Margarita Rios elected Norwalk mayor

NORWALK – Margarita Rios was elected by her city council colleagues Tuesday to serve as Norwalk mayor in 2024. It will be her second stint as mayor.

Tony Ayala was chosen as vice mayor.

Rio was first elected to the Norwalk City Council in 2017, becoming the first Latina to serve on the council since 1992. She served as vice mayor in 2018 and was elevated to mayor in 2019.

Rios has been a Norwalk resident since 1989. Her early education included Edmondson Elementary and Waite Middle Schools. She attended Cerritos College, earning her Associate’s Degree before transferring to California State University, Long Beach. She graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and minor in Psychology.

Rios pursued a law enforcement career. During her two decades of law enforcement experience, her assignments included criminal investigations, background investigator, and school resource officer.

During her first tenure as mayor, Norwalk experienced one of the lowest crime rates. She was instrumental in receiving funding for the Holifield Park playground and the Hermosillo Park plan. Rios also initiated a Business Watch program, and increased revenue to the city’s general fund by implementing U.S. Passport services to the public.