Faced with a considerable attendance of residents, the candidates for the District 4 Board of Supervisors in San Mateo County They presented their best proposals and ways of working on issues such as housing and taxes, two of the main issues to be resolved in the short term.
Connie Guerrero, a member of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County, scheduled the forum where the 5 candidates running for a position in District 4: Paul Bocanegra, Lisa Gauthier (East Palo Alto), Antonio López (East Palo Alto), Maggie Cornejo (Redwood City), and Celeste Brevard (Redwood City), were able to present first-hand their main proposals to improve the community.
?This forum was held with the purpose of the community coming and getting to know the different candidates who are running for this position, hearing from them their priorities, as well as the topics that interest the community. It was an opportunity for them to ask questions to the candidates and for them to talk to the community to answer how they are going to try to improve life in the area, and how they are going to work on those issues that interest the community. community?, he pointed out in an interview for Peninsula 360 Press.
In that sense, Connie Guerrero highlighted that the League works to educate the community so that they have a better idea of who to vote for in these upcoming elections on March 5 when the primaries will be held.
The topics that stood out the most in this forum were housing, how to support families and how to improve the community, as well as making more care for children, and managing taxes.
In these primary elections, the two candidates who have the highest number of votes are the ones who will advance to the general election (in November), unless there is a candidate who obtains 50 percent plus one, that candidate will be the one who wins .
"It is important for people to prepare for these elections, to register, to go to the registration centers, to have their voices heard and to participate in the elections in San Mateo County," Connie stressed.
For Florence Ortiz, associate director of the Redwood City Education Foundation, the forum was a great opportunity for residents to ask questions about how supervisors can support the diverse community that exists in District 4, such as from cities like Redwood City, Menlo Park, and East Palo Alto.
Ortiz told Peninsula 360 Press about the community's interest in issues such as housing, parks, small businesses and taxes, critical issues for the candidates.
Given this, Florence highlighted that in these elections "there is the opportunity to have candidates with experience of working with the community and that anyone who takes that position fulfills their promises, (the idea is) that everyone can continue collaborating and sharing their ideas long term to improve our community?, he said.
At the same time, he highlighted that the candidates agreed that they are very fond of the community and want to provide the programs and services that are available, such as housing: "It seems to me that they believe that the community has the same rights regarding housing and all cases?
However, he said, their opinions vary a little on how they would involve businesses, whether they want to form ties or collaborate with them, and involve them in parks or raising taxes.
And, he highlighted, the difference is very marked in the community in terms of those who have a lot of wealth and resources, and those who do not.
That is why Florence Ortiz called to exercise the right to vote.
?For me it is important that everyone participates, and more than anything that the voice and action of the Latino community be heard, because many times we are the most affected and those who speak the least, either due to fear or lack of information. If we do nothing or say nothing, we just let it happen to us, and instead of letting things or laws not happen or the policies that they pass affect us, it is better to be involved from the beginning, to work with the candidates who want the same thing as us and see changes in the prevention that we need to improve our communities?
Likewise, he said that "if they are worried that they cannot vote, everyone knows someone who can; Is it important to share your opinions or concerns with your loved ones, especially to instill in the young people who one day will be able to vote that they have to be part of this conversation now?
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