Assemblymember Patrick O'Donnell endorses Mary Zendejas!
Long Beach, CA – Today, Long Beach Transit Director and community leader Mary Zendejas announced the endorsement of Long Beach Assemblymember and former Long Beach City Councilmember Patrick O’Donnell.
In announcing his endorsement, Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell stated:
“As a former member of the Long Beach City Council, I know the passion and vision someone needs to be an effective leader for their residents. Mary is that leader, and I am excited to endorse her campaign. Her dedication to supporting the education and employment of people with disabilities is impressive. Her decades of experience, knowledge and compassion in this historic race will challenge the status quo and provide real leadership for all residents of the First District,”
Mary Zendejas had this to say about her most recent endorsement:
“Thank you Assemblymember O’Donnell for your faith in my work and vision for the First District. I look forward to working alongside him to improve the quality of life for our residents and ensure that we continue to expand access for our most vulnerable communities .”
As an infant, Mary was diagnosed with Polio, and later in High School started using a wheelchair daily. Her passion for living and working hard is rooted in seeing her parents, a field hand and factory worker, provide their children a better life. Their hard-work allowed Mary to go to California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and become the first in her family to graduate from college.
Her advocacy dates back nearly three decades starting in her high school, where she organized citizenship fairs to help community members follow their American Dream of becoming US citizen. She is also the founder of Professional Abilities Association of America, an organization created for working professionals with disabilities by working professionals with disabilities, focusing on inclusion in the workforce. Additionally, she is a two-time graduate of Leadership Long Beach, served as a member of Mayor Robert Garcia’s Transition Team, a former board member of Housing Long Beach and a past Ms. Wheelchair California.
Currently, she is serving her second term on the Long Beach Transit (LBT) Board of Directors. LBT is a leading agency in the transportation industry and a multimillion-dollar company. During her time at Long Beach Transit, she has led the effort to streamline access and reliability of paratransit services throughout the system and has helped to implement zero-emission buses into the fleet. Mary is also currently a board member of several local non-profits and advocacy organizations, including the Murphy Foundation Board and the Disabled Resource Center.
