JOSEPH AYALA

I’ve always believed that when someone needs help, you step up. That lesson came from my grandpa, the greatest man I’ve ever known. When I was ten, he asked me to take out the trash and mow the lawn for a neighbor whose husband was in the hospital. I asked if I’d get paid, and for the first and only time, he raised his voice. “When someone needs help, you help them — without expecting anything in return.” When I joined the Simi Valley City Council, I made a promise to approach this role with the same values my grandfather taught me: generosity, compassion, and integrity.

I’ve called this city home for more than a decade, and from the beginning, I was drawn to its sense of community. I love showing up — whether it’s at a community cleanup, a school event, or just chatting with a neighbor at the grocery store. Every day, I’m reminded that Simi Valley’s strength comes from its people. My goal has always been simple: to serve this city with honesty, respect, and a heart for the community I’m proud to call home.