Victorville Mayor Elizabeth “Liz” Becerra was recently honored by state Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) for her leadership, civic dedication, and advocacy on behalf of the High Desert community.
The accolades by Valladares came as the senator selected the mayor as her 2026 Latina Advocate Honoree for Latina Action Day.
Mayor Becerra was honored at the HOPE 32nd Annual Latina Action Day Conference at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento on May 12.
“Mayor Becerra is exactly the kind of leader Latina Action Day was created to celebrate,” Valladares said. “She has dedicated herself to her community, broken barriers, and shown the High Desert and all of California what Latina leadership looks like in action. It is my honor to recognize her.”
Becerra’s commitment to civic engagement and community advancement in Victorville has made a lasting impact across the Victor Valley, the senator said.
“Leaders like Mayor Becerra don’t just hold office, they open doors for the next generation,” Valladares added. “Her service is a reminder of why representation matters and why we must continue lifting up the voices of strong leaders in every corner of California.”
Becerra told the Daily Press was surprised by the nomination and “elated to continue contributing to the support of Victorville and the entire High Desert.”
A ‘passion to serve’
“I didn’t run for a City Council seat to climb a political ladder; I was happy with my full-time job as a public works supervisor and making good money,” Becerra said. “I ran because this is my home and I wanted to improve Victorville.”
A retired public works supervisor who had worked 34 years for the city of Victorville, Becerra told the Daily Press during her first campaign that she ran for a seat on the council with a “passion to serve” the citizens of her hometown.
In 2024, incumbent candidate Becerra, representing District 3, took the oath of office as she started her second term with the city, the Daily Press reported.
Becerra said her roots in the High Desert date back nearly 60 years to when her parents brought her home after she was born at San Bernardino County Hospital.
Becerra lived on E Street, on the north side of the railroad tracks, a neighborhood that many say was home to several long-standing Hispanic families that moved to the area in the early 1900s.
Accomplishements
Since first being elected, Becerra has had several accomplishments under her belt, including supporting the passage of Measure P, which took effect on April 1, 2021, increasing the city’s sales tax from 7.75 to 8.75%.
Measure P revenue is earmarked to fund city police, fire, homeless care and housing, animal control, code compliance, community services and improvements, and the general fund.
“My biggest accomplishment has been the support of the Green Tree Bridge extension project,” Becerra said. “We got the project going and completed it with no negative impacts to our citizens or services.”
Becerra added that the nearly $47 million Green Tree Bridge (Brian Gengler Overpass) and Green Boulevard extension project was created to serve all High Desert residents.
“We know that getting another east-west travel corridor in the High Desert was important,” Becerra said. “We completed the project, and it now benefits everyone.”
The mayor added that there’s plenty of work to be done, including the maintenance and repair of roadways.
“Our roadways were not built for the number of people we have, so we need to start over,” Becerra said. “We welcome citizen complaints about roads so we can fix them.”
Becerra asked citizens to take action by downloading the VictorvilleNow mobile app.
Latina Action Day
Since 1994, Latina Action Day has served as California’s only statewide conference centering the voices and leadership of Latinas at policymaking tables.
Each year, leaders from across the state gather to engage with elected officials and advance HOPE’s core policy priorities: Civic Engagement and Representation, Economic Opportunity, Educational Access, and Healthcare Access.
Senator Valladares represents the 23rd Senate District, serving the areas of Santa Clarita Valley, the Antelope Valley, and the Victor Valley.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Victorville Mayor Elizabeth Becerra honored as Latina Advocate
Reporting by Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
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