US mid-term elections: Where the Fil-Ams won

CALIFORNIA, USA –  Americans stood front and center in the November 4 elections as candidates, strategists, organizers and voters. Incumbents and aspirants campaigned throughout the nation, reinforcing the community’s growing influence. Even the Philippine ambassador to Washington DC got into the swing of things, urging Fil-Ams to make their presence felt and get heard by voting. (READ: US mid-term elections: Fil-Ams running in California) 

While the turnout typified low numbers in non-presidential elections, many Fil-Ams grabbed top spots on winners’ row from coast to coast. A couple of incumbents lost their seats, however.

US House of Representatives 

United States Representative Robert Cortez Scott has won yet again for his 12th term in Congress representing the third district of Virginia.

Scott, the highest ranking official of Filipino descent on the ballot in this week’s midterm elections, ran unopposed. With all 216 precincts reporting, Scott posted 138,627 votes for 94.1%.

First elected to the US Congress in 1992, Scott began his political ascent in 1978 with the Virginia House of Delegates and then the Virginia Senate.

The Democrat sits on the Committees on Education and the Workforce and the Judiciary.

Known as supporter of equity for Filipino World War II veterans, “Bobby” Scott went into private practice before serving with the US Army Reserve. He strongly favors legally requiring women and minority hires, a pathway to legalize undocumented immigrants, women’s right to choose, same-sex marriage, and expanded health care reform. He strongly opposes privatized social security, expanded military, and absolute right to gun ownership.

California State Assembly 

Another candidate who has united his fellow Fil-Ams, Assembly member Rob Bonta sealed the landmark victory he notched two years ago when he became the first Filipino elected to the California State Legislature. With all precincts reported, Democrat Bonta collected 52,784 votes to represent District 18.

The former Deputy City Attorney in San Francisco routed his Republican opponent David Erlich with 85% of the vote, the most for all state assembly bets in California and one of only two to win by over 80%.

“In this job, elections are a public servant’s job evaluation,” Bonta told Philippine News.

“I am proud to have stood before the voters with a strong track record of key legislative victories, creating important change for the people of Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro. I am humbled and honored that the voters of the 18th Assembly District voted overwhelmingly to send me back to Sacramento for another two years. Together, we will continue rebuilding California.”

Bonta chaired the Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security committee and sat on banking and finance, elections and redistricting, health, and transportation committees in the recent session of the Assembly.

The Philippine-born lawmaker is married to MiaLisa, head of a literacy nonprofit based in Oakland.  They have 3 children.

Meanwhile, systems engineer and Church of Latter-Day Saints bishop Rene Pineda lost his impressive challenge to the sitting representative for Assembly District 19. The GOP candidate took 17,972 votes in deep-blue west San Francisco and parts of Daly City.

Incumbent Robert Bernardo also lost his seat on the San Mateo County Harbor District board despite raking in 34,232 votes in the race for two 4-year posts. He was the second openly gay Fil-Am elected official.

Mayors

In Yolo County beyond the San Francisco Bay Area, West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon ran unopposed two years ago. Despite the late entry of a challenger, Cabaldon kept his seat by getting 83.8% or 5,976 votes with all precincts reported.

First elected mayor in 1998, Democrat Cabaldon is the town’s longest-serving chief. The chair of the United States Conference of Mayors entered politics as an advocate for education. This will be his sixth two-year term.

Incumbent Jose Esteves replicated his triumph about a decade ago when he was first re-elected as mayor of Milpitas, south of San Francisco Bay.

Termed out in 2008, the Republican reclaimed his post as town chief 4 years ago to resume his program of “fiscal responsibility, and maximizing City services.”

Majority of the 70,000 residents agreed and gave him a brand new term. Esteves routed two candidates by taking 4,444 votes in final count.

Suisun City, California, voters showed love to Pete Sanchez, whom they first elevated as mayor in 2006. Unchallenged, Sanchez collected 3,031 at the end.

City councils 

The Fil-Am community may have expanded its empowerment movement with two more of their own looking victorious in city council contests.

Milpitas planning commissioner and city council hopeful Garry Barbadillo’s 2,111 votes took second best in a crowded field, 8 for two seats. Also placing second with all votes counted for a win was Gabriel Quinto in El Cerrito, who got 2,244 or 32%.

Voters in Hercules, Contra Costa County, east of San Francisco, approved of current Mayor Myrna de Vera’s leadership and gave her another 4 years. De Vera led a field of 3 with 1,901votes at final tally.

De Vera is an architecture graduate from the University of the Philippines who entered politics in 2005 as an appointed planning commissioner, retained through 2009 when she was chosen chair.

The US town with the highest concentration of Filipinos retained its two Council members of Filipino heritage, both Democrats. Ray Buenaventura led a field of 4 with 6,293 and Mike Guingona took second at 5,819 to resume serving Daly City, the biggest municipality in San Mateo County.

