Jimmy
Ozaeta For South Gate
City Council

ENGLISH VERSION

Jimmy’s South Gate Story

SPANISH VERSION

Meet Jimmy Ozaeta

A Neighbor You Know. A Leader You Can Trust.

Jimmy Ozaeta's story is South Gate's story.

His parents immigrated from Durango, Mexico, and built their lives here in South Gate. His father arriving in 1963, his mother not long after. They believed this city could give their family a future. Neither had the chance to finish school past the elementary grades, but they were certain of one thing: education was the greatest gift they could give their children. That belief became the foundation of everything Jimmy would build. Both of his parents believed deeply in this city and what it stood for.

Born in South Gate in 1980, Jimmy was baptized at St. Helen Catholic Church, where faith and community became woven into his identity from the very beginning. Jimmy learned to swim at South Gate Park and grew up playing baseball at the South Gate JAA at the age of five until he joined the South Gate High School Baseball team. He went to Stanford Elementary School, South Gate Middle School, and South Gate High School (Class of 1998). He was a team captain of his high school baseball team, the yearbook editor in middle school, an honors student throughout grade school, a kid who showed up, worked hard, and led by example.

Called to Serve

Jimmy left for San Francisco State University in 2003, earning both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees. He built a national career in nonprofit leadership serving 15 years with YMCAs across California, rising to the role of CEO of a local YMCA Association, and turning around an organization that was on the brink of bankruptcy into one that secured millions in state and federal funding. His accomplishments led to appointments on several state, regional, and national leadership cabinets focused on advancing strategic change in more than 10,000 communities nationwide.

Throughout his career, Mr. Ozaeta has received numerous honors recognizing his leadership and commitment to community impact. He was invited and attended the White House "Champions of Change" event in Washington, D.C. and is a recipient of the YMCA of the USA Luminary Award for outstanding transformational leadership and service.

The Loss That Shaped His Mission

His parents, determined to build the best life possible for their children. His mother took English classes at the old American Red Cross Building on State Street and Southern Ave., teaching herself a new language because she refused to let anything stand between her children and their future. Jimmy's mother worked hard and believed in this community her whole life. When she got sick, South Gate's healthcare system failed her. Her breast cancer went undiagnosed until she had to travel to Tijuana for a third opinion. On that trip October 28,2000, it was confirmed, she had Stage 4 Breast Cancer. She passed away July 17, 2001. Jimmy was 21.

That loss became his calling. He has spent his career fighting for health equity and resources for under resourced communities. This passion led to him serving as the Chief Advancement Officer for a South LA medical organization during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to establishing the first COVID-19 vaccination clinic in South Los Angeles, and providing access to high-quality health care, and helping address food insecurity across South Los Angeles, South Gate, Huntington Park, Bell, Lynwood, and Watts.

Coming Home

In 2011, at the height of his career, he could have made a life for himself anywhere. He came home instead. Jimmy made a choice that says everything about who he is, he came home to care for his father. Family over convenience. Duty over comfort. That's the same instinct driving him to run for South Gate City Council today.

Why Jimmy Ozaeta is running for City Council?

Jimmy sees a City Hall facing governance gaps, fiscal mismanagement, and fractured community trust. Jimmy does not see problems beyond repair; he sees a role he has spent 25 years preparing to fill.

The skills Jimmy has refined over 25 years are exactly what South Gate needs now.  He is a results-oriented leader with a strong business acumen who believes in mutual accountability: setting clear expectations, holding himself to them first, and expecting the same from everyone at the table.

Jimmy is fluent in English and Spanish, allowing him to speak with, listen to, and serve South Gate residents in the language they know best. Throughout his career, he has shown a deep commitment to giving his time, resources, and expertise to communities that are too often overlooked.

Service is not a talking point for Jimmy; it is the thread running through every chapter of his life.

Throughout the years Jimmy has helped organize hundreds of South Gate residents to have their demands heard and met by South Gate elected officials and staff.

Since 2023, Jimmy has served as a South Gate Planning Commissioner, where he reviews and votes on development projects weighing their impact on residents' quality of life while ensuring the community has a real voice in shaping decisions that affect the City of South Gate.

Jimmy is running for South Gate City Council because the city that shaped him deserves a City Hall rooted in honesty, transparency, and the same unconditional commitment he has always given the community.

Jimmy Ozaeta
for South Gate City Council

Jimmy’s Priorities

South Gate deserves city leadership that listens and puts community first, prioritizing strong infrastructure, well-maintained parks, reliable services, public safety, and real transparency with our tax dollars.

Instead, the controlling majority of the current City Council has answered to special interests, mismanaged resources leaving the city facing a projected budget deficit of over $9.4 million with little accountability.

