracts for the City of Bell.
Ana Maria opted to run for Bell City Council in 2010 to reform and bring transparency to Bell City Hall with the ultimate goal of creating good government. With the aid of friends, family and the Bell community, she was successfully elected to office in 2011. She was re-elected to the Council in 2013 for a four-year term.
Since then, Ana Maria has set out to make a difference in her community by using both her technical skills and professional experience to examine the City's public service contracts and help address the pending litigation the City currently faces.
During her term she has been an ardent advocate for education by organizing community meetings on Charter Reform and Immigration. She has led efforts to save Adult Education in the Southeast and has promoted transparent government by hosting live City Council meetings on her website. She has proposed the creation of citizens' committees for the I-710 project and review of the City Charter. Lastly, she is currently encouraging civic engagement amongst Bell youth and community by bringing the Girl Scouts and other civic organizations like the Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club to the City of Bell.
Councilmember Quintana is Vice-Chair for the League of Cities' Employee Relations Policy Committee and is a member of the I-710 Project Committee, Southern CA Edison Government Advisory Board, Council of Gateway Cities and Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). She is also a member of NALEO and serves as Treasurer of the Yale Latino Alumni Association.
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