Come November there are seven local seats up for grabs, three on
the city council
– including mayor – and four on the school board. As it stands
today there are a total of zero minorities filling those 12
seats.
Come November there are seven local seats up for grabs, three on the city council – including mayor – and four on the school board.
As it stands today there are a total of zero minorities filling those 12 seats. It’s not the fault of either board or those who fill those seats. It is the fault of the Hispanic community that totals about 30 percent of the local population. A new movement, headed by a new generation of activists ready to work to change America emerged in the 2008 presidential election. That movement needs to continue at the local level and Hispanics and other minorities need to step up and run. One can’t vote for a Hispanic if one doesn’t run.
But that’s just the first step in getting representation that reflects ethnic diversity. The second is to get out and vote. It was nice to see Peter Arellano and Teresa Alvarado run for the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. They did not win, and we wonder what the Hispanic turnout was. Perhaps it was good, but the two split the Hispanic vote.
Finally, there needs to be help for the neophyte candidate entering his or her first foray into the political arena. And, this year there is. A panel of experts will discuss the details of filing, running and serving in elected office at 6:30 p.m. July 22 at the Morgan Hill Library, 660 W. Main Ave.
So, do you want to have an impact on your community? Want change? Then show up to the prospective candidate forum and learn what it takes to run. The deadline to submit papers to run is Aug. 6.
Make a difference.
