Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce hosted newly-elected Sacramento County Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez on Dec. 17. Courtesy photo

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - On Dec. 17, the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce hosted a highly anticipated luncheon at the Citrus Heights Community Center, featuring newly-elected Sacramento County Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez.

The event, which ran from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., provided attendees with an opportunity to meet Rodriguez, hear her vision for the future, and learn about the impact of her leadership on the Citrus Heights community and Sacramento County as a whole.

Sheri Merrick, the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce executive director, praised Rodriguez’s rise to leadership, emphasizing her journey.

“She has grown from the daughter of an immigrant to become a community leader, a business owner, a former mayor of Folsom and now the Supervisor-elect for Sacramento County Board of Supervisors District 4,” Merrick said. “Her story is one of hard work, dedication and a commitment to making meaningful change in the community.”

Rodriguez, a San Francisco native, shared her personal and professional journey with the crowd, detailing her 20 years in healthcare, her experience as a business owner and her path to becoming an elected official.

“I wanted to work for myself, I love food, and I’m a big foodie, so I decided to open a taqueria,” Rodriguez said. “We found a location, gutted it, and I started working full time at the restaurant. That was my first introduction to policymaking: there are so many decisions made by the city that directly affect businesses and that’s when I started getting involved with City Council meetings.”

Rodriguez’s commitment to public service deepened after she was elected to the Folsom City Council in 2020. Reflecting on her time in office, Rodriguez noted her passion for policymaking and her drive to improve the community.

“I realized how much I love making decisions that positively impact the city and its residents. The last four years have been truly amazing," Rodriguez said. “As a Latina, I wanted to bring diversity to the table. At that time, the City Council was predominantly all Caucasian for a city that was about 30% people of color.”

When former Supervisor Sue Frost announced her retirement in 2023, Rodriguez saw an opportunity to address larger issues facing the county, particularly the challenges of city mandates and regional growth. She ran for the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, winning her seat outright in the primary election with more than 51% of the vote.

Now, Rodriguez is eager to tackle some of the region’s most pressing issues and to support community growth.

Installation of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, presented by Police Chief Alex Turcotte, was held on Dec. 17. Photo by Ornella Rossi

“I’m really excited about working more closely with the chambers and other organizations to make improvements,” Rodriguez said. “Our communities have so much potential to invest in themselves and I want to help enhance that growth, promote beautification and ensure a safe environment for everyone.”

Rodriguez also discussed the most urgent issues facing the county. Homelessness, transportation and public safety topped the list.

“We need more accountability in the organizations receiving county funds. If they’re not delivering results, we need to hold them accountable,” Rodriguez said.

On transportation, she noted the limitations of Measure A funding and expressed the need for alternative solutions.

Public safety, Rodriguez added, is a critical priority for her office.

“Government’s number one priority is to make sure our community feels safe,” Rodriguez said. “We also need to focus on getting young people into public safety careers. It’s essential to build a bridge between high school programs and these fields.”

With a housing crisis impacting the region, Rodriguez is committed to supporting growth and development to meet the community’s demands.

“I want to see accountability and improvements,” Rodriguez said. “I have the energy, the time and the drive.”