SALINAS, CA— In the wake of receiving a powerful endorsement from the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council, today State Assemblyman and California Latino Legislative Caucus Chair Luis Alejo scored formidable endorsements from the California Nurses Association and the National Union of Healthcare Workers in his bid to represent Monterey County Supervisor District 1.

Responding to news of the latest endorsements, State Assemblyman and California Latino Legislative Caucus Chair Luis Alejo stated:

“Fundamentally, I believe that healthcare should be a right— not a privilege. That’s why I’ve dedicated much of my career in local and state government to advocating for universal healthcare through efforts to increase access for everyone, particularly our most vulnerable citizens and those who can least afford it. Today’s endorsements validate my longstanding efforts on this front, and the fact is that these organizations, the California Nurses Association and the National Union of Healthcare Workers, believe I’m the best candidate to continue striving to achieve this important goal of universal healthcare. I’m honored to count them on my team.”

In addition to today’s announcement, Alejo has garnered widespread community support from the following leaders:

  • Monterey Bay Central Labor Council
  • Former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso
  • Former Assemblymember and environmentalist Fred Keeley
  • Former Salinas City Councilmember Sergio Sanchez
  • Former Salinas City Councilmember Maria Giuriato
  • Former Salinas City Councilmember Ernesto Gonzalez
  • Marina Police Chief Eddie Rodriguez
  • Hartnell College Trustee Ray Montemayor
  • Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital District Trustee Victor Rey
  • Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital District Trustee Rafael Garcia
  • Monterey County Board of Education Trustee Sergio Alejo
  • Former Alisal School Board Member Francisca Salinas Gonzalez
  • Monterey County Business Leaders George & Debra Couch
  • Monterey County Business Leader Manny Delgadillo
  • Salinas Business Leader Mike Hackett
  • Salinas Business Leader Sal Jimenez
  • Salinas Agricultural Business & Community Leader Ricky Cabrera
  • Salinas Businesswoman Elvia Salgado
  • Salinas Businessman Juan Navarro
  • Salinas Businessman Jesus Rocha
  • Salinas Businessman Jesus “Chuy” Leon
  • Democratic National Committee (DNC) Member & Former Salinas State Senate Candidate Shawn Bagley
  • Democratic Party Leader Les Gardner
  • Salinas Democratic Party Leader Teri Short
  • Salinas Valley Democratic Club Vice-President Patricia Rubio Coyt
  • Eduardo Montesino, President of SMART Transportation Union, Local 0023*
  • Steve McDougall, Past President of the Salinas Valley Federation of Teachers*
  • Salinas Community & Labor Leader Frank Cabrera
  • District 1 Community Leader Lupe Sanchez
  • District 1 Community & Farmworker Leader Silvia Huerta
  • District 1 Community & Farmworker Leader Agapito Huerta
  • District 1 Community Leader Francisco Cerritos
  • District 1 Community Leader Armando Lopez
  • District 1 Community Leader Sandra Olvera
  • District 1 Community Leader Elizabeth Reyes
  • District 1 Community Leader Sandra Ocampo
  • Salinas Teacher Albert Murillo
  • Former Salinas Education Leader Ignacio Ornelas
  • Salinas Farmworker Leader Desiderio Barroso
  • Salinas Community Leader Tony Acosta
  • Salinas Community Leader Ali Chavez
  • Salinas Resident Juan Chavez
  • Salinas Resident Dulce Gonzalez
  • Salinas Resident Jose Covarrubias
  • Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Board Trustee Margaret D’Arrigo
  • Salinas City Elementary School Board Member & Salinas Attorney Stephen Kim
  • Monterey County Fair Board Member Paul Tran
  • Alisal High School Teacher Ruben Pizarro
  • Salinas Education Leader Lorena Silva
  • State Migrant Parent Advisory Council President Maria Perea (Ret.)
  • Salinas Teacher Ana Covarrubias
  • Hartnell College Administrator & Educator Manuel Bersamin
  • SMART Transportation Union Local 23 President Eduardo Montesino
  • Monterey Democratic Party Central Committee Member & Salinas Resident James Thomas Green
  • Salinas Filipino-American community leader Manny Quebec
  • Salinas Filipino-American community leader Orly Jimenez
  • Salinas Filipino-American community leader Mars Rocamora jr.
Assemblymember Alejo serves as the Chair of the Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee as well as Chair of the powerful California Latino Legislative Caucus. He had a record 18 of 20 bills signed by Governor Brown just this year. Assemblymember Alejo also previously served as the the Vice-Chair of the Assembly Local Government Committee and was awarded the 2015 Legislator of the Year by the California League of Cities for authoring Assembly Bill 2, which creates a new form of redevelopment for economic development and affordable housing in disadvantaged communities.

In 2013, Assemblymember Alejo was ranked as, “Most Effective Democratic Assemblymember” by the Capitol Nooner after Governor Jerry Brown signed his landmark legislation AB10 to raise California’s minimum wage to $10.00 per hour starting this January 1, 2016 and AB60 to provide an opportunity for undocumented immigrants to legally obtain valid California drivers licenses.

As the representative of California’s 30th Assembly District, Alejo has served as the voice of Monterey County’s 1st Supervisorial District in Salinas and has been voted in six times by its residents in the last five years receiving overwhelming support.

Assemblymember Alejo concluded his announcement by remarking, “I’ve been proud to receive a lot of support of residents encouraging me to run forMonterey County Supervisor in District 1. I look forward to talking to every voter and working hard to earn each vote. I always believe that when you are in elected office and you do a good job, it’s up to the voters of your district to decide what they want you to do next.”

Assemblymember Alejo released a video on Twitter and Facebook announcing his decision for 2016.

The English version of that video can be found here:https://youtu.be/shQ8kSrPslg

The Spanish version of that video can be found here:http://youtu.be/3AVpG7oWPro

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Paid for by Alejo for Supervisor 2016.