Service. Dedication. Leadership.

Paulo Mireles Morales was born into a close and hardworking family that valued education, faith, and service. When he was an infant, his parents moved the family to California in search of better opportunities. They eventually settled in Watts and then Compton, where Paulo grew up alongside his older brother Isaac and younger sister Patricia. His parents instilled in him the importance of responsibility, perseverance, and contributing to the community.

Education and school involvement quickly became central to Paulo’s life. He began his schooling at Our Lady of Victory Catholic School and continued at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower. At Bosco he immersed himself in academics, athletics, and leadership. He competed in football, track and field, and cross country and took part in numerous clubs and student government. His classmates elected him ASB president, reflecting both his leadership and his commitment to his school community. His involvement in the Junior Achievement business program and the Boy Scouts of America strengthened his early dedication to service and youth development.
Paulo’s leadership ambitions extended beyond high school. He earned a congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy and attended its preparatory school before returning home to support his family, completing his service with an honorable discharge. He later pursued studies in finance and economics at California State University Long Beach.

His appreciation for hard work began long before adulthood. At age ten he spent a summer in central California picking tomatoes in the fields, an experience arranged by his parents to teach the value of determination and the importance of education. As he grew older he worked in a variety of roles including an auto parts store, an oil refinery, a limousine company, and as a teacher aide with the Long Beach Unified School District. He also worked as a Code Enforcement Officer. These experiences gave him insight into the challenges faced by working families and the vital role strong schools play in creating opportunity.

Paulo’s public safety career began when he joined the City of Cypress Police Department and completed training at the Criminal Justice Training Academy at Golden West College. Over more than two decades of service he worked in patrol operations, served as a Detective, trained new officers, and joined the West Orange County SWAT team as both a tactical member and later as a hostage negotiations team member.
He became a court-recognized expert in impaired driving enforcement and made more than two thousand DUI arrests. His dedication to community safety extended well beyond his badge. Paulo volunteered extensively with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, serving as board president for the MADD Orange County affiliate, as a member of the MADD California board, and as a national advisor and certified instructor. He also served as president of the Cypress Police Officers Association.

Paulo has always believed in strengthening education and supporting youth. For more than three decades he has worked with the Board at St. John Bosco High School, helping secure scholarship opportunities for students. His service to the Boy Scouts of America included leadership within the Orange County Council, where he served as District Chairman and supported youth development programs that build character and community engagement.

Paulo’s approach to public service is guided by a deep commitment to community and a belief in balanced, pragmatic leadership. He values collaboration over division and works effectively with people of all viewpoints to achieve practical solutions. His record reflects a steady dedication to listening, building consensus, and ensuring that the needs of residents remain at the heart of every decision.