Stella Mendoza is the Imperial Irrigation District Director representing Division 4, which includes the city of Brawley.  

Mendoza was first elected to the board in November 2000; her election marks the first time in the history of the District that a woman had been elected to a seat on the board. She was elected to a second term by winning the March 2004 primary. She serves as an adviser over the district’s human resources strategy. 

Born in Brawley, Mendoza received an AA degree from Imperial Valley College. She served two terms on the Brawley City Council and two years as Brawley city mayor. 

Mendoza is a past president of the Women’s Community Club of Brawley and a member of the Woman’s Improvement Club of Calexico. She is also a member of the Brawley Lions Club, Soroptimist Club of Brawley, Elks Club, Hidalgo Society and American Citizens Club. She also serves on the Calipatria State Prison Citizen’s Advisory Committee and was selected as 2001 Woman of the Year in Imperial County by Assemblyman Dave Kelley. 

Stella and Ernie Mendoza have been married for 37 years and they have three sons and two grandchildren. 

Mendoza’s term of office on the IID board expires December 2008.