PRESS RELEASE: Senator Gonzalez 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 Councilwoman and Senator Lena Gonzalez in her campaign to replace her on the Long Beach City Council.
State Senator Lena Gonzalez stated:
“I’ve spent the last decade of my public service life, serving the residents of the first district. It has been such a profound honor and true privilege.
A district with beautiful diversity & abundant growth deserves a representative that will continue fighting for their best interests.
Mary Zendejas is that representative. She has dedicated her life to the Long Beach community for over two decades in the areas of transportation, housing, LGBTQ rights & mentoring youth and adults with disabilities. She is an inspiration for many, a strong-willed woman & I am happy to support her candidacy to replace me in District One!
Mary has been there. She is the only candidate with an extensive track record of hard work throughout Long Beach. I am confident that Mary will ensure all residents have a voice at City Hall. She is courageous, bold & a long time friend to our First District community. Mary is exactly the person our city needs to succeed.”
In announcing her endorsement, Mary Zendejas had this to say:
“Senator Gonzalez is a fierce champion for working people and the residents of the First District. Her decade of bold leadership on the City Council was a huge motivation for me to throw my name into this race. I look forward to utilizing her foundation to implement my vision for a more accessible, equitable, and inclusive Long Beach.”
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 the first person 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.
Senator Gonzalez joins a growing list of First District Residents and Community/Civic leaders supporting Mary Zendejas for City Council, including:
Cesar Armendariz, President, Our Revolution - Long Beach Chapter*
Carolyn Hines, Leadership Long Beach
Andy Kerr, Affordable Housing Advocate & LA County Measure H Citizens Oversight Advisory Board Member*
Mark Magdaleno, Past President, Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club*
Zoe Nicholson, President, Pacific Shore Chapter of the National Organization of Women (NOW)*
Jessica Quintaña, 1st District Community Leader, Youth & Family Advocate
Gregory Canillas, Commissioner (Ret), Children and Youth Commission*
Wayne Chaney, Sr., Commissioner, Long Beach Airport Commission*
Maricela de Rivera, Long Beach Transit Board of Directors* & Co-Founder, Long Beach Breastfeeds*
Amy Erkisen, Chair/Commissioner, Long Beach Human Relations Commission*
Milton Smith, Chair - Health and Human Services Commission*
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
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
Alicia Carrera, President, CPC* & 1st District Resident - Washington Neighborhood
Martha Cota, President, Latinos in Action* & 1st District Resident - Washington Neighborhood
Steven Edwards, 1st District Resident - West Gateway Neighborhood
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
Geovanni Juarez, 1st District Resident - North Pine Neighborhood
Jennifer Kumiyama, Former Owner & State Chair, Ms. Wheelchair California* & 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Antonio Machuca, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
Libier Machuca, 1st District Resident - Wilmore City Historic District
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
Hilda Ortiz, Small Business Owner & 1st District Resident - Downtown Long Beach
Javier Ortiz, Small Business Owner & 1st District Resident - Downtown Long Beach
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
Cynde Soto, Disability Advocate, and 1st District Resident - Downtown Long Beach
*Titles for Identification Only | Partial List of Endorsements
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Mary Zendejas is a resident of Downtown Long Beach and earned her B.A. degree in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach Alumni. A special election for Long Beach’s 1st City Council District is scheduled to take place on November 5, 2019
