Stockton City Councilmember Moses Zapien is seeking to represent the residents of San Joaquin County’s 3rd District on the Board of Supervisors which encompasses north and west Stockton neighborhoods, Lathrop and most of the City of Manteca. 

Zapien was originally elected to the Stockton City Council in 2012. He has been a vocal advocate for quality of life issues like crime reduction, promoting economic development, improving literacy and cleaning up blighted and disadvantaged neighborhoods.  In addition, Moses has worked on regional issues on the San Joaquin Council of Governments (COG) addressing transportation, farmland preservation, sustainability, land use and housing challenges throughout the county.

“Through my work on the City Council and in the greater community, I’ve been a champion for regional causes such as job creation, public safety, and the protection of our region’s water supply.” Zapien said. “ I have learned a great deal about the specific issues and the unique challenges facing the City of Manteca from my service on the San Joaquin Council of Governments with Mayor Steve DeBrum. I look forward to learning more from the residents of Manteca and Lathrop and am excited about the opportunity to work with their elected and community leaders.”   

After attending the University of the Pacific and the University of Southern California, the Stockton native  joined his family’s denture manufacturing business in Stockton. Following his dreams of becoming an attorney, Moses earned his law degree from the Laurence Drivon School of Law.

During law school, he served as President of the Student Bar Association, where he established the Annual Student Bar Gala fundraiser to support student scholarships. Moses is also a graduate of Leadership Stockton and the San Joaquin County Superior Court Community Leadership and Liaison Program.

Moses’ professional experience also includes serving as the Coordinator for Senior Legal Services at El Concilio and working for the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, assisting victims of crime. He currently practices immigration law at the Sacramento law firm of Oh and Choi.

Moses currently serves as President of the San Joaquin County Bar Association, the first Hispanic to hold the prestigious post.  He recently spearheaded the Association’s efforts to establish a free legal clinic to serve the needs of the greater community. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Library and Literacy Foundation of San Joaquin County, and has played an integral part in the Little Free Libraries Stockton movement to establish 100 neighborhood book exchanges in Stockton. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Tiger Elementary School Mentoring Project.