“I am grateful for the people’s support,” Buenaventura told PNews.  Campaigning is a humbling experience to go through. Personally, there were times throughout the campaign that I had some doubt. I wondered if I had done enough to gain the people’s trust and confidence for another term.  Although I wasn’t ’t interested in taking credit or grandstanding, I wondered if I had said enough to let the people know what I’ve done during my term. In the end, I believe it wasn’t the words on the campaign literature, but the actions I’ve taken as a Councilmember. I go back to the reason why I ran for office: My belief in an obligation beyond myself, an obligation to make a difference in people’s lives.”

In Union City, Alameda County, Pat Gacoscos, known as a champion for immigrants for her compassionate attention to their issues, got 4,236 votes and placed close second in a field of 3 to continue governing.

Executive assistant Joanne del Rosario won a third term for the Colma City Council, at press time leading with 87 a field of 4 that included her predecessor and husband-and-wife candidates.

“I am thrilled and deeply humbled to have been given the opportunity to serve the residents of Colma for a third term,” Del Rosario told PNews. “I thank the voters for giving me the opportunity to continue to work on the initiatives that this council has started, and I could not be prouder to work with such a fine group of individuals for another 4 years. These are exciting times for our town and I look forward with much enthusiasm and optimism as we work on the remodel of City Hall and some economic development projects.”

Alameda City Council member Stewart Chen lost his seat on the Alameda City Council despite getting 5,778 votes. Born and raised in the Philippines, Dr Chen is concurrent director of Alameda County Healthy Homes Department and alternate Commissioner with the Alameda County Transportation Commission.

Meanwhile, businesswoman Christy Lim had hoped to become the first Fil-Am elected in Hillsborough and promote new policies, but residents preferred the way the town has been managed. Lim got 957, placing third of 3 candidates for two seats.

Outside the San Francisco Bay Area, voters crushed Chris Mateo’s wish to return to service in Lathrop in San Joaquin County, where he was once vice mayor. Mateo placed sixth in a field of 7 running for city council.

School boards 

Veteran advocate for public schools and families, Hydra Mendoza McDonnell, the first Filipina elected in the city and county of San Francisco, defended her seat in the San Francisco Unified School District, along with two other incumbents. She placed third with a whopping 37,218 votes.

Silicon Valley community luminary Thelma Boac kept her seat on San Jose’s Berryessa Union Elementary School District board of trustees by getting 5,055 for second place at press time. The 37-year veteran teacher and administrator was appointed last year after she had retired.

Retirement gave the education advocate more time to embark on her passion projects. She supervised student teachers at San Jose State and National Hispanic University in preparation for earning their state teaching credentials. She is a leadership professional coach for new principals and administrators with the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

Berryessa USD aims to “ensure a safe learning environment, enhance proficiency in Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity, and enhance technology,” according to its site.  The board this year aimed to “provide all students the skills to become lifelong learners and successful 21st century global citizens.”

Noelani Sallings, who has served actively on her children’s PTAs and nonprofit boards, succeeded in her quest for a seat on the Santa Clara Unified School Board of trustees, District 2, with 5,789 votes or second place in a field of 6.

Prominent Vallejo, California, leader Tony Ubalde staved off challengers to his seat on the Vallejo Unified School Board with 6,096, topping a field of 8, including two other Fil-Ams seeking one vacancy. Student Ryan Cayangyang conducted a healthy campaign and got 4,807, while dentist Brisbane Pucan, gained endorsements from non-Filipino leaders and took 4316, but both will have to try again.

“The campaign was tough because of the negativity and divisiveness that I have not experienced before, but we prevailed because we were doing the right thing for our students here at the Vallejo School District,” Ubalde told PNews. 

“My victory, as the top vote getter, is a mandate for us to continue the positive things we are doing and accomplishing. Secondly, I have the best campaign team that you could ever imagine under the leadership of Norma Placido, the president of the Filipino Community and Dr Rozzana Verder-Aliga, City Council member of the City of Vallejo.”

In Union City, Rosalinda Canlas will continue to represent students, teachers, staff, parents and community now that she has been re-elected to the New Haven Unified School District Board. She topped the race with 3,934 votes.

Jefferson Union High School District Board in Daly City, Colma and Brisbane boasts of incumbents Katherine Zarate Dulany and Rosie Tejada, who endorsed each other while running in tandem with other candidates.

Tejada, a litigation law secretary appointed in the spring, notched her first election win with 8,274, topping the field of 5 for 3 seats. Zarate Dulany, an employment relations lawyer in private practice, placed third at 7,795 for another term.

Joy Gutierrez-Pilare ran unopposed for a second term as trustee with the Bayshore Elementary School District in Daly City and part of  neighboring Brisbane.

Meanwhile, Carlos Taylor, also a Fil-Am, lost his bid for the JUHSD board of trustees but received a strong 4,063 votes for last place.

Parks and Recreation District

Mae Cendana Torlakson, the first known Filipina elected in Contra Costa County in Northern California, reinforced her leadership by garnering the most votes among 5 for 3 seats on the Ambrose Recreation & Park District board. She took 913 for a third term.

Torlakson, who is married to also victorious State Schools Superintendent Tom Torlakson, is chair of the board. By day, she works at the University of California Office of the President. – Rappler.com

To be continued.

Ed Yra contributed to this report. See Philippine News October 31 and November 7, 2014 issues for profiles of the candidates.