Josefina Dueñas, the first deaf Latina mayor in California, has navigated skepticism from her fellow city council members but remains unwavering in her mission. “I represent the women, the immigrants, the disabled, and the homeless,” she declared confidently.
Upon entering the Ukiah city hall in Mendocino County, Dueñas reminisced about her journey, which began with a childhood diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss that family members had suspected for years. “It wasn’t until I was five that I finally received the diagnosis,” she recalled. Nearly six decades later, she channels her personal experiences to confront and overcome the challenges posed by her hearing impairment.
As mayor of Ukiah, Dueñas, alongside six council members, serves a community of over 16,000 residents, primarily Latino and white according to census statistics. Council members serve four-year terms, and the mayor is chosen annually in a rotating fashion.
Before taking on the role of mayor, Dueñas earned a degree in psychology from Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla in Mexico and worked in the state finance department, analyzing tax documents. It was during this time that she began using hearing aids and communicating through sign language.
Despite her professional advancement, Dueñas faced significant personal turmoil. She escaped an abusive relationship and moved to California in 1989, where she worked in local vineyards along busy Highway 101, contributing to the local economy.
“I was undocumented until 1999, following domestic violence from my second husband,” she shared during a recent afternoon at city hall. Thanks to the Violence Against Women Act passed by Congress in 1994, she was able to gain legal protection as an immigrant who had suffered abuse at the hands of a U.S. citizen. “The law also provided protections against discrimination based on disability in immigration cases,” she added.
In 2000, Dueñas was granted permanent residency through this program and became a U.S. citizen 17 years later. By this time, she had earned a bachelor’s degree from Sonoma State University and worked as a teacher’s assistant while contributing to bilingual newspapers, often grappling with financial difficulties. “My electricity bill was $750, the same as my rent,” she recalled, reflecting on times when she had to live in her car.
Driven by a desire for change, Dueñas attended a city council meeting to voice her concerns. “I thanked them for their efforts, but I told them it wasn’t enough. That’s when I thought, ‘I could be there and do something different.'” This revelation inspired her to run for city council in 2020, where she achieved a successful election.
Despite facing some doubts from other council members regarding her capabilities as mayor, Dueñas has remained resolved. The Americans with Disabilities Act promotes equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities, and in the U.S., approximately 17.7 million adults experience hearing disabilities, nearly 2 million of whom reside in California.
During the appointment process, Dueñas faced opposition and took on the vice mayor role for an additional year before her official confirmation as mayor, despite two members voting against her. Outgoing mayor Mari Rodin expressed her opposition, stating, “I wouldn’t vote for Dueñas simply to add diversity; that goes against my principles,” although she declined an interview for this piece.
Douglas Crane, a 20-year council veteran, voiced his support for Dueñas’ appointment. “I believed she could do this,” he stated, clarifying that while he provided assistance, she possessed the skills necessary for leadership all along. “I was merely helping boost her confidence.”
To facilitate her responsibilities, the city provided Dueñas with an iPad equipped with real-time transcription software. However, she has encountered challenges with its performance, noting that slower transcription can impact her effectiveness in meetings and affect her confidence among council members.
As her term nears its end, Dueñas is running once more for a city council seat. Just prior to a recent candidate forum, she took a moment to reflect on her journey. “I thought about those who welcomed my family when we had nowhere to go. They told me, ‘Josefina, you could do it.’ And look at me now—what were my chances?”
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