A leader in the community, Patricia Aguilar has a long and accomplished history of grassroots advocacy on behalf of Chula Vista residents. She is a political outsider who has worked tirelessly for Chula Vista as both a volunteer and a community leader.

A Better Location than Rancho del Rey for Auto Dealerships

In the early 1990's the city planned to establish an auto park  (a Chula Vista version of the "Mile of Cars") on East H St. where the Costco and Home Depot are now located. The city was right to want auto dealerships in Chula Vista - dealerships generate lots of sales tax revenue. But Pat Aguilar and her neighbors understood that putting auto dealerships on East H St. did not make sense. The area is completely surrounded by residential neighborhoods. Folks coming to auto dealerships in this area would test drive cars and trucks through the residential neighborhood streets of Rancho del Rey. So Pat Aguilar and her neighbors worked with City Hall to establish the Chula Vista Auto Park on Main Street east of I-805, where today there is a growing number of auto dealers that do not impact residential neighborhoods. And the East H Street area where the city initially wanted to put the auto dealers became what it is today - a successful retail center that includes Home Depot, Costco, K-Mart, a multiplex cinema, and other outlets.

Preserving Land for Academic Development at Southwestern College

Most Chula Vista residents are familiar with Southwestern College (SWC), and have probably noticed a big vacant lot at the corner of East H St. and Otay Lakes Rd. This vacant lot belongs to the College. In the early 2000's the College entered in an agreement with a Los Angeles developer to build a strip mall on this lot. Pat Aguilar met with residents and informed them of the College's plans. Almost without exception they were outraged. Like Pat, they wanted to see the corner lot developed - but felt it should be developed with academic buildings consistent with the mission of the college, not a strip mall. Under Pat’s leadership, she and her neighbors were successful in convincing the SWC Board to terminate their agreement with the L. A. developer. The College now plans to develop the corner lot for academic purposes.

Co-Founder and President of Crossroads II

In 2003, Pat Aguilar and a group of civic minded citizens, including former Chula Vista Mayor Will Hyde, formed Crossroads II, a permanent organization to advocate at Chula Vista City Hall on behalf of the interests of residents. Crossroads II has become Chula Vista's largest grass roots civic organization, supporting responsible growth and economic development in Chula Vista, and opposing development that is out of character with the community. Pat Aguilar has served as president of Crossroads II since its founding. She is on leave from this post since declaring her intention to run for the Chula Vista City Council.