Ruben's Story
Hope for the Future
Ruben’s parents moved to America with hope of giving him and his sister a brighter future. Coming from Central America, his parents fled war and poverty. With his father starting as a dishwasher and his mother as a janitor, both became successful small business owners.
A Product of Public Education
Ruben attended Reisterstown Elementary, Franklin Middle, and Franklin High School. While still in school, he began his work as an advocate for education reform, higher teacher salaries, funding for student mental health resources, and increased access to opportunities after high school
Leading to Serve Others
In 2018, Ruben served as the President of the Baltimore County Student Councils, representing over 118,000 students to the Superintendent and Board of Education.
Advocacy into Service
In 2019, he was appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the Baltimore County School Board Nominating Commission, tasked with submitting a list of nominees for selection by the Governor for appointment to serve on the Board of Education of Baltimore County.
Fighting for Equity in Schools
He also served on the Maryland Commission on The School-to-Prison Pipeline and Restorative Practices, ultimately submitting its report in December, 2018. The commission studied current disciplinary practices in Maryland public schools and recommended best practices with respect to restorative approaches that foster positive school climates and disciplinary practices most conducive to learning.
A New Voice in Government
Currently, Ruben serves as the Third-Vice Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party and the President of the Young Democrats of Maryland, where he advocates for representation on every level.
Speaking out When it's Right
A passionate believer in diversity, Ruben stands on the principle of ensuring our students receive a quality education. “A proper education includes the parts of our history that can be uncomfortable to some, but which define the reality of all of us.”
Fighting for Bold Change
Ruben is running because for too long, our district has been demanding bold change. Where we live should be an engine for local jobs, investment in our district, and fighting for our communities.
A New Way Forward
Ruben is running to be the 1st Latino to hold elected office in Baltimore County and one the youngest Democratic council members in county history.
Why I'm Running
I’ve lived in District 2 all my life. I grew up in Reisterstown, and attended Baltimore County Public Schools. My parents immigrated from Central America, fleeing poverty and violence. They arrived here with nothing except the hope of building a brighter future for me and my sister.
I would come to learn just how much my parents sacrificed for my future andhow they always stressed to me that just because you start with nothing, does not mean you have nothing to offer.
I’m running for county council to fight for working families just like mine, by strengthening public systems so the next generation of Americans don’t share the struggle and hardship that my parents faced. We need someone who brings marginalized and ignored communities to the decision making table. Someone who actually listens and empathizes with their constituents, and translates their needs into action.
I served as a commissioner on the Maryland School-to-Pipeline Commission, helped appoint board members while on the Baltimore County School Board Nominating Commission, and currently serve as a Vice Chair in the Maryland Democratic Party. In these roles, I have fought for criminal justice reform, better representation in our schools, and accountability & transparency in our party.
By running a grassroots campaign that refuses money from special interests, I am promising to stay solely accountable to the people. I recognize the need for leaders who act not in their own self-interest, but in the interest of the community.
We are inheriting an economy with dangerous levels of income inequality that only grow wider. A democracy crumbling under the weight of disinformation, profit motive, and voter suppression. An environment that is collapsing into climate catastrophe. A healthcare system that values profit over people. We don’t have time to sit around and wait. These problems need solutions, and they need them fast. We are fighting to secure our future and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Together, we can move our communities in a new way forward and live in a Baltimore County that is fair and equitable for all.
