US mid-term elections: Fil-Ams running in California

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US mid-term elections: Fil-Ams running in California
'The democratic process is not a spectator sport wherein you can just stay in the sideline and watch what is going on...I believe it is a lifetime commitment,' says one Filipino American candidate

CALIFORNIA, USA – Filipino Americans typically seek elective office in towns where they enjoy numerical superiority. Political aspirations have spread out these days, as shown in local elections across and beyond San Francisco Bay.  

Suisun City

Up north in Solano County, Suisun City made county history in 2006 by electing its first FilAm Mayor Pete Sanchez.  

Sanchez is seeking a third term, temporarily shelving his aspiration for supervisor.

The mayoral post has no term limits and Sanchez, running unopposed, is guaranteed the seat.

Suisun City residents say that under Sanchez’s stewardship, their town has grown rapidly from Fairfield’s little neighbor.  It boasts of a new businesses moving in.

West Sacramento

West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon has served as town chief for 16 years.

For a while it looked like he would be unopposed again as in 2012. Unexpectedly, however, he faces  a challenger, the publisher of a Punjabi newspaper and a security business in Yolo County, who filed for candidacy late in the campaign.

Cabaldon said he is confident his track record will lead to victory.

“Part of the reason for our community’s unique success is that we are One City –unified toward progress for all,” he declared.

Hercules

Current mayor of Hercules Myrna Lardizabal de Vera got the endorsement of Contra Costa Times for one of two open council positions.

Hercules mayors are selected by the council rather than the electorate, and De Vera is viewed to be a leader and a team player.

“To say the city of Hercules has an image problem is to understate the case….That explains why the race for two seats on the Hercules City Council is important. A huge part of a city council’s job is to make sure that corrupt managers and staff do not run amok….We do give the people of Hercules credit for belatedly recognizing that point…the voters made a clean sweep of the council….We are pleased to report that things are better now in Hercules,” the newspaper said.

“But we do recommend re-electing Myrna L. De Vera who is the only incumbent running….De Vera is one of the folks the voters sent to City Hall four years ago to clean up the mess. Although she had some shaky moments early on, De Vera has grown into the job in the last two years.”

Milpitas

Down South, electing a Filipino American to the big seat in City Hall has been achieved in Milpitas not once but many times.  Current Mayor Jose Esteves is up for re-election where he has been elected and re-elected and termed out once before.  Esteves is the second FilAm elected mayor in the South Bay town after pioneer town chief Henry Manayan.

El Cerrito

Something’s brewing in neighboring El Cerrito, where many commuters who drive to board their BART train to and from work in Oakland or in San Francisco.

Gabriel Quinto is on the ballot for the City Council.  If elected, he would be the first FilAm, the third person of color, and the first openly gay official in the East Bay city.

Quinto is one of the 3 candidates vying for the 3 open council seats.

Many are optimistic he will win because he is deeply rooted in this city, where he grew up in.

Vallejo

Tony Ubalde, Ruscal Cayangyang, and Dr. Brisbain Pucan

Further North, Vallejo has 3 FilAms seeking 3 seats on the Vallejo School Board: incumbent Tony Ubalde, student Ruscal Cayangyang and local dentist Dr Brisbain Pucan.

Union City

East of the Bay, Union City Council member Pat Gacoscos hopes to retain a seat on the City Council. She said she wants to continue to serve as a liaison between the local government and the city’s large Filipino population, which represents 20% of the 70,000 residents. She said Filipinos can feel that they can take their issues to the City.

“They are comfortable talking to someone who’s like them,” she said. She’s proud that during her first term in the council she voted against a project to build a public swimming pool at a time of budget uncertainties. She also backed a city resolution supporting the stalled Dream Act that would give legal status to qualifying undocumented young people.

“I always emphasize the immigrant population,” she said.

Rosalinda Canlas hopes to retain her seat in the New Haven Unified School District Board. She said she wants to build upon what she has been able to do during her first term on the school board.

“I want to continue the work from my first term in moving our district forward and serving our students, teachers, staff, parents and community.”

Canlas said she will continue to represent them and their interests and to be their voice in the board. During her tenure, the district has stabilized its finances and received critical Race to the Top funding of $29 million from the federal government to improve student achievement. The district has also seen graduation rates increase, drop-out numbers decline, and enrollment go up in Advanced Placement classes, she said.

If elected, Canlas said she would work on helping deliver the “best teaching practices” to students.

San Francisco

In the premier city of the region, Hydra Mendoza-McDonnell is seeking re-election to the San Francisco Board of Education.  A product of the public school system, she has been an advocate for public schools and families in the area.

Nine candidates are in the race for 3 seats and Mendoza-McDonnell is one of  two incumbents in the running.

In 2006, Mendoza-McDonnell became the first Filipina American elected in San Francisco.  She is currently senior adviser on education and family services to Mayor Ed Lee.

Mendoza-McDonnell is currently the lone known incumbent FilAm candidate in San Francisco and the lone known FilAm candidate along with Rene Pineda, GOP challenger for California Assembly District 19.

Lathrop

Christopher Mateo in July decided to try to return to political life by running anew for the Lathrop City Council.

Mateo won in his first campaign in 2008 for the same body.  When his first term ended, he opted to run but lost for California Assembly’s 12th District.

“Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful,” he said. “(But)  as a US Navy Veteran and former councilmember of our beloved city, I would like to serve you again.”

Mateo was the first Filipino American to serve in this city popularly known as the youngest city in San Joaquin County.

“When  I served in the city council from 2008 to 2012, I experienced and learned the day-to-day operations of our city.  If you think that I served you well during that time, then I respectfully asked for your vote again,” Mateo said.

Mateo is up against 6 candidates including  two incumbents.

Mateo supporter Leo de Guzman described the candidate as having  a “broad spectrum of relevant experience” and referred to the “depth of his knowledge and his remarkable record of dedication and contributions to community service.”

Born and raised in Baguio City, Mateo joined the US Navy and worked with the US Postal Service in San Jose.  He studied Economics at San Jose State University.

In 2007, he and his wife Cora decided to move from San Jose to Lathrop.  

Lathrop is a small city with a population of 18,023 according to the 2010 census.

Geographically centered between the Stockton and Tracy submarkets, there is a growing population of Filipino Americans comprising 22% of the city’s overall population.

While a council member, Mateo served on the board of directors at the San Joaquin Council of Governments – the agency that deals with major transportation issues throughout San Joaquin County. He also sat on the Local Water Advisory board.  He took advantage of the opportunity to learn from the California Civic Leadership Institute provided by the League of California Cities.

When Mateo, known by his nickname “Topel,” was asked why he is running again for city council, he explained: “Like any other city in the United States or in the world for that matter, I want to live in a clean, safe and hospitable city. The best way to have this kind of environment would be to get involved and what better way to do this and make a difference than to become an elected official.”

He added: “The democratic process is not a spectator sport wherein you can just stay in the sideline and watch what is going on. In order for the democratic process to work we must participate: be it voting, electing or running; I believe it is a lifetime commitment.

“As a grandfather now, I want to set an example to my grandchildren that representation and participation in our community and in our country at large made me a better citizen.” – Rappler.com

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