Ricardo Padilla
CA · Member, El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees
Ricardo Padilla is a school counselor with 30 years in public schools and has served on the El Monte Union High School District board since 2013. He lists more trade programs, rewards for good attendance, a bigger role for parents, and school safety as priorities.
Where Ricardo Padilla stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (2 records), Civil Rights (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (3 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 support · 1 oppose
Made the motion to adopt the district's budget for the 2021-22 school year. It passed 4-0.
June 23, 2021Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Voted no on putting a school construction bond on the November 2018 ballot, and no on an amendment to the superintendent's contract. Both passed 4-1.
August 1, 2018Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Voted no on four resolutions giving district employee groups, including the CSEA classified staff union, a 2.5% raise plus one-time payments. Each passed 4-1.
October 4, 2017Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Voted no on letting SunPower apply for clean renewable energy bonds for the district's solar project. It passed 3-1.
June 21, 2017Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 2 support
Made the motion to approve a $517,433 contract for Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies at district schools for 2025-26. It passed 4-1.
August 6, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Made the motion to approve a $118,758 contract with the City of El Monte for a police officer at four district high schools. It passed 3-1.
September 1, 2021Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 support
Made the motion to move the Adult Transition Program for young adults with disabilities back onto regular high school campuses. It passed 3-2. The same night he moved to censure trustee Florencio Briones, which also passed 3-2.
February 8, 2023Supports Civil Rights
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Track record — General
General · 9 records
Voted no on electing Florencio Briones board president and on the rest of the new officer slate. Each passed 4-1.
December 10, 2025
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Voted no on the district's 2025-26 plan for student goals and spending (the Local Control and Accountability Plan). It passed 3-1.
June 18, 2025
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Made the motion to approve a $1,545,500 design contract for a new Adult Transition Center at Mountain View High School. It failed 2-3.
August 2, 2023
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Was elected board president for December 2022 to December 2023 on a 3-2 vote.
December 14, 2022
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Made the motion to delay the district's student COVID-19 vaccine requirement until the 2022-23 school year. It passed 4-1.
January 5, 2022
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Voted no on keeping online-only classes through Term 3 of spring 2021. It passed 4-1.
December 9, 2020
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Voted no on starting the 2020-21 school year with online-only classes because of COVID-19. It passed 4-1.
July 15, 2020
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Voted no on a resolution backing the state's draft ethnic studies model curriculum (AB 2016). It passed 3-1, with one trustee abstaining.
June 24, 2020
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Made the motion to undo the board's January 2017 decision to move district elections to statewide election dates, which he had voted against. It failed 2-3.
March 1, 2017
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Was censured by the school board on a 3-2 vote. The resolution found he misused his district credit card, failed to turn in receipts, and falsely listed a doctorate. The board cancelled his district credit card and referred the matter to law enforcement.
October 8, 2025
Source: emuhsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Past race Ricardo Padilla ran in:
- El Monte Union High School District Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 5 · November 3, 2026 · El Monte Union High School District Trustee Area 5 · incumbent