Antonio Vazquez (born November 19, 1955)[1] is an American politician and former educator serving as a member of the California Board of Equalization from the third district. Elected in 2018, he assumed office on January 12, 2019.
Vazquez graduated from the University of Southern California. He worked as a teacher and served as the mayor of Santa Monica, California from 2015 to 2016.[2][3][4][5]
Endorsements
Many democrats in legislature, some unions, California Young Democrats,Democratic Women’s Caucus, Latina Leads California, California Latino Legislative Caucus. Her endorsements page has more details.
Reputation/Scandals/Successes
Key Pillars of Political Reputation
- Historic Representation & Labor Ties: He holds a prominent reputation as a political trailblazer, having served as the first Latino Mayor of Santa Monica since its 1886 incorporation. He was also the first Latino elected to the BOE. He frequently emphasizes his strong alignment with labor icons like Dolores Huerta.
- Taxpayer & Small Business Advocacy: On the BOE, his reputation centers on constituent outreach. He formed a pandemic-era Disaster Task Force to insulate small businesses from late-tax penalties. He also set up public working groups to help residents navigate the complexities of Proposition 19.
- Progressive Investment Vision: In his 2026 run for State Treasurer, Vazquez has positioned himself as an economic progressive. He advocates for doubling state pension fund investments into local California projects and calls for divesting from fossil fuels. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Past Controversies & Scrutiny
- Local Government Conflict Investigation (2017–2018): In late 2017 and early 2018, Vazquez and his wife, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District board member Maria Leon-Vazquez, faced intense local media scrutiny. A school district investigation and a Los Angeles District Attorney review were initiated after reports revealed Leon-Vazquez had voted to approve contracts for consulting firms that employed Tony Vazquez as a paid consultant. Vazquez fiercely denied any wrongdoing, stating he never broke any financial disclosure laws, and no charges were filed.
- Critiques on Homelessness Policy: Earlier in his municipal career, Vazquez faced backlash from some local tenant and voter groups who argued he spent too much political capital on the rights of unhoused individuals at the expense of local renters. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Campaign contributors
Raised over $64K from a mix of PACs, individuals and businesses.
Details available at transparencyusa.org.
