Tzeitel Paras-Caracci
Mayor of Duarte, California (2005-2006) Council member, 2001-present
Father Lino S. from Dagupan City, Pangasinan and Mother Russel M is from Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Tzeitel Russel M. Paras was born in 1972. She was named after the eldest daughter in "Fiddler on the Roof", a Broadway MusicAL. On November 6, 2001, Tzeitel became the first Duarte High School (DHS) alumni and the youngest woman elected to the Duarte City Council. Her family moved to Duarte in 1985. Tzeitel (DHS '89) has two younger brothers: Bertrand Russell (DHS '92) and John Paul George (DHS '96).
She attended schools in Los Angeles, viz. Saint Francis of Assisi Parish School, Dayton Heights Elementary, and Virgil Junior High. A CSF Scholar, Tzeitel received 11 scholarships and/or awards when she graduated from Duarte High School.
In 1989, she was named the Los Angeles Times and Pasadena Star News DHS 'Student of the Year'. Tzeitel obtained her BSBA in Marketing from Woodbury University. Tzeitel served as Mayor Pro Tem during Duarte Student Government Day and was also a DHS representative to Girl State.
Tzeitel helped organize presidential campaign rallies held at Century City Hotel and other locations in her capacity as the San Gabriel Valley's Youth Coordinator for a major political party in the 1988 U.S. presidential election.
In August 2003, Tzeitel was married to K.C. Caracci at Royal Oaks Park in Duarte. She works as a Sr. Program Director for Pasadena YMCA, coordinating youth, teen and family activities and programs.
As a public servant, she has served as a Chairperson for the Redevelopment Agency, is a member of Youth, Education and Families council, and from 2004 to 2006 has served as the President for APAMO (Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials)http://www.nlc.org/inside_nlc/constituency_groups/apamo/495.aspx, a National League of Cities (http://www.nlc.org) Constituency Group. She was a fellow with the APAICS - Asian Pacific American Institue for Congressional Studies (http://www.apaics.org/leadershipparticipants02.html)
In addition to English, Tzeitel also speaks Tagalog (konti) and Spanish (un poquito). She welcomes constructive input for the positive ProgresS of the city.