Long Beach Firefighters Endorse Mary Zendejas for City Council
Long Beach, CA – Today, Long Beach Transit Director and community leader Mary Zendejas announced the endorsement of Long Beach Firefighters Local 372.
In announcing their endorsement, President Rex Prichard stated:
“Long Beach Firefighters are looking for a fighter to represent them on the Long Beach City Council, and Mary Zendejas is that leader. Her experiences as a woman in a wheelchair and her dedication to creating a better Long Beach are the experience we need. On behalf of the over 500 members of the Long Beach Firefighters Local 372, we are excited to endorse Mary's campaign."
Mary Zendejas had this to say about her most recent endorsement:
"The women and men of Long Beach Firefighters Local 372 are near and dear to my heart. They are a critical department in our city and deserve a Councilwoman who will fight for their ability to protect our communities. I look forward to working with them to build a world-class 21st-century department."
Mary Zendejas is the Director of Sales for GNS Medical Supplies and is currently 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. As one of the first people in a wheelchair to serve on the Board, 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. Additionally, she serves as a board member of several local non-profits and advocacy organizations, including the Murphy Foundation Board and the Disabled Resource Center.
As an infant, she 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. It also led her to develop, MAPS 2 College, a mentoring program in partnership with California State University, Long Beach / Disabled Student Services, The Long Beach Unified School District, and the Murphy Family Foundation. This program is designed to assist and guide students with special needs, in the transition from high school to colleges with the hopes of transforming them into successful college students and ultimately, college graduates. The program aims to provide self-empowerment through life fulfillment activities while promoting independence and a quality lifestyle.
