IBEW Local 11 Endorses Mary Zendejas for City Council
Long Beach, CA – Today, Long Beach Transit Director and community leader Mary Zendejas announced the endorsement of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 11. IBEW 11 represents over 12,000 Electricians, Communications and Systems Installers, Transportation Systems Journeyman, Civil Service Electricians, Apprentices, Construction Wireman, and Construction Electricians throughout Long Beach and Los Angeles County.
In announcing their endorsement, Business Manager Joel Barton stated:
“Mary Zendejas is the right choice for District 1. She is a dynamic and compassionate leader who will ensure the voice of working people is heard on the Dias of the Long Beach City Council. Her vision for a healthy environment, family-sustaining jobs, and opportunities for affordable and accessible housing are why IBEW 11 is proud to endorse her campaign for City Council.”
Mary Zendejas had this to say about her most recent endorsement:
“I am honored to have earned the endorsement of IBEW Local 11. Their fight for social justice, safe job sites, training, green jobs, and opportunity for all is fundamental to my run for City Council. I look forward to being a champion work working men and women throughout the district and Long Beach.”
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.
