Raymond R. Cruz is a native of Los Angeles County and grew up in the areas of La Mirada and Walnut during his youth. He graduated from John A. Rowland High School in 1981. Mr. Cruz attended the University of California-Riverside and graduated in 1985 with a joint BA in Political Science and Public Service. As an undergraduate at UC Riverside, he interned for the city of Riverside City Manager’s Office and the local Assemblymember’s district office.

After completing college, Mr. Cruz was selected as one of 12 individuals to the Coro Foundation Fellowship program in San Francisco, California. During his tenure with the program, he was assigned to the San Mateo County Manager’s Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SEIU Local 86, Kaiser Permanente Health Group and Arroyo’s Juntos, a local non-profit organization serving the Latino community of San Francisco.

In the fall of 1986, Mr. Cruz entered the School of Public Administration at the University of Southern California. He graduated in 1988 with a Master’s in Public Administration with honors. He also received the school’s highest commencement award, The Fletcher Bowron Award, which distinguishes a student for future promise as an urban administrator.

While in graduate school, he was hired as an administrative intern in the Glendale City Manager’s Office. The next 14 years of his career were served in this city in various positions. Mr. Cruz ultimately became the Assistant to City Manager, wherein he played a significant role in preparing the city’s budget; handled personnel and employee relations matters and intergovernmental relations; and was the city’s legislative advocate on state and federal legislation.

In the summer of 2000, the cities of Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, and South Pasadena appointed him as the Arroyo Verdugo Cities’ Executive Director. This agency serves as a council of governments whereby these communities work together to implement joint planning efforts to provide services and infrastructure within the region.

In March 2001, Mr. Cruz accepted the position of the city of Carson’s first Public Services General Manager. Mr. Cruz is accountable for the departments of Public Safety, Parks and Recreation, and Human Services. His workgroup is responsible for approximately 52% of the city’s general fund budget and nearly three-fourths of its personnel.

Under Mr. Cruz’s tenure, the city has developed a number of park facilities, including the Stevenson Park Gymnasium, Veterans Skate Park Facility, the Dominguez Aquatic Center and Perry Street Mini Park. He was also one of the chief architects in developing the county’s first-ever Sheriff’s Department Park Enforcement Team that enhances the safety and quality of life within the city’s park system.

Mr. Cruz is presently developing programs for Carson’s growing senior population, and looking at ways to expand the Early Childhood and gang diversion programs.