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Fourth Candidate Surfaces Seeking Vacated 1st Council District Seat (In No-Runoff November Election): She's Mariela Salgado (Mayor-chosen/Council-approved appointee to LB's Parks/Recreation Comm'n)


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(June 19, 2019, 2:52 p.m.) -- A fourth candidate has entered the no-runoff November special election to succeed now-state Senator Lena Gonzalez in the 1st dist. Council seat. She's Mariela Salgado, a Mayor-chosen/Council-approved member of LB's Parks/Recreation Commission.

Ms. Salgado joins three other announced candidates (previously reported in detail by LBREPORT.com at this link.): Ray Morquecho (campaign theme: "Responsible growth focused on our quality of life"), Elliot Gonzales ("LB Green New Deal," former appointee to City Hall's advisory Sustainable City Commission, running as a democratic socialist) and Mary Zedejas (supporter of Housing Long Beach [group previously advocated a rent control/just-cause eviction measure], former member of Mayor Garcia's 2014 "Transition Team.")

Voters in 1/9 of LB (upper downtown + southern WLB) will decide the winner in a likely low-turnout/no-runoff November special election and once in office they'll cast votes for for the next three and a half years impacting all of Long Beach on City Hall spending, policy items, budget priorities, development approvals, land uses, public safety, homeless and housing policies.

Because what a candidate says -- or doesn't say -- says a lot about themselves and their priorities, LBREPORT.com quotes what candidates say (and don't say) in in announcing their candidacies. In a statement accompanying her campaign's release (sent via a campaign consultant from Blue State Consulting) Ms. Salgado states:

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Enough is enough. Over 46% of our children live in poverty and our unemployment rates are over double the citywide average. Homelessness has reached crisis levels and our families are exposed to the highest concentration of pollutants in Long Beach. We can no longer remain silent.

"I'm running for City Council because it's time for new leadership, new partnerships, and new solutions. We can't afford to vote for a ‘business-as-usual' candidate who is hand-picked by City Hall. We need an independent leader and a problem solver who will move Long Beach forward and make sure all of our city's residents thrive.

"I own a home here, our business serves Long Beach, and our children attend this school district – there will be no one more invested in the future of Long Beach. My campaign represents the voices of our community – from local parents and educators to small business owners and working families -- and, WE'RE ALL IN!"

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Her capaign website's "Why I'm running" tab reiterates those themes:

NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW PARTNERSHIPS, NEW SOLUTIONS

District 1 embodies the diversity and opportunity that Long Beach represents. However, it's also where we find some of our city's worst problems:

  • Over 46% of our children live in poverty.
  • Long Beach's unemployment rate is 4.2 percent but well over double digits in District 1
  • We are park poor with the highest concentration of pollutants.
  • We have high rates of African-American and Latino populations living in poverty.
  • We have the highest rates of residents who have STIs or are living with HIV.
  • We have large concentrations of those experiencing homelessness.

    Long Beach is the story of two tales: some neighborhoods have good schools, parks, and bustling commercial districts ready for economic success, while other areas within District 1 have very few of these elements to support economic development. So the need to reverse trends and shift to a more inclusive city requires dismantling barriers and enacting proactive policies that expand opportunity. We need to lead this district by championing policy that (a) prioritizes the needs of our most vulnerable, (b) supports small business initiatives, and (c) prepares workers for tomorrow's jobs. We need new leadership that tackles our community'sissues with multi-faceted solutions for long-term impact.

    Having been a resident of District 1 for nearly a decade, Mariela Salgado knows first- hand the economic, safety, and quality of life issues impacting this district. She understands we'll need to institutionalize a culture of economic opportunity by investing in new or growing industries and leading innovation as a Smart City. Salgado is running for City Council to introduce new leadership, build new partnerships and develop bold new solutions towards a path of prosperity for everyone.

