Gloria Molina

Gloria Molina
Molina in 2007
Member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from the 1st district
In office December 1, 1991 – December 1, 2014
Preceded by	Peter Schabarum
Succeeded by	Hilda Solis
Supervisory positions Chair of Los Angeles County In office December 8, 2009 – December 7, 2010 Preceded by Don Knabe Succeeded by Michael D. Antonovich (Mayor) In office December 7, 2004 – December 6, 2005 Preceded by Don Knabe Succeeded by Michael D. Antonovich (Mayor) In office December 7, 1999 – December 5, 2000 Preceded by Don Knabe Succeeded by Michael D. Antonovich (Mayor) In office December 6, 1994 – December 5, 1995 Preceded by Yvonne Brathwaite Burke Succeeded by Michael D. Antonovich (Mayor) Chair Pro Tem of Los Angeles County In office December 2, 2008 – December 8, 2009 Preceded by Don Knabe Succeeded by Michael D. Antonovich (Mayor Pro Tem) In office December 2, 2003 – December 7, 2004 Preceded by Don Knabe Succeeded by Michael D. Antonovich (Mayor Pro Tem) In office December 8, 1998 – December 7, 1999 Preceded by Don Knabe Succeeded by Michael D. Antonovich (Mayor Pro Tem) In office December 7, 1993 – December 6, 1994 Preceded by Yvonne Brathwaite Burke Succeeded by Michael D. Antonovich (Mayor Pro Tem)
Member of the California State Assembly from the 56th district
In office December 6, 1982 – February 27, 1987
Preceded by	Art Torres
Succeeded by	Lucille Roybal-Allard
Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 1st district
In office February 3, 1987 – March 7, 1991
Preceded by	Howard Finn
Succeeded by	Mike Hernandez
Personal details
Born	(1948-05-31)May 31, 1948 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	May 14, 2023(2023-05-14) (aged 74) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Ron Martinez
Children	1, Valentina
Alma mater	Rio Hondo College East Los Angeles College California State University, Los Angeles

Jesús Gloria Molina (May 31, 1948 – May 14, 2023) was an American politician who served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council, the California State Assembly, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Participating in the Chicano movement as a young activist, Molina entered politics in 1982, running in opposition to the powerful male-dominated Eastside political machine for a seat in the California State Assembly, becoming the first Latina elected to the assembly. She had a long unbeaten streak in electoral politics, becoming the first Latina elected to the Los Angeles City Council and to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and served on the Board for 23 years. After terming out on the Board, Molina ran again for the Los Angeles City Council in 2015, but was defeated by incumbent José Huizar.^[1]

Molina was considered a trailblazer and helped revitalize Los Angeles's Grand Park and supported the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes project, and has been said to have paved the way for future female and Latina politicians.^[2] Grand Park in Los Angeles was re-named Gloria Molina Grand Park after her death in 2023.