Hilda Zacarías has dedicated a lifetime of public service to the residents of the Central Coast of California and currently serves as Santa Maria City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem. A former public accountant and educator (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and Allan Hancock College), she is the Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Family Care Center, which serves to increase the quality and quantity of child care throughout Santa Barbara County.  Zacarías has also assisted community-based organizations in their financial and organizational development, most significantly the Historic Dana Adobe in Nipomo, the Alliance for Pharmaceutical Access in Northern Santa Barbara County, and the California Family Resource Association based in Sacramento.  Ms. Zacarías has authored several publications, including an analysis of community-based mental health systems titled “Integrating Mental Health Services into California’s Diverse Neighborhoods” and developed and published the “Preschool for All” plan for Santa Barbara County.

A lifelong resident of the City of Santa Maria, she was the youngest person appointed and then elected to the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees, where she served for five years. In November 2006 she was elected to the Santa Maria City Council, only the 3rd woman elected in the city's 105 year history.  Ms. Zacarías served as the late Rep. Walter Capps’ district representative from Oceano to Lompoc.  Zacarías served as lead facilitator and trainer at Camp Obama events throughout the Central Coast and in the Los Angeles area, including the Southern California Latino Camp Obama.

Ms. Zacarías champions efforts to ensure all youth have access to higher education and professional accomplishment and she is involved with many local nonprofit organizations, including the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program (a partnership of the United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, and the Community Action Commission), the boards of Just Communities, Cali Kids, and the Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County, the Child Care Planning Council of Santa Barbara County, and the Santa Maria Valley Affordable Housing Committee.

Zacarías graduated from Cal Poly in Business and has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumni of Allan Hancock Community College and an Honored Alumnus of Cal Poly’s Orfalea School of Business Accounting. In June 2006, Zacarias received her Masters Degree in Political Advocacy and Leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where she received the prestigious Littauer Fellow award upon graduation.  Ms. Zacarías is supported by a diverse coalition of community members including elected officials, business owners, law enforcement, teachers, students, and grassroots leaders.