Marie is a native Californian and raised in the Bay Area by a loving community of neighbors, teachers and family - the village. Her parents immigrated to the US from Mexico and worked in the service industry. Marie pursued her passion in livestock management by studying Animal Science at UC Davis before pivoting her education to raise her three children Justice, Anissa and Carmen in rural northern CA. As a single parent, she grew her career in management by working with not-for-profit organizations and government agencies to design, develop and implement new community health and education programs for youth and families. Marie returned to college mid-career and achieved both a Bachelor and Master degree in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco as a widely recognized and awarded leader in public service.
Through out her career, Marie has impacted the lives of victims of violent crimes, people with disabilities including the mentally ill, the uninsured and working class individuals in healthcare and education. She has been a thought partner and ally to law enforcement, county prosecutors and probation, county public health, and hospitals systems up and down the state. In Sacramento and in Washington D.C, Marie has been a fervent advocate for policy and that protects the environment while ensuring local businesses have the ability to thrive and catalyze a growing economy.
Marie lives in Amador County surrounded by the serene beauty of the Sierra Foothills and rolling hills of vineyards and cattle ranches. Her and her husband Cesar, are parents to a blended family of six children, one grand baby and a grumble of pugs that fill their home with immeasurable joy.