Mayor Garcia Endorses Mary Zendejas for City Council
Long Beach, CA – Today, Long Beach Transit Director and community leader Mary Zendejas announced the endorsement of Former First District Councilmember and Mayor Robert Garcia in her campaign for the vacant First District Council seat.
In announcing his endorsement, Mayor Robert Garcia stated:
“Mary and I have worked together since our days at California State University, Long Beach. I have seen firsthand how Mary leads with compassion and integrity in all that she does. Her election would be historic - and challenge us to ensure that we are building a city for all. I am proud to support her campaign for City Council.”
Mary Zendejas had this to say about her most recent endorsement:
“I am honored to be endorsed by Mayor Robert Garcia. As a member of his Mayoral Transition team and appointee to the Long Beach Transit Board of Directors, we have worked together to implement policies that ensure we protect the environment, that people with disabilities have access to basic services, and that we bring more women into our City Commissions. I look forward to continuing this work with Mayor Garcia as a member of the Long Beach City Council.”
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.
