Meet Eric Alegria

Eric Alegria is a proven leader who has delivered results for his community as a school board member, former Mayor, and health care executive. He's led businesses, nonprofits, and communities — and in every role, he's brought people together to get things done.

As a competitive runner, Eric learned that races are only fair when everyone starts from the same starting line. That principle guides his approach to public service: remove the obstacles keeping hardworking California families from succeeding.

Eric is the son of a teacher and an accountant who taught him that education and hard work are the foundation of opportunity. He spent summers in his youth working alongside farmworkers in apple warehouses — where he first saw how unfair starting lines can hold back even the hardest workers. That experience shaped everything that came after.

Whether taking action to protect families during the Portuguese Bend landslide crisis, helping make Rancho Palos Verdes the 4th safest city in California, or working to strengthen our schools, Eric brings people together to deliver real solutions — not rhetoric.

He's the only candidate living in the South Bay, and he has the experience to deliver for California families.

Where Eric Comes From

Eric grew up in a family where service and hard work weren't just values — they were expectations. His mother was a teacher. His father was an accountant. They taught him that education and financial responsibility are the foundation of a fair start in life.

He is a PhD Candidate with an emphasis on Public Policy at Claremont Graduate University and earned a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, a Master’s in Pastoral Theology from Loyola Marymount University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Gonzaga University.

As a teenager, Eric spent summers working alongside farmworkers in apple warehouses in Washington State. The bonds he formed and the challenges he witnessed inspired him to dedicate his career to removing obstacles for others. He went on to lead a nonprofit serving farmworker families, connecting them to educational and economic opportunities so they could build their own American Dream.

That experience still drives him today. Whether he's serving on a school board, running a health care organization, or helping a neighbor navigate a crisis, Eric approaches every challenge with the same question: What's standing in the way — and how do we remove it together?

Leading Through Crisis

On the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council, Eric didn't wait for problems to solve themselves — he brought people together and delivered results.

During his first years on the Council, Eric was the only Democrat — and still found common ground to get things done. Reaching across party lines, he worked to declare an emergency to help families devastated by landslides, to make Rancho Palos Verdes the 4th-safest city in California, and to spearhead a comprehensive residential fire prevention program.

When the Portuguese Bend Landslides devastated hundreds of homes, Eric took action to declare a local emergency, secured state and county resources, and led mitigation efforts to protect families when there was no time to waste.

In response to rising crime concerns, he brought leaders from across the Palos Verdes Peninsula together to create a shared public safety plan — streamlining communication and reducing emergency response times. Because of these efforts, Rancho Palos Verdes became the 4th safest city in California, with crime rates far below state and national averages.

Eric also led with future generations in mind. Driven by a desire to preserve California's natural beauty, he brought stakeholders together to conserve 96 acres of coastal land for the Palos Verdes Preserve — protecting endangered species like the Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly and removing dangerous brush that posed fire hazards.

With more than 90% of Rancho Palos Verdes residents living in a CAL FIRE–designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, Eric helped lead a shift toward proactive, community-centered wildfire resilience. He championed Peninsula-wide investments in cutting-edge detection technology, including the Pano AI camera network — 360-degree ultra-high-definition cameras that use artificial intelligence to scan up to 15 miles and alert first responders in real time. He helped elevate home hardening and defensible space efforts, giving residents practical steps to protect their homes. And he supported the City's expanded year-round vegetation management program, clearing approximately 300 acres annually to reduce wildfire fuel and protect surrounding neighborhoods.

When the pandemic hit, Eric drew on his experience as a small business owner to deliver real relief. Rancho Palos Verdes cut business license taxes to zero and kept them there for three years, connected businesses to consulting and capital assistance, and balanced the budget while helping families and business owners survive.

A Career of Removing Obstacles

Eric has spent his career in service — in health care, in nonprofits, in education, and in business.

In Health Care: Eric has dedicated nearly 20 years to making sure health care reaches the people who need it most. He's run operations for nonprofits, clinics, and community health organizations. Today, as Chief Operating Officer of Wellness Equity Alliance, he oversees programs that expand access to equitable care for underserved communities.

In Nonprofits: Earlier in his career, Eric led a nonprofit that helped farmworker families access educational and economic opportunities. Today, he continues to reach out to the margins of the community — through service on nonprofit boards, sponsoring a food pantry for South Bay families, and establishing a scholarship fund for Los Angeles County students pursuing careers in public service.

In Entertainment: As a California Film Commissioner, Eric worked to protect thousands of entertainment industry jobs — understanding that every job saved means another family with stability and opportunity.

As an Educator: Eric has mentored students as an instructor at USC and El Camino College, preparing the next generation to lead.

As a Small Business Owner: Eric knows what small business owners face because he's lived it — making payroll, navigating regulations, and keeping his West LA business running for over a decade. That experience shaped how he led on the City Council, cutting business taxes to zero and helping local businesses survive the pandemic.

Why He's Running

Today, Eric serves on the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Board of Education, where he champions student safety, mental health support, and smart investments in aging facilities. He works with teachers, parents, and staff to find solutions — because he knows the best ideas come from the people closest to the problems.

He and his wife Christine are raising their four children in the South Bay where their kids attend local public schools. On weekends, you'll find him on basketball courts and football fields, coaching the next generation. Every policy he supports comes down to a simple question: Is this making California a place where my children — and all children — can work hard and succeed?

Eric is running for State Senate because he believes hard work should still be enough. Too many families are doing everything right and still falling behind. Costs keep rising, good jobs are harder to find, and staying in the community you love feels like a luxury.

Eric doesn't believe in Sacramento telling our communities what to do. He believes in listening to the people closest to the problems — and working together to solve them. That's how he's led on the City Council, on the School Board, and in every organization he's been part of.

It's the leadership he'll bring to the State Senate.