About Me
I want Saanich to be the best place to live in the capital region, a community that:
Protects its high quality of life,
Respects your tax dollars, and
Is affordable for working people and families at every stage of life.
I grew up in rental apartments in a working-class, immigrant family from Latin America. Today, my partner Lauren and I are fortunate to spend our weekends restoring our 130-year-old heritage home, working on this year’s backyard garlic and tomato harvests, and walking our dog along the Gorge Waterway.
We’ve been able to build a life here, and I care deeply about making sure this is possible for others.
I’m running because Council needs new, independent voices from people who are experiencing the exact same cost-of-living pressures as the residents they represent.
Almost everyone in Saanich is feeling these challenges: long-time residents see rising property tax and utility bills, while young people wonder if they’ll ever be able to put down roots here. We need leadership that understands these realities firsthand.
We live in an incredible place. I’m running to bring a practical, grounded, and optimistic voice to council, so we can ensure Saanich remains a vibrant, green, and affordable place for everyone.
Mauricio
Professional experience
I’m a licensed civil engineer by trade and I recently completed an MBA at the University of Victoria.
I spent eight years in the building materials industry, and today I work at a local ocean tech company, managing a global fleet of environmental monitoring equipment that supports offshore wind energy development.
For my MBA final project, my team interviewed 30 businesses and stakeholders in the manufacturing sector across Greater Victoria to find out how economic development agencies, municipalities, and the CRD can better support industrial businesses, job creation, and competitiveness.
My approach to council
Council’s job is to provide clear, balanced direction without arrogance.
It’s not to push ideology or micromanage municipal staff: councillors need to be able to provide direction to Saanich while being open to learning from the people that do the job of running our municipality every day.
That means asking the right questions, setting clear priorities based on public input, and helping ensure our budgets and plans are realistic.
Each councillor is just one voice out of nine at the council table, working for a municipality of over 100,000 people who don’t all agree with each other, who are of all ages, of all walks of life, and who have varying opinions and perspectives that are all deserving of respect.
I’m prepared to work collaboratively with other councillors who stand for a vibrant, affordable Saanich, even if we don’t always agree on everything.
Council’s vision for Saanich should be to preserve our high quality of life while making sure the next generation can still live here: a community that is affordable to “operate” in terms of our tax burden, and affordable for the next generation to find housing and build their life.
Community experience
I’m a first-time council candidate, but this isn’t the first time I’ve been involved in local politics.
I’ve served on the board of my neighbourhood association, advocating for a greater diversity of housing and transportation options in the Gorge Tillicum area. I helped our community fight for the successful return of Route 11 bus service to the Gorge after a cancellation in 2023.
I also served on the board of the Saanich Heritage Foundation, helping preserve Saanich’s historic buildings. The “heritage” section of the Quadra McKenzie Plan was added into the document in part because of our advocacy.
Since I’ve spent real time:
advocating on Saanich’s most important issues,
grappling with the right balance of growth and preservation,
and working with local organizations to get things done through the municipality itself,
I am ready to start serving the public on Day One.
My Record:
Fighting for reliable public transit - and winning
CHEK News: BC Transit route change leaves Gorge residents ‘disappointed’
CHEK News: BC Transit restoring service to Gorge route after backlash
Demanding transparency and value for taxpayers
Times Colonist: Saanich has grand plans, but little gets done
Saanich News: Saanich needs to be clearer about utility rate changes
Times Colonist: Saanich needs to have a fair water-fee structure
Times Colonist: Saanich putting off infrastructure work
Advocating for safe streets and infrastructure
Times Colonist: Death of pedestrian in Saanich renews calls for improved road safety
Times Colonist: Saanich needs new approach to road safety
Community Groups:
Board member, Gorge Tillicum Community Association, 2022-present
Board member, Saanich Heritage Foundation, 2023-2026