Residents are demanding leadership with real-life experience, people who know how to manage a budget, solve problems, and deliver results, not just promises.

South Gate deserves responsible budgeting and trustworthy leaders who show up for the community every day, not just during election season.

  • South Gate is facing a $9.4 million budget deficit, and it didn't happen overnight. For over 16 years, South Gate's finances have been managed without discipline or accountability.

    The controlling majority of the current City Council have admitted to “kicking the can down the road” that's not governance, that's failed leadership. Years of incompetence and negligence have brought our city to this breaking point, and now residents are being asked to pay more through unnecessary tax increases such as the Utility Users Tax (UUT) while those responsible have never been held accountable.

    My Commitment To South Gate Residents:

    I will end wasteful spending, reject unnecessary tax increases, and direct every dollar toward real community needs. A responsible budget means investing in community services and infrastructure without requesting more from our hardworking families.

    Our tax dollars deserve better stewardship for the benefit of our community and future generations.

  • South Gate residents deserve to know exactly how their city is run and how their tax dollars are spent. Every contract, every vote, and every backroom deal must be brought into the open because transparency isn't a luxury, it's what we deserve.

    Trust between residents and our current City Council and city leadership has been broken, and rebuilding trust starts with elected officials who listen, and answer to their South Gate residents, not special interests (lobbyist, political action committees (PACs), labor unions, corporate businesses) that contribute to their re-election campaigns in return for disproportionate political power.

    My Commitment To South Gate Residents:

    I will continue to hold regular community neighborhood meetings, provide clear public reports, and ensure no decision is ever made behind closed doors that impacts the quality of life of South Gate residents and future generations.

  • South Gate's streets, parks, and public facilities have been neglected for too long while city leadership looked the other way.

    My Commitment To South Gate Residents:

    I will demand a full infrastructure audit, prioritize the repairs that affect daily life, and pursue every available state and federal funding source to get it done.

    From pothole-riddled roads to neglected sidewalk repairs and overgrown trees, every neighborhood deserves safe, functional, and well-maintained public spaces.

    Investing in infrastructure is investing in the dignity of every South Gate resident.

  • Every decision made at City Hall should begin with one question: How does this enhance the quality of life for South Gate residents?

    Community-first governance means showing up at schools, at parks, at community events to stay connected with the community, and listen to the real concerns of South Gate residents.

    Too often the controlling majority of the current City Council are more focused on monitoring social media platforms and increasing their social media followers especially during election time, instead of understanding the struggles South Gate residents are facing and addressing them.

    My Commitment To South Gate Residents:

    I will center the needs of working families, seniors, youth, and small businesses in every policy discussion and budget negotiation.

    I also recognize that many of our neighbors are living in fear right now. The ongoing ICE raids tearing through our community are separating families, traumatizing children, and leaving parents afraid to go to work, take their kids to school, or seek the help they need. No family should have to live like that.

    As your city leader, I will continue advocate for the dignity and safety of every South Gate resident regardless of where they were born and ensure that City Hall is a place of support, not fear and retaliation.

    I will continue to leverage resources from nonprofit organizations to bring real support directly to our community, such as food assistance, youth programs, work force development, and more.

    South Gate deserves leaders who use every tool available to lift our residents up, who follow their words with actions.

    South Gate's greatest resource is its residents, and it's time city leadership puts residents first.

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Endorsements

  • Ruben & Osbaldo

    22-year South Gate Residents & Community Advocates

  • Salvador & Norma

    SELA Community Advocates

  • William

    35-year South Gate Resident

  • Ortiz Family

    44-year South Gate Residents

  • Cindy & Refugio

    40-year South Gate Residents

  • Carlos

    14-year South Gate Resident

  • Tony

    South Gate High School Alumni

  • Lourdes

    South Gate Resident

  • Arturo & Irma

    41-year South Gate Residents & Community Advocates

  • Jesus

    43-year South Gate Resident

  • Yglesias Family

    37-year South Gate Resident

  • Jessica & Jayden

    13-year South Gate Resident

  • Aleman Family

    25-year South Gate Residents & Community Advocates

  • Meza Family

    25-year South Gate Residents & Community Advocates

Community Information

  • Afraid to leave home amid ICE raids? Meals are delivered to you.

    Jimmy Ozaeta and Mario Valenzuela started a grassroots effort to bring free food and essentials to immigrant families anxious about ICE.

    Read More

  • DaVita announces new screening program to improve kidney health in the Latino community

    Jimmy Ozaeta provides leadership to this critical collaboration focused on providing flexible kidney health education resources and screening activities based on community needs and capacity.

    READ MORE