While a student at Contra Costa College in 1969 he founded the Latino Club and the "La Raza Studies department" in 1970. He later became an adjunct professor at the college. Later he transferred to San Francisco State University from where he received his associates and bachelor's degrees. After that he attended Hastings College of Law. Finally he completed further graduate studies at CSU Hayward and San Jose State University in order to obtain teaching credentials. He was certified to instruct in Spanish, Psychology, and Ethnic Studies.
He was originally appointed to the City Council to fill a vacancy in 1985. He was the first Latino on the council and remained the only one for fourteen years.
In 1999 he expressed relief that the city settled out of court with former recreation Director and financial mismanagement whistleblower Brad Baxter. In 2005 he supported efforts to mitigate the spike in crime in Richmond stating, "Our purpose is to take pro-active steps by implementing a firearm violence prevention action plan through a collaborative effort with the Richmond Police Department, the faith community, the state and federal law enforcement agencies and the citizens of the city..."
In 2001 there was a controversy between him and councilman Nat Bates over who received more time at the microphone at the city's Cinco de Mayo event. Bates claimed that the event should have been called "Marquez de Mayo" and wanted more time to address the crowd himself. City manager Tony Thurmond when questioned stated "he did not want to touch" the matter and later Bates requested a report by the parks department, and made a complaint to mayor Rosemary Corbin. He lost his seat in 2001 during a run for mayor, but was re-elected in 2004 with support from the unions representing Richmond police officers and firefighters. He was also supported in 2004 by the Keep Richmond Safe Committee that was accused of "mudslinging" and whose campaign was developed by a former city fire captain that underwent house arrest and FBI investigations for vote buying
He was the 2006 Contra Costa County Hispanic of the Year. For his years of distinguished Service he was honored by a California assembly resolution for outstanding community Service by state assemblyman Robert Campbell of California's 11th district.
He was defeated for re-election in 2008. Also in 2008 he was part of the "Chevron 5" along with councilmembers Maria Viramontes, Harpreet Sandhu, Ludmyrna Lopez, and Nat Bates supporting massive expansion of the Chevron Richmond Refinery. He also opposed measure T, a voter initiative passed by the people of Richmond that taxed the company 16,000,000 dollars annually in order to pay for city services. Also at this time Chevron Corporation gave BAPAC $1,500 that was used in his campaign.
In 2009 he continued to support the Guideville Band of Pomo Indians plan to build a Las Vegas style casino on the former Point Molate Fuel Depot and Winehaven National Historic District, citing the jobs potential. In 2012 he was supportive of memorializing the Marina Bay Parkway underpass for fallen Richmond Police Department officer Bradley Moody of which is said was "gentle" and "always smiling".
In April 2012 he was appointed to represent the Contra Costa Community College District on the as-yet-unnamed successor organization to the Pinole Redevelopment Agency. He is an elected board member for the college district with a term that will expire in 2014.
