SAUSD school employees endorse Contreras for Supervisor

WESTMINSTER, CA — Exemplifying the wide-ranging support from students, teachers, and faculty for his campaign for the Orange County Board of Supervisors First District, today Westminster City Councilmember Sergio Contreras garnered the endorsement of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Santa Ana Chapter 41.

In a statement released with the announced endorsement, CSEA Chapter 41 President Eddie Leon remarked:

“As a former School Board member, Sergio has key insight into the importance of a quality education and understands that providing such an education also requires addressing the needs of faculty and school employees. Throughout his career, Sergio has fought to ensure that school employees have fair wages and the benefits they were promised, and his work to update facilities and improve safety made it easier for our members to do their jobs. We know he will be a champion for students, teachers, and faculty on the Board of Supervisors, and are excited to support him.”

In response to the announced endorsement, Contreras commented:

“I am honored to receive this support from CSEA Chapter 41. From my work on the Westminster School Board, I learned that in order for schools to succeed and students to thrive, we must support school employees. Their contributions are immeasurable and crucial. I am grateful to have their support.”

Last week, Contreras earned powerful endorsements from the Coast Federation of Educators, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 1911 and Santa Ana Unified School District Board Member John Palacio.

Recently, Contreras’s campaign announced that he has by far the most net cash-on-hand of anybody in the race, with $78,862 after debts. Incumbent Supervisor Andrew Do has $60,345 more in debt than cash-on-hand, while Contreras’s main Democratic opponents Miguel Pulido and Kim Nguyen have $25,706 and $6,972 cash-on-hand after debts, respectively.

Previously, Councilmember Sergio Contreras announced the following endorsements:

• Organizations:
  • Democratic Party of Orange County
  • Orange County Labor Federation (OCLF)
  • California Nurses Association (CNA)
  • SEIU – USWW
  • SEIU 2015
  • SEIU Local 721
  • Coast Federation of Educators, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 1911
  • California School Employees Association (CSEA) Santa Ana Chapter 41
  • American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 36
  • American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) United Domestic Workers (UDW) Local 3930
  • American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2076
  • American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1734
  • Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 652
  • International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 12
  • International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 501
  • National Union of Healthcare Workers
  • United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers Local 220
  • Painters & Allied Trades District Council 36
  • UNITE HERE Local 11
  • Ironworkers Local 433
  • Ironworkers Local 416
  • UFCW Local 324
  • Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties
• Elected Officials:
  • U.S. Congressman Alan Lowenthal
  • U.S. Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
  • U.S. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (Ret.)
  • California State Senator Lena Gonzalez
  • California State Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva
  • California State Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris
  • California Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell
  • California State Senator Josh Newman (Ret.)
  • Garden Grove School Board Trustee Walter Muneton
  • Garden Grove School Board Trustee Teri Rocco
  • Garden Grove Councilmember Kris Beard (Ret.)
  • Westminster School Boardmember Jamison Power
  • Westminster School Boardmember Amy Walsh (Ret.)
  • Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley
  • Costa Mesa Councilman Manuel Chavez
  • Rancho Community College Trustee Lawrence Labrado
  • Santa Ana Unified School District President Valerie Amezcua
  • Santa Ana Unified School District Board Member John Palacio
  • Santa Ana Councilmember Sal Tinajero (Ret.)
  • Santa Ana Councilmember David Benavides (Ret.)
  • Santa Ana School Board Trustee Alfonso Alvarez
  • Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember Juan Gabriel Alvarez
  • Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember Ryan Ruelas
  • Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember Dr. Jose Pablo Magcalas
  • Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember D.R. Heywood (Ret.)
  • Anaheim Union High School District Clerk of the Board, Annemarie Randle-Trejo
  • Huntington Beach Union High School District Trustee Duane Dishno
  • Fullerton School Boardmember Aaruni Thakur
  • Oceanview School District Vice President Gina Clayton-Tarvin
  • Midway City Sanitary District Director Margie L. Rice

The first Supervisorial District includes the cities of Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Westminster, the unincorporated community of Midway City, and parts of Fountain Valley. The first Supervisorial District is 42% Democratic and 24% Republican by registration – making it one of the most flippable major local offices in California.

Sergio Contreras, a husband, father, homeowner, and registered Democrat, has served on the Westminster City Council since 2012, where he successfully championed the largest upgrade to Westminster’s park system since 1996, encompassing 22 park facilities and representing a $10.4 million investment in the community. Contreras oversaw the city’s first general plan update in decades. He also placed emergency call boxes in all Westminster parks to enhance public safety, and fought to place outdoor exercise equipment in local parks to improve public health.

Contreras previously served on the Westminster School Board from 2004 to 2012, including serving as president of the board in 2012. On the School Board, Contreras helped pass a $130 million school bond to modernize Westminster’s school facilities and make them safer. In that role, he established an all-day kindergarten system, making Westminster School District the first in Orange County to provide day-long kindergarten at all school sites. Contreras also increased access to music and arts programs districtwide, while expanding after-school programs.

Now, Contreras works as the Senior Director of Education and Healthy Schools for the Orange County United Way where he creates strategic community partnerships to empower students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Contreras lives in Westminster with his wife Adriana, where their children Sergio III and Chloe attend local schools.

Recently, Contreras’s upbringing and life’s story was featured in the OC Weekly, which you can find here.

For more information visit: https://www.sergiocontrerasforsupervisor.com