- Party: Independent
Candidate's Website: https://www.mikediaz4citycouncil.org/
Mike Diaz was born in Tijuana, Mexico and moved to Chula Vista at age 4 with his parents Jose and Maria, three brothers and a sister. Mike went to school at Castle Park Elementary and graduated from Castle Park High School in 1976. Mike spent 32 years in the fire service. He began that journey by becoming a San Marcos Fire Department paid-call firefighter and then went to work for the Rincon Del Diablo Fire Department. Mike became a naturalized citizen in 1982 when he began his career with the Escondido Fire Department. Mike spent most of his career with the Escondido Fire Department, working 27 years with Escondido Fire and retiring on October 2011.
During his fire service career, Mike spent much of his time volunteering with the California State Firefighters’ Association. He spent the first 15 years on their Political Action Committee. There, he worked with state legislators to create public safety bills that have kept our citizens safer. Mike finished his work with California State Firefighters Association as an executive board member.
Mike also volunteered his time on the LAFCO (Local Area Formation Commission) sub-committee “EMS and Fire Protection Task Force.” Mike worked to increase fire services in San Diego’s unincorporated areas while on that task force.
Since retiring, Mike has worked part-time for the Sweetwater High School District as a Career Technical Education instructor. Mike teaches high school students many of the skills used in the fire service, which allows them to compete for fire service careers. Mike also volunteers his time at Sweetwater, teaching after school students how to design and fabricate using Computer Aided Drafting (CAD), and Computer Automated Machining (CAM) software.
Mike is married to his wife of 36 years, Debra Diaz. Mike and Debra have two daughters and four grandchildren. They all live in the southwest Chula Vista community.
