Joe Serna

Joe Serna, Jr.
Joe Serna silhouetted by Sacramento's skyline
52nd Mayor of Sacramento
In office 1993–1999
Preceded by	Anne Rudin
Succeeded by	Jimmie Yee
Personal details
Born	September 3, 1939 , U.S.
Died	November 7, 1999(1999-11-07) (aged 60) Sacramento, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Kidney cancer
Resting place	East Lawn Cemetery, Sacramento, California
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Isabel Hernandez
Profession	Activist, educator, politician

Joe Serna, Jr. (September 3, 1939 – November 7, 1999) was an American educator and civil rights activist who served as the 52nd mayor of Sacramento, California from 1992 until his death in 1999.

Joe Serna, Jr. was born in , the son of migrant farm workers. He was raised in labor camps near Lodi and worked with his family in the fields at a young age. He graduated from what was then known as Sacramento State College in 1966.

He would grow up to become a supporter of the United Farm Workers and worked with César Chávez. Serna organized clothing and food drives for striking farm workers in the 1960s and was one of the UFW's main Sacramento leaders for close to 30 years. Serna was also a sometime member of the Royal Chicano Air Force

Serna became the first Latino mayor of Sacramento. Before becoming mayor, Serna had served 11 years on the Sacramento City Council. He also served in the Peace Corps and was a professor in the Government Department at California State University Sacramento.

As mayor, Serna attempted to revitalize Sacramento's downtown area, but joined previous Mayors in failing to succeed. He pushed through initiatives to honor César Chávez when the legendary civil rights leader died in 1993. Serna organized a caravan from Sacramento to march in Chávez's funeral and renamed a park in front of City Hall to Cesar E. Chavez Plaza. Furthermore, Sacramento became the first city in the United States to honor César Chávez with a holiday.

Serna died of kidney cancer on 7 November 1999 while in office in Sacramento, California; Jimmie R. Yee presided over the remainder of his term. Serna is buried at East Lawn Cemetery, and his funeral was attended by many of his fellow UFW activists.