TIJUANA
Former Tijuana Mayor Luis Arturo González Cruz, a businessman and federal legislator who led the city during the COVID-19 pandemic, died on June 19. He was 69.
The cause of his death was not made public, although Tijuana news outlet Punto Norte reported it to be due to health complications. In January 2023, he reported on social media that he had an accident while skiing with his family. He was left paralyzed as a result of the fall, local media reported.
His death was announced by his office on his Facebook : “He was a dedicated public servant, a family man, a dear friend and a politician committed to the transformation and social justice of our country.”
González Cruz was the city’s first mayor from Mexico’s current Morena ruling party. He was elected in 2019 and completed his term in 2021, though he left office twice in between — first to explore the possibility of running for governor and later citing personal reasons. In total, he served just over half of his two-year term.
His leave of absence paved the way for the first woman to lead Tijuana, Karla Ruiz, who assumed the post as his alternate.
In August 2021, he began his term as a Baja California federal congress member for the Green Ecologist Party. The three-year term was expected to end on Aug. 31.
Family, friends and elected leaders bid him a final farewell at a memorial service last week at Tijuana’s City Hall, followed by a Mass at Espíritu Santo Church.
“When he served as mayor of Tijuana, his leadership transformed the city,” said his daughter, Angélica Graciela González, in a speech outside City Hall. “He tackled complex issues with pragmatism and comion. He always put the welfare of the community first.
“Beyond his remarkable professional accomplishments, my father was a man of deep character and immense heart. His love for his family was unlimited, and his comion for others knew no bounds,” she added. “He taught us the importance of humility, empathy and resilience — values that will guide us long after he is gone.”
During his time as mayor he led the city through the COVID-19 pandemic.
After he stepped down from his mayoral post for undisclosed personal reasons, he unexpectedly returned to complete his tenure the day before it was to end to vote with the City Council against the creation of a municipal water commission, which would have wrested control of water services from the state.
The real estate businessman previously served as leader of the Tijuana chapter of the National Chamber of Commerce of Tijuana and also for Mexico’s Confederation of the National Chambers of Commerce. He also served as president of the Tijuana country club Campestre.
His last posts on social media were to congratulate Mexico’s President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum and Tijuana’s mayor-elect, Ismael Burgueño, both from his party.
“He achieved all the goals he set for himself,” said Carlos Munguía, a family friend who served as secretary of government in González Cruz’s istration. “A man of honor, courage, respect, dedication. A man of convictions.”
He is survived by his wife, Minerva Terrazas de González; four children, Luis Arturo, Angélica, Minerva and Adriana; and grandchildren.
