Meet Dillan
Dillan's story
Dillan Horton hails from Los Angeles, where he was raised in a working-class, union household by a single mother who was a veteran and later became a nurse. From an early age, his mother instilled in him the value of community service and the life-changing potential of education. Some of his earliest memories are attending evening classes with his mother, who went to school part-time for years to become a nurse.
Dillan’s early experiences inspired him to become a public servant and to strengthen communities by ensuring all voices are represented in decision-making processes, and expanding access to opportunities for good jobs and quality education.
Dillan represented students in student government at El Camino College and at UC Davis. At El Camino College Dillan served as a student Senator, and later as Vice President. During two terms he concentrated on raising awareness for preventable disease, campaigning for a facilities bond measure, supporting transfer students, and securing sustainable funding for student activities. As Director of University Affairs at UC Davis, Dillan worked to ensure that the voice of students was represented in campus decisions. He opposed tuition hikes, strengthened student participation on campus committees, and spearheaded the creation of the Office of Advocacy & Student Representation.
When Dillan began his education at UC Davis he did not know he was beginning to build a life here in Davis. However, unexpected events would deepen his roots here and strengthen his resolve to serve this community. During his final year of college, his mother was diagnosed with cancer. Dillan took a leave from school and returned to Los Angeles to care for her. She passed away later that year. As Dillan went through these life-changing events, he was embraced by Davis community members. Having experienced the depth of compassion and generosity in this community, he is committed to making it inclusive for all. And his goal of helping others through public service carries on his late mother’s legacy.
For four years Dillan has served as a California Democratic Party Delegate for Assembly District 4, Chair of the Yolo County Democratic Party Legislation & Resolutions Committee, and on the county executive board as Vice Chair of the Yolo County Democratic Party and previously Executive Director. He currently serves as a representative of the 4th Supervisorial District on the Yolo County Democratic Central Committee and a Co-Chair of the Yolo County chapter of DSA.
In December 2018 Dillan was appointed by the Davis City Council to the newly formed Police Accountability Commission. At the commission’s first meeting they elected Dillan to be Vice Chair of the commission, and he served as Chair February of 2020 to January of 2022. Starting in January 2024, Dillan is now serving his third term as chair. Dillan is proud to have lead the commission though the #TimeForTheNine process, where the commission successfully presented recommendations for police reform in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. Ultimately the Davis City Council accepted most of the recommendations, creating the new Davis Department of Social Services & Housing.
As a member of the Police Accountability Commission Dillan is working to improve police training in implicit bias and deescalation, to inform the community about the complaint process, and to make sure police department policies reflect the community’s values.
Dillan currently works as a Volunteer Supervisor for CASA of Solano County, which provides mentorship and legal advocacy services for current and former foster youth.
As a young professional, a Black gay man, and a Davis renter, Dillan has a valuable perspective on the opportunities Davis has to offer, and the ways our community can be made more inclusive and stronger.
