Grace Vargas is simply known as "Amazing Grace" and her passion and desire to be a good mother, a savvy business owner, and an honest human being molds her special distinction to make a real difference in a city she has lived in for nearly 30 years.
Had Grace Vargas not possessed this passion and desire she would not be joining the ranks of outstanding Rialto citizens such as Congressman Joe Baca, former Council Member Sam Curtis, and Hattie Inge. For the Rialto community knows that once Grace Vargas has made up her mind there is no stopping her until some kind of difference is made.
Mayor Vargas was born and raised in Yuma, Arizona desert country. She quit school in her first year of High School and got married at the age of 14 to a farmer's son who was 16 years old. To their union was born seven children. When her husband was injured in a tragic car accident that also claimed the life of her bother, Grace had to nurse her husband back to health. One year later he left her and at the age of 22 with seven children, Grace became the sole breadwinner for her family. She went in search of a job and applied for public assistance receiving $10 a month and $15 in food stamps.
Her very first job was packing oranges and seasonal fruit, earning 4 cents per box. She walked one mile to and from work, and she held this job for eight years becoming the packing company's top producer. In pursuit of a better future for her family, she loaded all seven children into a 1959 Chevy with $50 in her pocket and headed for California in search of the American dream, palm trees and the end of the rainbow. She arrived in Fontana living with a sister, and got a job sewing men's pants in San Bernardino. She then took employment in a chicken factory packing chickens on a tray as it moved down the line to have plastic placed over them. She stayed employed there for five years earning $2.50 an hour by the time she left. In 1977 Grace joined the California Employment Training Act (CETA) Program, which was a turning point in her life.
Grace worked hard on her clerical skills and landed a job as a clerk in the City of Rialto City Clerks' office. This led to a promotion as Clerk in the Rialto Police Department, leading to another promotion to the City Treasurer's office, and in 1979 she became the Licensing Inspector for the City of Rialto. Grace held this position until 1991 when she left city government to enter into the realm of private enterprise.
At the age of 59, Grace Vargas' crowning professional achievement came after she ran for the Rialto City Council in 1998. She became the first Latina to be elected in the history of Rialto. As a successful politician Grace is tough enough to clean up a city, attract new business, and steer a city budget out of the red. In November 2000, Grace became the Mayor for the City of Rialto, stating "I want to make a difference" and "I want the best for people and their families."