Canek Aguirre was first elected on November 6, 2018, and is serving his second three-year term on City Council from 2021 through 2024. He is the first Latino elected to City Council. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Canek is the son of Mexican immigrants who instilled in him the importance of hard work, education, and giving back to the community. He is committed to increasing housing opportunities throughout the city, investing in our public schools and infrastructure, eliminating health inequities to improve health outcomes, and ensuring the voices and concerns of all residents are at the table during the decision-making process.
Prior to his election to City Council, Canek served in leadership roles on numerous boards and commissions. He is a past Chair of the Economic Opportunities Commission, past President of the Tenants and Workers United (TWU) Board of Directors, and past Vice Chairman of the Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia (HSANV) Board of Directors. He also served on the Leadership Council for the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) and the Steering Committee for the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria (PHA). In 2016, Canek was appointed to the Virginia Board of Social Work by Governor Terry McAuliffe.
Canek spent three years in Alexandria City Public Schools creating welcoming spaces and connecting students and families with resources to succeed inside and outside the classroom. He co-founded a parent group for Spanish-speaking families at George Washington Middle School and helped launch a citywide family and community engagement program. As a community advocate, he has fought to increase affordable housing in the city, improve equity in our schools, and built coalitions to promote government transparency and accountability.
Canek has a track record of bringing people together to improve the lives of Alexandrians. In his professional capacity, he works with underserved communities throughout Northern Virginia to increase access to care and improve health outcomes. Canek received a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.