On Wednesday, August 2, the Latino Victory Fund — the nation’s largest organization building Latino political representation — announced it is endorsing Puerto Rican-born lawmaker Jaime Arroyo for Lancaster City Council. 

“Latino Victory Fund is proud to endorse Jaime Arroyo for reelection to the Lancaster City Council. Councilor Arroyo is committed to growing the economic mobility of the residents of Lancaster,” said Latino Victory Fund Executive Director Sindy Benavides. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and proven leadership to the City Council that has propelled Lancaster forward. 

“Arroyo has empowered entrepreneurs of marginalized backgrounds and helped lead a micro-lending program that made Lancaster one of the most ethical business communities in the country,” she added. 

The national organization’s endorsement of Arroyo is another candidate added to the crop of Latino candidates to strengthen political representation, Latino political power, and ensure a strong and fair democracy. 

Benavides cited some of Arroyo’s leadership wins during his time on City Council, which includes bringing $10 million to build affordable housing and $5 million for community facilities –  the largest such investment in Lancaster's history. 

Also on public safety, Arroyo and other Lancaster City Council members, appointed the city’s first Latino chief of police Richard Mendez, who prioritized community engagement policing. 

“Raised in Lancaster's southeast region, a historically neglected area of the city, Councilor Arroyo, with his experience, brought into city hall a commitment to elevating and empowering diverse voices for progressive change,” Benavides said. 

“We are honored to stand by Councilor Jaime Arroyo in his reelection campaign to Lancaster’s City Council.”

Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Arroyo came to southeast Lancaster City as a toddler after his parents relocated in hopes of finding a better life in the northeast. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Millersville University, where he shortly after launched his career with Fulton Financial Corporation after completing their rigorous Management Training Program. 

Over the course of a decade, he worked in various positions within banking and also built his own real estate business, investing in properties that provided quality housing for Lancaster City residents.

He completed his M.B.A. at Drexel University in 2016 with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management. Arroyo led the Community Lending and Social Enterprise Development efforts at ASSETS, helping the organization become one of the top micro-lenders in Pennsylvania and making Lancaster City one of the most ethical business communities in the country. 

Arroyo coached and advised entrepreneurs, particularly women, Black, indigenous, and people of color on their finances and business plans. In 2018, he was elected Curator for the Global Shapers Lancaster Hub, an initiative of the World Economic Forum.

He’s also served as Chief Strategy Officer for Community Action Partnership, Lancaster County’s largest anti-poverty organization, helping families achieve economic prosperity. In 2022, the Lancaster City lawmaker returned to ASSETS as the Chief Executive Officer. 

Arroyo has now been endorsed by several local organizations including Central Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades Council, CASA in Action, Lancaster City Democrats, Lancaster Stands Up, and the Working Families Party.