FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Josh Pulliam (916)444-5353
JANUARY 21, 2021 [email protected]
Fresno Councilwoman and Educator Enters Race with over 50 Endorsements
FRESNO, CA – Today, Fresno City Councilwoman and Fresno City College Adjunct Professor Esmeralda Soria announced her campaign for the newly drawn 27th Assembly District, which includes portions of Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties. The announcement included over 50 endorsements from Valley community leaders, local and state officials throughout the district and across California.
Born and raised in the Central Valley, the daughter of farmworkers and a first-generation American, Soria understands the challenges facing Valley families and residents because she’s lived them. Having worked alongside her parents in the fields and packing houses throughout childhood, then working her way through college and law school, Soria has devoted her life to public service as an educator, community advocate, and City Councilwoman.
“Valley families, seniors, farmers, small businesses, and workers have faced unprecedented challenges and hardship over the past two years and beyond,” said Soria. “I’m running for the Assembly to fight for our schools, neighborhoods, and disadvantaged communities to make sure everyone has access to a quality education, healthcare and housing – and that California’s economic recovery from the pandemic doesn’t leave our working families behind.
As Fresno Councilwoman and a community advocate, Soria led efforts to revitalize Fresno, helping to create thousands of jobs, affordable housing and homeless shelters; expanded Fresno City College and created a scholarship fund for DREAMers; helped deliver millions in emergency funding for safe drinking water; and secured funding for new health clinics and local schools. She also serves as President of the California League of Cities Latino Caucus.
Soria’s campaign includes a broad coalition of support spanning across Assembly District 27 and the Central Valley.
The Full Endorsement List Includes:
- Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara
- Senator Anna Caballero
- Senator Lena Gonzalez
- Senator Monique Limon
- Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula
- Assemblymember Robert Rivas
- Assemblymember Blanca Rubio
- Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantez
- Former Senator Gil Cedillo
- Former Senator Richard Polanco
- Former Assemblymember Juan Arambula
- Fresno County Board of Supervisor Brian Pacheco
- Fresno County Board of Education Trustee James Martinez
- Fresno County Board of Education Trustee Kimberly Tapscott-Munson
- Former Fresno County Supervisor Susan Anderson
- Former Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea Sr.
- Fresno Councilmember Miguel Arias
- Fresno Councilmember Tyler Maxwell
- Fresno Councilmember Nelson Esparza
- Former Fresno Councilmember Dan Ronquillo
- State Center Comm. College Trustee Annalisa Perea
- State Center Comm. College Trustee Nasareen Johnson
- State Center Comm. College Trustee Richard Caglia
- Former State Center Comm. College Trustee Dottie Smith
- Fresno County Fair Boardmember Gary Chahil
- Fresno Unified School Trustee Claudia Casarez
- Fresno Unified School Trustee Veva Islas
- Mendota Mayor Rolando Castro
- Mendota Councilmember Oscar Rosales
- Kerman Councilmember Espi Sandoval
- Kerman Councilmember Ismael Herrera
- Huron Mayor Rey Leon
- Firebaugh Councilmember Freddie Valdez
- Firebaugh Councilmember Felipe Perez
- Firebaugh-Las Deltas School District Boardmember Eliseo Gamino
- Madera County Supervisor Leticia Gonzalez
- Madera Mayor Santos Garcia
- Madera Mayor ProTem Anita Evans
- Madera Councilmember Steve Montes
- Madera Councilmember Jose Rodriguez
- Madera Councilmember Artemio Villegas
- Merced County Supervisor Rodrigo Espinoza
- Livingston City Councilmember Jose Moran
- Santa Nella County Water District Boardmember Patricia Ramos-Anderson
- Gustine Unified School District Boardmember Zachery Ramos
- Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez
- Central Unified School District President Yesenia Zamora
- Former Central Unified School District Boardmember Terry Cox
- Former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
- Gurdeep Shergill, Fresno Community Leader
- Monica Diaz, Fresno Planning Commissioner & Businesswoman
- Former Fresno County Young Dems President Clara Varner
- Fresno County Young Dems President Navkaran Gurm
- Farmersville Councilmember Greg Gomez
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California’s New Assembly District 27 is an open Latino Majority District. It consists of portions of Merced, Fresno, and Madera Counties and includes the cities of Fresno, Coalinga, Kerman, San Joaquin, Merced, Mendota, Dos Palos, Madera, Los Banos, Firebaugh, Huron, Atwater, Chowchilla, and Livingston.
