Four candidates and incumbent Anna Caballero have filed
statements of intention to run for Assembly District 28, according
to the Secretary of State’s Web site.
Four candidates and incumbent Anna Caballero have filed statements of intention to run for Assembly District 28, according to the Secretary of State’s Web site.
Gilroy Unified School District trustee Francisco Dominguez joins Hollister Mayor and Las Animas Elementary School teacher Eugenia Sanchez, San Benito County Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz and Watsonville Mayor Pro Tempore Luis Alejo – all Democrats – in the race for Caballero’s seat.
Caballero filed a statement of intention for both Assembly District 28 – her current seat – and State Senate District 12, according to the Secretary of State’s Web site. A statement of intention allows candidates to assemble a campaign committee and begin raising money, said Allie Schembra, a Secretary of State staff member. Candidates may file more than one statement of intent or don’t have to file one at all, she said. The deadline to file their official declaration to run isn’t until after the new year, she said.
Although four other candidates have filed statements of intent to run for Caballero’s seat, and Caballero filed a statement of intent to run for Senate District 12, Caballero’s press secretary, Catalina Martinez, said the assemblywoman still hasn’t made a decision about running for State Senate.
“Right now, she’s focused on the budget,” Martinez said. “That’s her priority. Once we’re past that bend, then she’ll make a decision. Right now, the future of California is what’s at stake.”
Martinez said Caballero is “looking into” running for Senate District 12, a seat that will be vacated by Jeff Denham when he terms out in 2010. “But it’s not official,” Martinez said.
In the meantime, Dominguez is forging ahead locally on his campaign and is ready to step up the moment Caballero announces her candidacy for the State Senate, he said. He plans to meet with 100 community members in the next three months and hopes to raise $100,000 by the end of December, he said. He has also sent out several e-mails regarding his candidacy, which he has termed Dominguez for Assembly 2010.
So far, the response has been positive, he said.
“The fact that it’s an open race shows that people are still really going to look at who’s out there,” he said. “So far, people have responded that they think I’m a serious candidate.”
Dominguez said he’s steadily meeting more and more people and that he has a lot of work ahead of him.
Even locally, he’s still not a household name.
“Never heard of him,” said Gilroyan Karina Cruz, 30, outside Wal-Mart. “But I am loyal to Gilroy and being a Democrat helps.”
Cruz didn’t have children of her own but said a candidate who makes education a priority is a must.
Bruce Grattan, 51, also of Gilroy, said he’d like to see a representative who would help decentralize education and put the power back into the hands of local districts.
“The name doesn’t ring a bell,” he said of Dominguez, but he gave Dominguez extra points for being a newcomer.
“I would definitely consider someone who’s not already a state elected official,” Grattan said. “(Lawmakers) will have to live within their means and the current ones aren’t doing that. They’re going to drive everyone out of the state.”
Dominguez also hired political consultant Andrew Acosta out of Sacramento who will work to get his name out in the state capitol while Dominguez introduces himself locally.
“Voters in general are a little frustrated with what they’ve seen going on with the budget,” Acosta said. “Francisco’s strengths are his experience and having knowledge of what works and what doesn’t work on the front lines as a member of the school board. I think that will send a powerful message to voters.”
With such a big district to win over, Dominguez has a challenge before him, said fellow Gilroy school trustee Rhoda Bress – a supporter of Dominguez. Yet, as the only Gilroyan running so far, he could have an advantage, she said.
“It’s been a real honor to serve with Francisco,” she said. “He came to this school board with an enormous amount of knowledge about governance and public school issues. It will be a tremendous benefit to have someone in Sacramento with his knowledge. He’s very fair-minded, level-headed and brings a common sense approach.”
Although Sanchez lives in San Benito and is the mayor of Hollister, many Gilroyans know her as a Las Animas teacher, Sanchez said.
The single mother of two children, Sanchez put herself through college while working and raising a family, said her chief of staff, Anand Goundar.
“She is an example of the American dream,” he said. Between her passion for public service, her ability to get things done and her fresh ideas backed up with years of experience as a school board and city council member in Hollister, “we have an excellent chance to prevail,” Goundar said.
In the coming months, Sanchez will be knocking on doors, fundraising and meeting with community members to spread the word about her candidacy, Goundar said.
