She fled domestic violence fears in Mexico. Now she’s California’s first deaf Latina mayor

Josefina Duenas faced doubts from her own colleagues on the city council. Now I represent the women, the immigrants, the disabled, the homeless'

It wasn't until she turned five years old that Josefina Duenas was diagnosed with a disorder her family had long suspected: hipoacusia bilateral, or severe hearing loss that affected both of her ears.

Almost 60 years later, as Duenas walked into Ukiah's city hall, located in northern California's Mendocino county, she recounted her childhood memories and the years that trained her to overcome the many challenges that still arise due to her hearing disability.