Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Sofia Pereira
Mayor Sofia Pereira was elected to the Arcata City Council in 2014. During her first term, Councilmember Pereira worked with community partners to make the Arcata Plaza more family friendly, ensure roads are repaired, expand the city trail system, and advance the city’s first zero waste action plan. Pereira brings years of political organizing experience to She Should Run, a national organization dedicated to expanding the talent pool of women running for elected office.
As the Director of Programs and Impact, Sofia oversees the Incubator program, supporting thousands of women across the country. Prior to joining She Should Run, Sofia served as a field representative for Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro in Humboldt, Del Norte, and Trinity counties, and as a legislative analyst for the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services where she focused on state and federal policy. Sofia holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Humboldt State University.
Sofia is proud of her Portuguese heritage. Her father’s family traces their roots to the islands of the Azores and Madeira. She grew in the Portuguese-American community of Santa Clara. She works tirelessly for the citizens of Arcata.