I just got off the phone with Cruz Baca Sembello. Cruz was a leader in the fight to protect property rights in Baldwin Park where Bizno Development bulldozers were about to destroy homes and business properties that were never for sale. She also served as a co-author of Prop 98, the property rights initiative.
Although Cruz lost yesterday she is very encouraged by the outcome and told me she intends to run again in two years. This was her first campaign for elected office where you are at a major disadvantage when incumbents enter the fray. She was up against their City Clerk Susan Rubio who finished first and nine year incumbent Marlen Garcia who finished second. Cruz did get more votes than incumbent Anthony Bejarno in this years election for two seats on their city council but lost by 68 votes.Cruz said she is “thankful to all the people who believed in me” adding that she “met some incredible new friends in the community.”
Email from Cruz:
Thank you Larry. We continue the fight!!!
hello there cruz, chris here. give me a call at my number, 909-509-2119, and let’s talk about campaigns. i just finished a disappointing race for the chaffey college board seat, and the ballot statement fee of $13,020 for each candidate was a big part of this. of coarse, the two incumbants forked over this fee, but us 3 challengers did not, and so 325,000 ballots went out with the voters not knowing who we were or our positions. you’ve done ballot initiatives before, i see. how about one that allows free statements for all qualified candidates for all races in california, partisian and non-partisain. but call me and let’s at least talk, ok? yours truly, chris agrella, 909-509-2119