PRESS RELEASE: Zendejas announce over three dozen community endorsements
For Immediate Release
June 20, 2019
Contact: Cory Allen | Contact: Derek Humphrey
Cory@PSCCampaigns.com | Derek@Overland-Strategies.com
Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Transit Director and longtime community leader Mary Zendejas announced the early endorsements of over three dozen community leaders and First District residents. This momentum for her historic run for City Council shows the widespread support of grassroots and community leaders in her bid to replace Senator Lena Gonzalez on the City Council.
The list of endorsers, in alphabetical order, includes: (*titles for identification purposes only)
James Ahumada, Past President, Long Beach Young Democrats* & 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Arceila Alvarez, 1st District Resident - West Gateway Neighborhood
Marisela Aranda, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Maria Arenas, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Cesar Armendariz, President, Our Revolution - Long Beach Chapter*
Angel Aviles, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Miguel Aviles, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Giselle Berumen, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Lizet Berumen, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
LaDawn Best, President, East Village Association* & 1st District Resident - East Village
Gregory Canillas, Commissioner (Ret), Children and Youth Commission*
Alicia Carrera, President, CPC* & 1st District Resident - Washington Neighborhood
Martha Cota, President, Latinos in Action* & 1st District Resident - Washington Neighborhood
Maricela de Rivera, Long Beach Transit Board of Directors* & Co-Founder, Long Beach Breastfeeds*
Steven Edwards, 1st District Resident - West Gateway Neighborhood
Amy Erkisen, Long Beach Commissioner, Human Relations Commission*
Enoel Estrada, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Erika Estrada, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Jesus Esparza, President, Washington Neighborhood Association* - 1st District Resident, Washington Neighborhood
Mario Gonzalez, 1st District Resident - North Pine Neighborhood
Eddy Hernandez, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Susie Hernandez, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Carolyn Hines, Leadership Long Beach
Geovanni Juarez, 1st District Resident - North Pine Neighborhood
Jennifer Kumiyama, Former Owner & State Chair, Ms. Wheelchair California* & 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Andy Kerr, Affordable Housing Advocate & LA County Measure H Citizens Oversight Advisory Board Member*
Antonio Machuca, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Libier Machuca, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Mark Magdaleno, Past President, Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club*
Faizan Medina, 1st District Resident - North Pine Neighborhood
Abigail Mejia, Past President, Long Beach Young Democrats* & 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Matthew Mendez-Garcia, 1st District Resident - North Pine Neighborhood & California State University Professor
Zoe Nicholson, President, Pacific Shore Chapter of the National Organization of Women (NOW)*
Hilda Ortiz, Small Business Owner & 1st District Resident - Downtown Long Beach
Javier Ortiz, Small Business Owner & 1st District Resident - Downtown Long Beach
Jessica Quintaña, 1st District Community Leader, Youth & Family Advocate
Erendira Razcon, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Antonio Razcon, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Angela Rose, 1st District Resident - West Gateway Neighborhood
Isaac Romero, Vice President, Our Revolution - Long Beach Chapter* and 1st District Resident - West Gateway Neighborhood
Milton Smith, Chair - Health and Human Services Commission*
Cynde Soto, Disability Advocate, and 1st District Resident - Downtown Long Beach
In announcing her list of community endorsements, Zendejas released the following statement:
“Our campaign is being built with the support of community leaders, residents, and grassroots activists. These individuals have been in the trenches throughout the First District and know what it will take to continue to build upon our district’s success.
I am incredibly grateful to have the early support of these leaders and look forward to working alongside them throughout this campaign and in the years to come to implement my vision for a clean and healthy environment, housing accessibility, investing workforce training and public safety for all.”
Mary Zendejas currently works as the Director of Regional Accounts for GNS Medical Supplies, and she serves on the Board of Directors for the Disabled Resources Center in Long Beach. She has served as an appointee of Mayor Robert Garcia to the Long Beach Transit Board of Directors since 2014, and she was the Vice President of Ms. Wheelchair America up until last month. Mary is also the founder and implementer of MAPS 2 College, a mentorship program that works in partnership with California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach Unified School District, and the Murphy Family Foundation. The program aims to provide self-empowerment through life fulfillment activities while promoting independence and a quality lifestyle.
Awards given to Mary in recognition of her service include the American Business Women’s Association’s Diamond in the Sky Award (2017), California Conference for Equality and Justice’s Gene Lentzner Human Relations Award (2016), Disabled Resource Center’s Civic Leadership Award (2015), Teachers Association of Long Beach’s Human Rights Award (2015), Robert Schlesinger’s Making A Difference Award (2015), Assemblymember Patrick O'Donnell Women of Distinction Award (2015), and The Long Beach Post’s “40 under 40” Award (2013).
Mary earned her B.A. degree in communication studies from California State University, Long Beach. She is also an alumnus of Leadership Long Beach.
A special election for Long Beach’s 1st City Council District is expected to be scheduled for November.
