Contrast in Candidates in Assembly District 36

Typical Saturday During Campaign Shows Contrast in Candidates for Assembly District 36

COACHELLA — In addition to party affiliation, there is a stark contrast in candidates seeking the 36th Assembly District seat now held by Democrat Eduardo Garcia. Take this past Saturday as an example.

Democrat Joey Acuña, president of the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, attended a rally to protest former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally. Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez organized the rally, which attracted fewer than 100 people.

Meanwhile, his Republican opponent, Jeff Gonzalez, was in Brawley attending the La Gente Boxing Club tournament.

“I’m focused on community,” Gonzalez told Uken Report. His campaign is old-fashioned in the way he’s pressing the flesh and pounding the pavement to relay his message.

After that, he headed to Indio to raise money for the Coachella Valley High School band instruments that were stolen.

“I’m just trying to earn the trust of our community,” Gonzalez said.

This coming Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. until noon, Gonzalez will be helping distribute food to those in need.

“Eastern Coachella Valley is a Food Desert,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve been partnering with a nonprofit called Journey of Love and Hope and the owner of Family Furniture in Coachella, to help feed families in need. Our last event, we helped feed hundreds of local families and we plan to do the same. As a pastor, I’m called to help the needy. As the candidate for State Assembly, I understand the high cost of food and how it impacts working class families. As a dad, Marine, and man of faith, I’m called to take action.”

No clue what Acuña is up to on Saturday.

Gonzalez is a business owner and former U.S. Marine who resides with his family in Indio. This is his second bid for an Assembly seat.

He holds a distinguished 21-year career in the United States Marine Corps. He served in combat zones on four occasions, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gonzalez has received endorsements from Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and the Riverside Sheriff’s Association.

District 36 includes Coachella, Indio, the rest of the eastern Coachella Valley and eastern Riverside County all the way to the state line, along with all of Imperial County and a portion of eastern San Bernardino County.

What other contrasts in candidates do you see?