During a Formal City Council Meeting last month, the Phoenix City Council elected District 5 Councilwoman Betty Guardado as Vice Mayor. She replaces Councilman Jim Waring of District 2 and will serve in the position for one year under Mayor Kate Gallego.
“I am honored to serve as Vice Mayor for the City of Phoenix and so grateful for the support from Mayor Gallego and my fellow Councilmembers,” said Vice Mayor Guardado. “I’d like to thank Councilman Waring for his service to our city. I know I have some big shoes to fill, but am ready to work collaboratively with my fellow Councilmembers and our Mayor to move Phoenix forward.”
In an Instagram post which include a picture of herself and Mayor Kate Gallego, Guardado wrote “I am honored to have been appointed to serve as Vice Mayor for the City of Phoenix. Thank you for the support Mayor @kategallegoaz and my fellow councilmembers. I’m humbled to learn and grow through this experience.”
Despite humble upbringings, Guardado has persevered. Growing up in south central Los Angeles, her father worked as a butcher until she was 11 years old, when he had an accident that left him disabled. At that time, Guardado’s mother went to work cleaning houses and Guardado took care of the household – cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her two younger brothers.
While working as a housekeeper at the Century Plaza Hotel, Guardado became involved in the hospitality workers union. After much success as a union organizer for hotel workers in Los Angeles, Guardado moved to Arizona in 2007. As the director of organizing in Phoenix, Guardado has conducted campaigns and negotiated contracts for thousands of hotel and food-service workers around Maricopa County. She also helped to lead successful independent voter turnout campaigns to elect several Phoenix City Council members, developing young leaders, and empowering working-class families.
In 2018, Guardado decided to run for Phoenix City Council. In May of 2019, she won her election by 25 percentage points, sweeping every precinct in the District. Guardado represents Phoenix District 5, one of the most diverse districts in the city. She is working to raise living conditions in those neighborhoods, while helping to bring responsible economic development to all of Phoenix.
Guardado was sworn in as the District 5 Phoenix City Councilwoman on June 6, 2019. Phoenix District 5 is considered one of the most diverse districts in the city. She is working to raise living conditions in those neighborhoods, while helping to bring responsible economic development to all of Phoenix.
She and her husband have lived in the Maryvale neighborhood for twelve years, where they raise their two children.
