Candidates are still about a month away from being able to officially file papers to run for the soon-to-be-open 1st District Council, but Wednesday brought another official campaign announcement.
Mariela Salgado, a small business owner and Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Commissioner, formally announced that she would pursue the seat vacated by Lena Gonzalez, who was elected to the state Senate earlier this month.
Salgado has been rumored to be a candidate for some time after a Facebook post earlier this year, which was later deleted, stated she would run. This came even before Gonzalez was elected, though Gonzalez was a presumed favorite to win the statewide seat.
She joins three others who have announced they will seek the Downtown area council seat: Transit Board Director Mary Zendejas; Ray Morquecho, a small business owner; and former Sustainability Commissioner Elliot Gonzales.
Salgado holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Pepperdine University and also serves as a school site representative at Edison Elementary School. She said the district needs an independent voice to represent the area, one that has higher childhood poverty, pollution and rates of people experiencing homelessness than other areas of the city.
“I’m running for City Council because it’s time for new leadership, new partnerships, and new solutions,” Salgado said in a statement. “We can’t afford to vote for a ‘business-as-usual’ candidate who is hand-picked by City Hall.”
Salgado lives in the Willmore historic district where she runs a family floor-care business with her husband, Isaac, and where they raise their two daughters.
Her campaign website lists increasing support for early childhood education and youth workforce development, supporting small businesses, pursuing equitable development in the district, economically inclusive policies and increased transparency as key issues she’ll pursue if she’s elected.
The winner-take-all special election to fill the seat vacated by Gonzalez is expected to be held in November.