    As our Councilwoman for District 1, Mariela Salgado will:

  • Provide strong independent leadership.
  • Strengthen existing partnership and build new coalitions with community stakeholders,educational, non-profit and private entities.
  • Increase support for early childhood education and youth workforce development.
  • Expand incubators to support small businesses with consulting services, non- traditional capital resources, and local procurement and contracting opportunities.
  • Ensure equitable development and seek reduction in costs or delays in new development.
  • Introduce economic inclusion policies to strengthen our economy.
  • Utilize a collaborative-based approach to empower neighborhoods and local small business owners.
  • Enhance transparency and accountability from appointed city officials. Mariela Salgado is invested in our neighborhoods and in our city. She is a mother, homeowner,small-business owner, City Commissioner, Latina Democrat, and community leader poised, willing, and ready to bring a path of prosperity for Long Beach.
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    Her campaign website bio states:

    BIOGRAPHY

    Mariela Salgado started her career by working for a community-based non-profit organization. She managed and developed business assistance programs, organizational partnerships, and small business clients. By implementing new initiatives, she increased consultative services for local businesses and entrepreneurs by 150%. Shortly after the recession, she pursued her Master's degree with an emphasis in Finance at Pepperdine's Graziadio School of Business, and then went onto leading projects and programs for a Fortune 500 company across the US. Today, Salgado runs her family-operated floor care company serving Long Beach. As a small business owner, she understands the importance of giving back to her community. She currently serves as a Parks & Rec City Commissioner and Chairs the Park Usage Committee. She is a Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce Member, Long Beach Unified School District School Site Representative and Edison Elementary School Site Council Member. In 2011, Salgado was also awarded a Certificate of Recognition for her non-profit work by Councilmember Tony Cardenas. Her business has been awarded Best of Long Beach and Best Small Business 2018. It has also been recognized for its service and commitment to Long Beach by U.S. Congressman Alan Lowenthal, State Senator Ricardo Lara, Mayor Robert Garcia and Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez. Salgado has also been an active member of the following organizations: Long Beach Convention Visitor's Bureau (LBCVB), Long Beach Commercial Real Estate Council (LBCREC), Long Beach Early Childhood Committee (LBECE), National Latina Business Women Association (NLBWA), National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM), Apartment Association, California Southern Cities (AACSC 2018). Her broad network and work experience provides a unique perspective to move Long Beach forward as a leader in education and business expansion, retention and growth.

    EARLY LIFE

    Mariela Salgado was born in Mexico and raised in a Mexican immigrant enclave in Los Angeles. She grew up in a working-class family – her father was a machinist and her mother worked as ahotel housekeeper. Her parents understoodthat quality education would help secure a better future for their children. After spending three years applying to magnet programs in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Salgado was accepted to one of the district's best and most affluent schools. Her life changed forever. She saw the stark inequities between zip codes and learned firsthand the differences in health outcomes and economic opportunities. Today, we see those same problems in Long Beach District 1, where we have the lowest performing schools, highest unemployment rates, and a ten year reduction in life expectancy.

    Her parents are now remarried and recently relocated to Long Beach after a job loss. After twenty years of service, his company relocated out of state and found it difficult to compete with a new job market. Fortunately, after a lengthy search he was able to join Cal State Long Beach -- one of Long Beach biggest employers -- and is now a proud CSUEU member. However, her mother and dad -- like many seniors -- struggle to maintain a household with a fixed income and rising costs. Because of her personal experiences and those of her family, Salgado has developed a deep understanding of the challenges facing working families in District 1. That's why she's firmly committed to supporting economic inclusion, equitable development, and increased support for early education and youth/workforce development.

    After receiving a Bachelor's of Science degree in Management, Salgado earned her Master's of Business Administration degree. She runs her family business with her husband Isaac, and live in Willmore's historic neighborhood where they are raising their two daughters. She also serves in her daughter's school Foundation and volunteers with her daughters hundreds of hours a year to their neighborhood and Long Beach.

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