Patricia Lock Dawson is running for a second term as Riverside’s mayor

Mayor Patrica Lock Dawson has officially announced her campaign for reelection to a second four-year term as Mayor of Riverside. A recent campaign kick-off event was underscored by endorsements from State Senator Richard Roth and all five members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Even the namesake of Riverside’s current darling – The Cheech, actor and comedian Cheech Marin, has joined the list of those supporting Lock Dawson.

State Senator Richard Roth lauded Lock Dawson for her efforts to secure increased state and federal funding to address homelessness and enhance the city’s quality of life. Board of Supervisors Chairman, Kevin Jeffries, praised Lock Dawson for her effective financial management, pointing to her efforts in balancing the city’s budget and generating its first surplus in a decade.

“In the last two years, my top priority was to strengthen our city’s finances,” touted Lock Dawson, “I worked with everyone, from city staff, labor leaders and alongside my colleagues on City Council to ensure we balanced our city’s budget. I fought and advocated for our fair share of state and federal funding, resulting in over $180.5 million for infrastructure and capital improvement projects throughout the city. I implemented a multi-pronged approach to address homelessness, and we’ve allocated more funding towards public safety. I’m committed to building on the progress we’ve made and continuing to deliver results for Riverside.”

A Riverside native, Lock Dawson was first elected Mayor in November 2020 after serving nine years on the Riverside Unified School District Board of Trustees. As a University of California, Riverside alumna, her election marked a first for the university and only the second time a woman has held the mayoral position in Riverside’s 150-year history.