Candidate for
City Treasurer; City of Carson

Biography Karen Avilla, CCMT, City Treasurer City of Carson, California

Karen Avilla was raised in Carson and has enjoyed 36 years of residency. She is the mother of two children: Ashley, a Junior at Mount St. Mary's College in pursuit of her teaching credential and Adam, a Junior at Carson High School who serves on the City of Carson Youth Commission.

Avilla was unanimously appointed by the City Council to the office of City Treasurer on February 20, 2001 to fill the remaining term of her predecessor. On March 4, 2003, the citizens of Carson demonstrated their trust in her by electing her to serve a full term as City Treasurer with 46.4% of the vote in a field of five. She is the third person to hold that position since the City's incorporation as a municipality in 1968. As City Treasurer she is responsible for receipting, recording and safeguarding all funds coming into the City's Treasury; investment of the City's $200 million portfolio and overseeing the disbursement of all public funds.

Avilla is self-taught having spent nearly 25 years in public service. She began her career in public service in 1982 when she joined the City of Carson as a member of the City Clerk's Office. Following a series of successful promotions in various City Departments and a brief stint in the banking industry, she joined the City Treasurer's Office in 1989. She served as the Chief Deputy City Treasurer for 10 years prior to assuming the post of City Treasurer.

In 1999 Avilla attained the distinction of a California Certified Municipal Treasurer after having completed numerous hours of treasury management education as required by the California Municipal Treasurer's Association. She was re-certified in 2003 and is among 82 Treasury Management Professionals within the State of California to hold the distinction of this certification.

Avilla serves her community on a State and Federal level as a member of the Revenue and Taxation Committee of the League of California Cities and a member of the Finance and Intergovernmental Relations Steering Committee of the National League of Cities having been appointed to both by the respective Presidents of each governmental advocacy organization. Additionally, in 2005 she was elected to serve a two year term on the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Elected Local Officials, a constituency group of the National League of Cities organization. She maintains professional membership in the Government Finance Officer's Association, California Municipal Treasurer's Association, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Association of Public Treasurers of United States and Canada, National Association of Latino Elected Officials and the Latino Caucus of the League of California Cities.

On a local level, Avilla has been involved in community organizations for many years. Organizations she has been associated with include: PTSA (various schools), Carson Education Task Force, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Carson Women's Club, Dominguez Family Shelter, Southwest Voters Registration and Education Project, the Pilot Club of Carson, NAACP and Carson Coordinating Council. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Sabor de Mexico Folklorico Group, a non-profit organization and is the Treasurer for the Filipino Community of Carson, a community based organization.