Meet Sean Elo-Rivera.
Your candidate for San Diego City Council District 9.
Sean’s Story.
First and
foremost…
Sean is a dedicated father, husband, son, brother, and friend. He’s been a coach, a teacher, a community organizer, and a nonprofit leader. All of this work was driven by love and a commitment to expand opportunity.
His family’s diverse background and their journey in-and-out of the middle-class profoundly influence his perspective and fuel his motivation for positive change.In San Diego’s District 9, Sean found a community that mirrored his own family’s experiences—people with roots from all over the world, seeking safety and opportunity.
He saw families struggling to get by and neighbors from different cultures learning to work together. Most importantly, he witnessed the power of a community that overcomes differences to unite for the greater good.
As a first-generation college student, Sean attended community college before transferring to Chapman University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts. During his studies, Sean distinguished himself as an award-winning and championship high school swimming and water polo coach.
Inspired by President Obama’s 2008 campaign, he sought to make broader impact. This led him to teach special needs students in Peru, volunteer as an environmental preservationist in Ecuador, and teach English in rural South Korea.
Sean later attended California Western School of Law in San Diego, where he held multiple leadership roles and strengthened the Student Diversity Coalition. Sean’s dedication to community earned him the Pro Bono and Public Service Honors Society Award, specifically for his work with the City Heights Community Law Project, helping bring free legal clinics to local schools.
It was this work in City Heights schools that made Sean fall in love with the community.
For the first time, he was in a community that resembled his family. Folks with roots all over the world who came here seeking safety and opportunity. Families struggling to get by and neighbors from different cultures working through their differences. Most importantly, Sean saw how beautiful it is when a community overcomes those struggles and differences to come together for their families and communities.
After law school, Sean pursued a career working to create change directly within the community. He served as a director at Mid-City CAN*, a nonprofit organization in City Heights. There, he led a team of community organizers who fought for no-cost bus passes for youth, better school food, and fair treatment of young people by the justice system. He also helped build a civic engagement team to ensure District 9 residents had their voices heard at the polls.
* For reference purposes only, does not denote endorsement
While registering students to vote, Sean was inspired to run for the San Diego Community College Board of Trustees (SDCCD). Two years later, with the support of committed students, he won the election.
As a Trustee, Sean and his fellow board members worked to ensure that the 100,000 students and 5,000 employees of the SDCCD received the support and resources they needed to succeed.In addition to his role as Trustee, Sean served as the executive director of Youth Will, a nonprofit focused on making San Diego a region where children and youth can thrive.
In November 2020, Sean was elected to represent San Diego’s District 9 on the City Council. His colleagues elected him as City Council President in December 2021, and again in December 2022 and 2023.
In August of 2023, Sean and his wife, Angela, welcomed their son to their family. Sean loves traveling and spending with his family, including their dog, Lexi.
