Ruben Abrica currently serves on the City Council of East Palo Alto. He served as Mayor from 2012-2013.

He represents the city on, and has served as chair of, the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority.  He also serves on BAWSCA (Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency) and C-CAG (the City and County Association of Governments of San Mateo County) on behalf of the City. 

Mr. Abrica is an Instructor at De Anza Community College in the Intercultural/International Studies Division.  There he also co-teaches a seminar on “Community Leadership” in collaboration with APALI (Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute). He is also an adjunct professor at The National Hispanic University.  His professional work in education includes working in educational research for 12 years, supervising tutor-counselors for Upward Bound, teaching ESL and adult education, working as a consultant for the California Department of Education, and serving as a Spanish Language Trainer for Peace Corps.  In 2007 he worked for the Sequoia High School District helping incoming 9th graders from East Palo Alto in transition to Carlmont and Menlo-Atherton high schools.