Chair: Public Safety Committee
Vice-Chair: Utilities Committee
Member: Transportation Committee
Carmen Rivera was elected to position 2 in November 2021 as the first openly queer person, first Boricua, and youngest Latina to be elected to Renton City Council. She is the second youngest woman to be elected and will be the youngest current serving city council member at the age of 32.
Born and raised in Renton, Carmen is a first generation Rentonite who attended Renton Public Schools and graduated from Lindbergh High School (Go Eagles!). She attended Seattle University where she graduated with departmental honors, a BA in Criminal Justice and double minors in Spanish and Psychology. Carmen then attended University of Liverpool in England where she earned her MSc in the Psychology of Investigation, a highly competitive program that gave her an international perspective on criminal justice. After having lived in both England and Spain, Carmen returned to her home in the Pacific Northwest.
Her career began at Echo Glen Children’s Center where she worked as a counselor in an intensive management unit. She worked her way to be the youngest Juvenile Rehabilitation Coordinator in Washington State, where she supported transition services, advocated for residents, and helped spearhead LGBTQ youth programming on campus.
She continued her career with King County at YouthSource, working with out-of-school youth and young adults throughout Renton and South King County. It is Carmen’s experience working with the most marginalized communities that drove her to run for Renton City Council. She has witnessed the positive impacts of wrap around social services and governments that support them.
Carmen is currently a full time instructor for Seattle University’s Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics. She is the volunteer representative for the Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs for the Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force, and Vice President of the Board for Seattle Pride.
When she is not spending time with her loving partner and beautiful fur babies, you may find her golfing at Maplewood Golf Course, enjoying the Cedar River, or occasionally jumping out of a perfectly good airplane; she’s a licensed sky diver. Carmen is a passionate supporter of Black Lives Matter and Trans Lives Matter, understanding there is no liberation without Black Trans Liberation.
Swearing-In
Carmen Rivera was sworn into council position two by City Clerk Jason Seth on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021.
- Dec. 1 - Carmen Rivera sworn in to fill vacant City Council position two
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