“Orange is so eclectic—with Orange Park Acres, Old Towne and El Modena,”  says Orange Councilwoman Ana Gutierrez. “We have hills, a great river bed, a couple colleges and a downtown.  There’s something for  everyone in Orange.”

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Ana Gutierrez, District 5

Ana Gutierrez is the first person born, raised and still living in the El Modena barrio neighborhood to sit on Orange City Council.

“We lived in the unincorporated side of El Modena and then moved to the city side––from one side of Hewes St. to the other,” she says.

The youngest of eight, Gutierrez’ parents emigrated from Mexico, settling in the neighborhood behind Moreno’s restaurant.  She attended Jordan Elementary, McPherson Middle and El Modena High Schools.  Growing up, she was involved in choir and drama.

“In elementary and middle school, I was quiet,” she says.  “Then at the 9th grade talent show, I sang ‘For Your Eyes Only’ and came out of my shell.”

Her first job was at the Wet Seal at The City mall (now the Outlets at Orange) as part of the Regional Opportunity Program.  She got her bachelor’s in international business with a concentration in Spanish at California State University, Fullerton. During this time, she also taught ESL to adults at night for the Fullerton Joint Union High School District and subbed in the Anaheim City School District.

“Eventually I got jobs in finance and insurance, but they weren’t fulfilling,” she recalls.  “I couldn’t see that I was helping anyone.  Then I went to a hiring fair and was hired on the spot to teach 1st grade at Long Beach Unified and have taught full-time ever since.”

For the past 22 years, Gutierrez has taught various elementary grades at Santa Ana Unified while earning a master’s in educational leadership.  She also got married and began her family of two children, now 15 and 16.

Gutierrez had never thought about entering politics until 2020 when the city assigned council districts.  At that time, she heard that a representative for east Orange was needed.  “I thought, why not?” she says.

She went to city council meetings to learn, did meet and greets, including one in Spanish, and ran a grassroots campaign relying heavily on friends and family.  Her niece took on the role of her campaign treasurer.

“I can’t think of anyone more driven or community minded than her,” says niece Jessica Perez.  “She does not stop.  When she wants something done, she will figure out how to get it accomplished.”

Gutierrez is looking forward to the Skatepark at Grijalva Park and the new bathroom amenity in the El Modena Basin.  She would also like to see El Modena be designated a culturally historic district.

“There is important history that happened here, such as Mendez vs. Westminster,” she says.  “That shaped California and helped change the nation.  It’s important that we memorialize that.”

Ana Gutierrez
714-744-2211  /  [email protected]